All Apologies

catcherinthedark- I think you are right about the aqua-seafoam shame from Nevermind- good call! Kurt had previously thought of his music as a lark and really struggled with his success, since mainstream society had always treated him (and his friends) unkindly growing up(also, he wanted to be punk- but could never quite emulate his influences properly). I think the first verse was a tribute to his first real friend growing up, who was gay...throughout this song, he gave his friend a voice to the mainstream, telling everyone -look- I was born this way- so he sarcastically apoligizes for being...

catcherinthedark- I think you are right about the aqua-seafoam shame from Nevermind- good call! Kurt had previously thought of his music as a lark and really struggled with his success, since mainstream society had always treated him (and his friends) unkindly growing up(also, he wanted to be punk- but could never quite emulate his influences properly). I think the first verse was a tribute to his first real friend growing up, who was gay...throughout this song, he gave his friend a voice to the mainstream, telling everyone -look- I was born this way- so he sarcastically apoligizes for being the way he is...and all of his rights for being "gay" were subsequently not the same as other folks, so, again, Kurt sarcastically writes (giving voice to his friend) "I don't have the right". In the sun he felt as one with the world-since we all share at least that (so he felt married or connected to society by this common denominator), but that makes him even more distraught, buried in his own self-loathing for being like the rest of the world, when they are typically so cruel and so unaware of their own inadequacies...Then I think that Kurt wished that he was not so bored with the world and its pettiness, so he wishes that he could be "easily amused"...but instead, he finds his bitterness ("nest of salt") will not allow him any amusement. On the contrary, since he is in such pain and self-loathing, why not take all the blame for everything- it's not gonna effect him anyway- (sunburn with freezerburn)- he is now loved by many in society to the point that the glare is too much(sunburn) after so many years of the world leaving him and his friends out in the cold(freezerburn). (Choking on the ashes of her enemy)- Since they are now on fire(metaphorically), the world is now choking on their stunning succes- but who cares right? Throughout the song, his overall attitude is "hey assholes, what else do you have to throw at me, and what else could you possibly want?"- which I think sums up the whole tone of the song...Anyway- I realize this is just one interpretation...thanks for the aqua-seafoam thing- I was really struggling to make sense of that..."mostly90's"- I like your interpretation as well- I think that Kurt put many double meanings into his songs, like most great artists, so that we would ponder and debate them, and they would thus live on through their music and lyrics...