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It is now my duty to say that I don't own any rights for the song or any part of it.
"Drain You" was written in 1990 and was recorded for the first time in April 1991 by The Retards, a band formed by Kurt, Dave, and Dale Crover for a couple of days. Kurt and Dave were on the way to Van Nuys to record "Nevermind", stopped at Dale's house in California and recorded this song. At the time, Kurt didn't feel it to be a proper song for Nirvana and there was even no drum part. In The Retards, Dale played drums, Dave played bass. During this session, the band developed that noise instrumental part. Now that the song had structure, it was ready for Nirvana. The working title was "Formula".
So, Kurt and Dave arrived to Sound City Studio in Van Nuys with one extra song for the album. According to Nevermind's producer Butch Vig, "Drain You" featured more guitar overdubs than any other song on the album: one clean track and five distorted tracks. Due to Kurt''s reluctance to record multiple takes, Vig claims he often had to trick him by falsely claiming that certain parts were not recorded correctly or were out of tune, and needed to be recorded again. Kurt recorded three vocal takes, with all three takes being used throughout the recording. The sounds during the interlude were made by Kurt in a variety of ways, including using his squeaky mouse and rubber duck toys (the latter appeared on the back cover of the band's 1992 compilation, "Incesticide") that he brought into the studio. Sound engineer Andy Wallace added delay to these sounds to complete the effect.
That's the version from the album and the one I use in the video.
In September 1991, Nirvana had their third and last Peel session in London, and "Drain You" was among three songs recorded at BBC studio. The other two were "Dumb" and "Endless Nameless".
A live version with Pat Smear on guitar was recorded for the TV show Nulle Part Ailleurs in Paris, France on February 4, 1994. During the song's interlude, Cobain's guitar cut out completely, which led to him throwing it to the floor and finishing the song on vocals only.
The first live performance of "Drain You" was in San Francisco in June 1991. The song was on the setlist at the last Nirvana show, Munich, March 1, 1994.
Lyrics:
One baby to another says, "I'm lucky to have met you"
I don't care what you think unless it is about me
It is now my duty to completely drain you
I travel through a tube and end up in your infection
Chew my meat for you
Pass it back and forth in a passionate kiss
From my mouth to yours
I like you
With eyes so dilated, I've became your pupil
You've taught me everything without a poison apple
The water is so yellow
I'm a healthy student
Indebted and so grateful
Vacuum out the fluids
Chew my meat for you
Pass it back and forth in a passionate kiss
From my mouth to yours
I like you, you, you, you, you, you
One baby to another says, "I'm lucky to have met you"
I don't care what you think unless it is about me
It is now my duty to completely drain you
A travel through a tube and end up in your infection
Chew my meat for you
Pass it back and forth in a passionate kiss
From my mouth to yours
Sloppy lips to lips
You're my vitamins
I like you