The meaning of Sappy by Nirvana
"Sappy" is a song by American rock band Nirvana, released in 1993 on their second album, In Utero. The song's meaning is often interpreted as being about the emotional struggle of maintaining relationships in the face of overwhelming pain or trauma.
The lyrics describe a person who is trying to hold onto a relationship despite feeling the weight of their partner's emotional baggage. The opening lines, "You're sappy and you don't know why / You can't get what you want without thinking about me," suggest that the speaker is caught up in thoughts of their partner even when they try to move on.
The song's chorus, "Don't think about it, don't think about it / Don't think about it, don't think about it," can be seen as a plea for the listener not to dwell on past hurts or heartaches. However, the repetition of this phrase also serves as a reminder that these thoughts are inevitably going to creep back in.
The music itself is characterized by a slow and deliberate pace, with Kurt Cobain's distinctive vocals delivering the haunting lyrics. The song's instrumentation features a prominent bassline played by Krist Novoselic, which provides a sense of tension throughout the track.
Overall, "Sappy" can be seen as a reflection on the human tendency to get stuck in patterns of thought and behavior that are damaging to ourselves and those around us. The song serves as a warning against getting caught up in these cycles, while also acknowledging the difficulty of breaking free from them.