Rape Me

About this song

The song was first written in May 1991 and performed live later that year, then recorded in a studio in February 1993. It appears on Nirvana's final studio album, In Utero, released in September 1993. Kurt Cobain wanted the song to make a strong statement in support of women and against violence, and he later clarified its message to reporters after many listeners missed the anti-rape intent of earlier songs like Polly. The double A-side single with All Apologies was retitled Waif Me for sale in Wal-Mart and Kmart stores, without changes to the lyrics.

What it's about

The song deals with poetic justice: a man rapes a woman, ends up in jail, and is raped there in turn. Its bridge, written after Nevermind, may also reflect Cobain's feelings about the media's intrusion into his private life.

Summary written with AI, based on the song's page on Genius.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 5 other songs, like “We both knew i wasn't enough by Shittyoldshirt”.
• Covered 7 times, including “Rape Me by Vitamin String Quartet”.
• Written by Kurt Cobain.
• Produced by Steve Albini.
• Recorded at Pachyderm Studio.