Swap Meet

Album: Bleach (1989)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about mutual attraction between males and females and how each sex goes about different ways of attracting the other. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Matt - Millbrae, CA
  • The couple in the song meet at a swap meet, which is a type of flea market where groups of people gather to trade or sell their wares.
  • According to producer Jack Endino, the title was originally "Swap Meat," a double entendre "which would've been a lot funnier."

Comments: 6

  • Ceedubya from NcThe line "keeps his cigarettes close to his heart" makes me think about a man who carries his smokes in a pocket on the front of his shirt, or close to his heart. I think the song is probably about a couple that Kurt saw at a swap meet who stuck out to him for some reason, or maybe just about the type of people he saw there in general. He would write about anything. He cared more about writing a well crafted song than he did about deep lyrics. Yet a lot of his lyrics are really good
  • Jedi Master Baiter from DisneylandI think this song suffers from the name change. Had it been retained as "Swap Meat" it's interpretation would've changed entirely.
  • Rad Elane from NyFun fact: The lyrics in this song are in iambic pentameter.
  • Bronte from Sydney, Australiai thought it was about a couple in trouble.
    eg. "keeps the ciggereettes close to the heart.
    keeps the photograph close to her heart, keep the bitterness close to the heartt"
    LOVE this song.
    reminds me of my parents though.
  • Andreu from Homer, NyThis song is actually about what the title says a "swap meet" aka flea market, and the couple that sell their cratfs to make a comfortable living. As well as the wifes love for her husband and business/ crafts, and though he loves his wife he loves his smokes more.
  • Justme from Nyc, Nygreat song. one of my favs from bleach
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Church Lyrics

Church LyricsMusic Quiz

Here is the church, here is the steeple - see if you can identify these lyrics that reference church.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.