Context

This line is from the song "Come as You Are" by Nirvana from the album Nevermind (1992).

If you're asked to come as you are, it usually means to be casual. It also means be yourself. But what about "As you were"? Those three words turn the car in a different direction. Follow it up with the next sentence, "As I want you to be," and the car is in a tailspin. What the heck?

This song could be about how difficult it is to stay true to yourself when there is so much pressure to fit in. Orrrr, it could be about heroin. Given Kurt Cobain's reputation with addiction, it isn't a stretch to interpret "you" as a fix. With many other parts of this song giving a nod toward heroin use, we wouldn't completely discount this interpretation.

But good art speaks to many audiences on many levels in many ways. So, as the song says, "the choice is yours."

Where you've heard it

You'll hear this when your favorite celebrity invites you to a party and says, "Come as you are," after you freak out about what to wear, how to act, and what to say.

Additional Notable References:

• Cobain's hometown, Aberdeen, added this line to its welcome sign.
• The Morck Hotel uses this line as its motto.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

We Shmoopers are high on happy so we'll be ecstatic to receive an invite to your party telling us to come as we are. How exciting! Oh wait, it's on our laundry day.