Plateau by Nirvana Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Mystique of Existential Contemplation
Lyrics
Some belong to strangers, and some to folks you know
Holy ghosts and talk show hosts are planted in the sand
To beautify the foothills, and shake the many hands
Nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop
And an illustrated book about birds
You see a lot up there but don’t be scared
Who needs action when you got words
When you’ve finished with the mop, then you can stop
And look at what you’ve done
The plateau’s clean, no dirt to be seen
And the work, it was fun
Nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop
And an illustrated book about birds
You see a lot up there but don’t be scared
Who needs action when you got words
Many hands began to scan around for the next plateau
Some said it was Greenland, and some say Mexico
Others decided it was nowhere except for where they stood
But those were all just guesses
Wouldn’t help you if they could
Nirvana’s ‘Plateau’ journeys beyond mere alt-rock sonics to pose a philosophical query wrapped in the coarse cloth of punk veracity.
Dissecting the veil of its deceptive simplicity, one finds a multi-layered ode to the human condition, dealing with the futility of pursuits and the existential plateaus we all confront.
Scaling the Grand Old Face: A Metaphorical Ascent
The song begins with an ascent, both literal and thematic. As many hands have scaled the plateau, we’re invited to ponder the multitude of efforts spent striving towards goals. These quests, as sung, are commonly shared between the known and the stranger, implying the universality of the experience.
In this pursuit, Kurt Cobain’s lyrics suggest a leveling of achievement – from the holy to the banal – everyone is equalized in their endeavor, camouflaged in the granular expanse of effort and existence. The plateau is a cipher for life’s achievements, where holy ghosts and talk show hosts alike leave their temporary mark.
Stark Rewards and Symbolic Artifacts: The Bucket and the Mop
The refrain ‘Nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop and an illustrated book about birds’ drives the listener to confront the stark reality of reaching a summit only to find the mundane. Are the bucket and mop tools of cleansing, or symbols of the inevitable cleanup after the party of achievement has ended?
Moreover, the illustrated book about birds could symbolize the freedom found in knowledge and the arts – the wings that allow us to soar above the mundanity, or perhaps it is a reminder that after all worldly pursuits, we retreat to contemplative solitude endowed with what we’ve learned.
The Hidden Meaning: Beyond the Physical Climb
Every plateau reached subsequently becomes just a vantage point for the next. The human condition, in its relentless discontent, can never settle for the current plateau. Yet, Cobain introduces a twist: it’s inferred that true insight lies not in the continuous climb but in recognizing the plateau one currently stands upon.
Several interpretations vie for attention when questioning what Nirvana considers as ‘the next plateau’. Greenland and Mexico represent geographical aspirations, while ‘nowhere except for where they stood’ offers an existential acceptance. The climb is not just resourceful ambition but a profound search for meaning.
Memorable Lines: Who Needs Action When You Got Words
One of the song’s most piercing lines, ‘Who needs action when you got words’, encapsulates a piercing cultural critique. It addresses the preference for rhetoric over direct action, the armchair theorizing over tangible measures, and the prioritization of dialogue over deeds.
Alternatively, this line could also be interpreted as a subtle praise of literature and thought. In a world that values physicality and action, Cobain seems to suggest that words are indeed potent. They carry the weight to inspire, provoke and ultimately, catalyze change – just as his lyrics have done in the world of music.
The Allure of the Unknown Plateau and the Satisfaction of Labor
The quest for the ‘next plateau’ remains a captivating mystery as the song reaches its conclusion. This persistent yearning for progress, for new horizons, is the driving force that keeps humanity pushing forward, even when ignorant of the destination.
Yet amidst this relentless pursuit, there’s the serendipitous realization of joy in the work itself, found in the lines ‘The plateau’s clean, no dirt to be seen, And the work, it was fun.’ Here, Nirvana captures the inherent value of labor – the capacity to find satisfaction not solely in reaching new heights but in the very act of climbing.
