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I don't own any rights for the song or any part of it. But I'm not sure...
"Lithium" must be one of the sweetest and most melodic Nirvana compositions, and not least thanks to the Krist's bass work.
Kurt described "Lithium" as "one of those songs I actually did finish while trying to write it instead of taking pieces of my poetry and other things". According to Kurt himself, the song is about a man who, after the death of his girlfriend, turns to religion "as a last resort to keep himself alive. To keep him from suicide." While Kurt said the narrative of "Lithium" was fictional, he said, "I did infuse some of my personal experiences, like breaking up with girlfriends and having bad relationships." Cobain acknowledged that the song was possibly inspired in part by the time he spent living with his friend Jesse Reed and his born-again Christian parents. He explained to Nirvana biographer Michael Azerrad, "I've always felt that some people should have religion in their lives ... That's fine. If it's going to save someone, it's okay. And the person in "Lithium" needed it." Azerrad described the title as a reference to Karl Marx's statement that religion is the "opiate of the masses".
"Lithium" was recorded for the first time in Evergreen college's TV studio in March 1990. Nirvana played a bunch of songs live with a spooky visual backdrop of weird stuff from videotapes Kurt recorded off TV. This was supposed to be Nirvana's first video release.
For the second time, Nirvana recorded "Lithium" with producer Butch Vig at Smart Studios in Madison in April 1990. According to Doug Olsen, engineer, the session was "a very down day" for Kurt, who was "in a very sour mood" and "just made everyone miserable". According to Vig, Kurt overexerted his voice while recording vocals for "Lithium", which forced the band to halt recording. Soon after that they kicked Chad out of the band and canceled the release for Sub Pop. Instead, the songs from these sessions were placed on a demo tape and circulated within the music industry, generating interest in the group among major record labels. This "Lithium" version was released on the deluxe edition of "Nevermind".
Next time "Lithium" was recorded during Kurt's solo acoustic performance for KAOS FM radio show in Evergreen again. This version was released on "With The Lights Out".
In May 1991 Nirvana began to record "Nevermind", at Sound City Studios in California. By the time, Krist simplified the "Lithium" bassline; he said, "I enriched the bass-playing a little more but that was about all that we changed." The band repeatedly sped up while recording the song, so Vig resorted to using a click track to maintain a consistent tempo. The producer suggested that Dave use simpler fills and patterns for the song. The guitar track was more difficult to record. "Kurt wanted to be able to play the guitar very ... not methodical-it needed to have this space," Vig recalled. "It had to be relaxed." Every time Kurt sped up, Vig called for another take. During the first day of recording the song, Kurt became so frustrated at the slow progress that the band instead began playing an instrumental jam they have been working on. Vig recorded the jam, later titled "Endless, Nameless".
"Lithium" was released as the third single from "Nevermind" in July 1992. Featuring a cover photo by Kurt, the single contained a sonogram of the musician's then-unborn child Frances Bean Cobain. Different editions included "Curmudgeon", "Been a Son" (live) and "D-7" as b-sides.
Lyrics:
I'm so happy cause today
I've found my friends
They're in my head
I'm so ugly, but that's okay, cause so are you
Broke your mirrors
Sunday morning is everyday for all I care
And I'm not scared
Light my candles in a daze
Cause I've found god
Yeah, yeahhh(x3)
Yeah!
I'm so lonely but that's okay I shaved my head
And I'm not sad
And just maybe I'm to blame for all I've heard
But I'm not sure
I'm so excited, I can't wait to meet you there
But I don't care
I'm so horny but that's okay
My will is good
Yeah, yeahhh(x3)
Yeah!
I like it - I'm not gonna crack
I miss you - I'm not gonna crack
I love you - I'm not gonna crack
I kill you - I'm not gonna crack
I'm so happy cause today
I've found my friends
They're in my head
I'm so ugly, but that's okay, cause so are you
We've broken our mirrors
Sunday morning is everyday for all I care
And I'm not scared
Light my candles in a daze
Cause I've found god
Yeah, yeahhh(x3)
Yeah!
I like it - I'm not gonna crack
I miss you - I'm not gonna crack
I love you - I'm not gonna crack
I kill you - I'm not gonna crack