Heart-Shaped Box

Heart-Shaped Box
single by Nirvana
Released	1993
Recorded	???
Genre	Grunge
Length	11 min 04 sec
Record label	DGC
Producer	Butch Vig
Professional reviews
Allmusic.com	3 stars out of 5	link
Nirvana Singles
Lithium	Heart-Shaped Box	All Apologies

"Heart-Shaped Box" (originally titled "Heart-Shaped Coffin," according to Kurt Cobain biographer Charles R. Cross) is a hit song by the band Nirvana. It is the third song on, and first single from, the 1993 album, In Utero.

The song's actual meaning is unclear. Cobain, Nirvana's frontman and the song's author, claimed it was inspired by a television report of children suffering from cancer. However, many believe it was really written about his shaky relationship with wife, Courtney Love. Love had reportedly once given Cobain a small heart-shaped box as a gift, and this is believed to have inspired the title. The lyrics do tend towards this latter interpretation, since they seem to concern themselves with an unstable relationship between two individuals.

The song would later appear on Nirvana's live From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah album, and their greatest hits collection, Nirvana. A longer, embryonic version can be found on the Nirvana box set, With the Lights Out.

Single

The following songs appeared on the single:

1. "Heart-Shaped Box" [LP Version] (Cobain) - 4:39
2. "Milk It" [LP Version] (Cobain) - 3:52
3. "Marigold" (Grohl) - 2:33

Chart positions

1993    Heart-Shaped Box        Official UK Singles Charts      No. 5
1993    Heart-Shaped Box        Official Sweeden Singles Chart  No. 16
1993    Heart-Shaped Box        Modern Rock Tracks              No. 1
1993    Heart-Shaped Box        Mainstream Rock Tracks          No. 4

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