7 Kurt Cobain songs every fan should know

Kurt Cobain wasn’t just the frontman of a band—he was the voice many young people didn’t know they needed. In the early 90s, with all the shift and mystery, his songs cut through the noisy mix. His lyrics were raw and honest, never polished or insincere. He didn't try to talk to everyone, but his words moved many.

Nirvana's music captured the raw struggles of youth, filled with anger, confusion, and a longing for authenticity. Their songs spoke of lost ways, strong anger, and a deep desire for what is real. Every lyric carried weight—his songs weren’t meant to simply entertain, but to make us feel something deeply.

Years after he died too soon, his mark still holds; it may even be stronger. It shows how a true, open feeling can make a mark that lasts in music. Kurt Cobain's mark is not just about being well-known; it's about how deeply someone's hurt, art, and real self can ring out in other people. Not many in music have left as deep a mark as Kurt Cobain. He was the main push behind Nirvana.

Kurt Cobain didn’t just write music—he gave voice to people’s anger, confusion, and vulnerability. His music didn't follow the normal path; it went right through it, mixing raw feelings with rough, loud guitars that stood for the grunge sound.

But what made Kurt Cobain stand out was his brave way of showing his true feelings; his words felt like diary notes, full of hurt, wants, and a hunt for meaning in a world that often made no sense. He didn't aim to be an icon, but his open heart and step back from the big scene made him one.

Kurt Cobain's music hits you hard and fast, mixing anger, sadness, and deep thoughts. His songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are, and All Apologies, spoke to a lost and mixed-up youth, all while breaking the clean-cut rules of big rock. His words might not tell a simple story, but they were heavy, filled with signs, mixed ideas, and pure emotion.

Songs like Lithium and Something in the Way let us see a soft, deep side of his craft. They show a man who thought a lot, even with all that loud noise. Kurt Cobain was good at showing the wild highs and lows of how he felt, with both loud roars and soft cries, making his songs stand out. Even today, his songs still touch those who feel lost, unseen, or just need something real.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. The reader's discretion is advised!

Here are the top 7 Kurt Cobain songs of all time

Here are the best seven Kurt Cobain songs ever; they are more than just big hits. They shaped what Nirvana was and showed us who Kurt Cobain was as an artist. These songs show the heart of his music: real feel, bold truth, and a sound that didn't stay in one place.

From big songs that moved a whole group of people to soft parts that showed his soft side, each song gives us a look into the thoughts of an artist who always gave it all. These aren't just what fans love; they are key bits of music past that still touch people now, no matter their age.

1) Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991)

Way back, even before it made rock fame, Smells Like Teen Spirit hit hard in 1991, opening a fresh wave of sound and style. It didn't just lead the charts, it shook up all music. While most songs on the radio were smooth pop or shiny metal, this song, powered by Kurt Cobain's rough voice and loud guitars, pushed real feelings into the mainstream scene.

The song didn't lay it all out clearly, but that was its strong pull. It gave hints of feeling lost, sharp jokes, and fighting the norm in a way that was close yet big. The famous chorus, more yelled than sung, hit home for many who didn’t fully know what they wanted, but were sure they were sick of just going along.

The music clip, full of teen angst and wild gym scenes, nailed that vibe just right. What started as just one song on Nevermind soon turned into a key moment, not only for Nirvana but for all young folks. It mixed up the feel of underground and big-time music, making a lasting mark on rock and other cool music scenes.

2) Heart-Shaped Box (1993)

With Heart-Shaped Box, Nirvana made a big turn from the smooth sound of Nevermind to a raw, less polished style. Out in 1993 as the lead song of In Utero, this song does not try to soothe; it pushes unease, both in its harsh music and deep, hidden words.

The tune digs into rough sounds, with a slow, fuzzy riff that fights with Kurt Cobain's voice, open yet full of held-back anger. Instead of giving clear-cut answers, the words weave through themes of being stuck in feelings, fixations, and body hurt, all tied in odd, sometimes odd thoughts. The line, "I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks," means more than love stress; it hints at being trapped in feelings.

The pictures that went with the song made it feel even more strange. They mixed church and body pictures in a weird, scary cloud. Not like their old music that was easy to like, this was Nirvana being very bold, harsh, not soft, and showing the bad stuff under the top. For many, it took in the whole feel of In Utero: a piece that fought big, usual hopes and was brave to show something very true.

3) Come as You Are (1991)

The song Come as You Are by Nirvana has a quiet, deep kind of calm. It moves away from the loud, raw feel they're known for, showing a softer yet stronger feel inside. Out in 1991 as their next hit from Nevermind, this tune does not shout to grab your ear; it pulls you in slowly. It has a cool guitar sound that echoes.

Kurt Cobain's way of singing here is even, almost like a ghost, as he moves between two sides, singing lines that both draw you in and make you think. The words mix up taking in and looking for more, a thing that matched how Kurt Cobain felt about fame and himself. There is a soft, bold feel in how it sounds, like a low call to break from the usual ways.

Its tune may seem known and warm, yet a soft unease lies under it. Come as You Are is not just a top hit in Nirvana's list; it shows the band's gift to mix deep thought with strong force, making songs that hit deep and stay, even though they seem simple.

4) Lithium (1991)

Lithium is a special song from Nirvana that shows a mix of deep and wild feelings, where joy and nothingness meet. Rather than give one clear idea, the song leaves room for both sides, showing the up and down thoughts of a person searching for meaning while lost. Out in 1991 on the Nevermind album, it does not show faith as a fix, but more as a weak way to try to stay okay, even if just for a bit.

Kurt Cobain's voice moves from soft to loud and wild, matching the shaky feel in the words. The words "I'm so happy, cause today I found my friends, they're in my head" sound happy, but really talk about being alone inside.

The song's shift from soft to loud set a model not just for Nirvana, but for all alt-rock. With its rough guitars, raw singing, and plain feel, Lithium hits a deep, hard-to-say kind of pain. It doesn't fix anything, it just shows us ourselves.

5) All Apologies (1993)

The song All Apologies has a soft, deep feel that makes it stand out from other Nirvana songs. It came out in 1993 on In Utero. This track isn't loud or mad, it just lets out a soft breath. Instead of using Kurt Cobain's common pain to fuel loud anger, this song shows a tired side, as if he's facing his own mess not with rage, but with tiredness. He wrote it thinking about his family, Courtney Love, and their kid, Frances Bean.

It has the sound of a man trying to find calm in the storm inside and around him. The music stays low, letting Kurt Cobain's voice bring out the feelings without any mix-up. The one made in the studio is touching by itself, but the MTV Unplugged's simple version made it feel almost like a ghost. With all the loud sounds gone, each word hit with a deeper, more open feel.

The recurring line, “All in all is all we are,” doesn’t offer resolution—it lingers like an unfinished thought. This song does not aim to mend things, but rather shares the load of the unknown, making it seem not so much like a big song, but more like a last truth told.

6) About a Girl (1989)

Long before Nirvana hit the big scene, About a Girl gave a hint that Kurt Cobain could do more than just loud noise and deep upset. Hidden in their first raw 1989 work, Bleach, this song was different, not because it was the noisiest, but because it was not.

Full of open feelings and a tune-like touch not often heard in the rough music world of that time, it showed a new way of making songs, one deep in thought and soft points. Made while he was with Tracy Marander, it was a brave step for Kurt Cobain, who was said to be scared its musical style might push away the band's hard rock fans.

But, its Beatles-like chords and soft, hurtful words, like the known "I need an easy friend", showed a part of Kurt Cobain that would soon be key to Nirvana's story. When it first came out, it went unnoticed, but the song's eerie MTV Unplugged show years later changed it all.

That simple show pulled back its covers, showing Kurt Cobain's skill in blending tunes with deep meaning, and made About a Girl a loved hit that stayed loved for a long time.

7) Drain You (1991)

Drain You is not just known for its loud sound, but also for how well it shows the band's wild skill. It was put on the Nevermind album in 1991, and real fans love it, a lot liked by Kurt Cobain too. It didn't make a hit like Smells Like Teen Spirit, but its true force and odd, strong feel made it stay known.

The song mixes sweet parts with weird stress, putting soft words next to sharp images of deep feelings. It starts as a punk love song but soon turns into a loud fall, mostly in the strange middle part where Kurt Cobain breaks out loud noises, high sounds, and mixed-up sounds.

Instead of making things soft, Nirvana went into the rough, making noise their way of talking. Live takes of Drain You went even more out there, turning into long, wild plays. It's quick, rough, and a bit crazy, and that's just what makes it sharp.

Cobain’s discography offers an unfiltered glimpse into a mind unafraid of confronting pain and contradiction. His work is full of feeling, often on the edge between rough and open, clear and mixed-up.

Instead of just doing what his fame wanted, Kurt Cobain used songs as a way to fight rules, show true feelings, and talk to those who felt lost. Even with just a few songs, his mark is deep, changing rock's sound, making new ways in music, and moving many other music makers. What he left was not just songs, but a strong wave of fight, truth, and endless new ideas.