I am my own parasite
I don't need a host to live
We feed off of each other
We can share our endorphns

Doll steak
Test meat

Look on the bright side, suicide
Lost eyesight, I'm on your side
Angel left wing, right wing, broken wing
Lack of iron and or sleeping

I won my own pet virus
I get to pet and name her
Her milk is my shit
My shit is her milk

Test meat
Doll steak

Look on the bright side, suicide
Lost eyesight, I'm on your side
Angel left wing, right wing, broken wing
Lack of iron and or sleeping

Doll steak
Test meat

Look on the bright side, suicide
Lost eyesight, I'm on your side
Angel left wing, right wing, broken wing
Lack of iron and or sleeping

Protector of the kennel
Ecto-plasma, ecto-skeletal
Obituary birthday
Your scent is still here in my place of recovery


Lyrics submitted by justinjtp

Milk It Lyrics as written by Kurt Cobain

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Milk It song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

128 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +6
    General Comment

    This song is about suicide as a solution to the problem that one does not feel accepted (which is VERY common for people suffering from a depression):

    I am my own parasite (He is self-sufficient in some way, in what way? one can ask...) I don't need a host to live (However parasites do need a host to live, that is the definition of the word... hence he doesnt need to live. He is self-sufficient to take his own life) We feed off of each other (I think this is a general criticism of the human nature and/or culture, in which cobain felt outside of or denied access to. Humans are each others parasites, they feed on each other) We can share our endorphins (describes the fundamental human drive, sex, but does it in a technically and cold way. Theres no love, just egoistic "parasite-love")

    The first verse gives a reason to commit suicide, and indicates that he is allowed to do so, as he is himself.

    Doll steak! Test meat! (Notice that the word are put together wrongly: "Test doll" and "meat steak" would make more sence. If that assumption is correct, it would seme that someone is testing meat, and eating plastic, instead of the doing the opposite (right) way. "Someone" I think is "the others", those who live an "evil" life, the establishment (dont read it as something childish skate/punk rebelion, but rather as the word "culture") Meat is often used as something human, while plastic is something fake or artificial. Instead of living as humans, the "normal people" are living as "plastic-digesters" aka. fakes, and they are destroying living meat in "crash testes". I do not believe the crash-test-thing should be taken too seriously.)

    Look on the bright side is suicide (As a solution to all this, one can escape it, but only through suicide) Lost eyesight I'm on your side (This is a hard one, but I believe that it is either is Cobain saying: "im on your side, but you cant see it" or: that someone is saying to Cobain: "im on your side" and Cobain replies "But you have lost your eyesight" = you cant see it from my angle/point-of-view.) Angel left wing, right wing, broken wing (An angel with broken wings = no hope, in my opnion) Lack of iron and/or sleeping (...is medical reasons for depression)

    I own my own pet virus I get to pet and name her Her milk is my shit My shit is her milk (there's some self-recognition here (as far as I see): He owns his own desructor, the virus, in which he can put his guilt and blame, it feeds on his shit, and he is the one who names it. Even though he have criticized and placed the guilt outside himself, he do know that the shit comes from himself)

    im very uncertain about the outro part

    Protector of the kennel (to protect something that doesnt need protection, or something about keeping the hounds locked in?) Ecto-plasma, Ecto-skeletal (ecto-plasma is that thing ghosts are made of, ecto-skeletal is somewhat more concrete... maybe its something about he doesnt care whether he becomes a ghost or just dies... after-life contra nothingness) Obituary birthday (it could be some religious reincarnation thing, however I do recall that Cobain wasnt religious according to himself. I believe its something about that the death can be good or a happy thing) Your scent is still here in my place of recovery! (nowhere he is free from what pains him, even not in his place of recovery)

    alsosprachichon February 12, 2007   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    This is definitely one of Nirvana's most disturbing AND disturbed songs in their ballpark, and it shows. One of Cobain's main talents was to sound like a cornered, ferocious animal at one moment, and then sound like a fragile, scared child in another. Excellent.

    For me personally, I think this has a very similar lyrical theme to the song "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. It describes a relationship that is only used for receiving pleasure for both parties involved in the act. Both of the two people in the song KNOW they are using eachother for sex, as they can find no way out of misery other than having hard, animalistic sex. For them, the lovey dovey shit doesn't matter - its the both of them letting out all their pent up aggression by fucking. It could also be about drug use or suicide, but I'm not sure.

    CheeseLordon January 16, 2013   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    well I think, this is about depression and flyrting with suicide

    Marqueon April 26, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    This album (in utero) was one of the most returned albums in seattle after it came out. Everyone thought it would be all "heart shaped box" and "all apoligies". But it's songs like this that make this album kick ass. He must have thought that nevermind was a bit too pop-like so he put songs like this. This song is far more "grunge" than "Smells..." was.

    egbon May 02, 2003   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    preeetty sure the "doll steak, test me" is actually "don't stare, test me" clearly the song is about him contemplating suicide, and prior knowledge of kurt says he hated being famous. maybe these lines are saying "if you don't piss off, I'm gonna blow a fuse". hope i helped

    terminalhappinesson April 16, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    the second verse is "I own my own pet virus" not "i won my own pet virus" and yes, it is a big difference.

    muddywateron January 01, 2014   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    ok, anyway I like the lyrics "I am my own parasite" Kurt was his own worst enemy, and these lyrics show that he was aware of this. Very insightfull he was. However dead he now is. x

    Tim Doggon March 01, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Doll steak, test meat - Is kurt saying how useless the human race is. Basically summing us all up as useless, brainless meat. To me, the song is about suicide and rebirth into a utopian state.

    Dieinthesummertimeon October 15, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "Obituary birthday" is a reference to reincarnation (death, rebirth). See what I wrote about "Heart-Shaped Box."

    Bite Meon April 29, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    does anyone else notice that before the last time he sings "test meat" he laughs??

    i think it says that hes not taking the ideo of killing himself seriously.

    phatslugon July 21, 2002   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.