Marigold

Dave Grohl wrote this song. He did the singing, the guitar, and the drums. Krist did the bass.

Kurt wasn't there whatsoever, although it was him who decided to put the song as a B-side to "Heart-Shaped Box". And he did jam on it with Grohl, but it wasn't recorded.

As for what the song's about, I think it's about the lottery, and the guy has a winning ticket and some other guy is standing next to him and is scared he has the winning ticket. "Six color pictures, all in a row, of a marigold" - the six scratchcard squares all come out the same, so he wins the jackpot.

Just my interpretation.

This is one of my favourite Nirvana songs.

I think the backup is just Dave's voice redubbed over it. Trust me you don't want to hear Chris try to sing it isn't good. Also another interesting side note, on this song Kurt played drums, Dave Bass and Chris guitar.

I do remember reading something about Marigold being about Kurt......but I'm not sure. What I read might have been for Friend of a Friend.

This is one of my favorite Nirvana songs. I was watching a Foo concert and Dave said that he wrote this song while living with Kurt. And that Kurt had pictures of Marigolds on his wall and some pet turtles that would keep trying to get out of their bowl but they just kept falling back in. I'm not sure if this makes any sense..lol.

Obviously, the Marigold part is about the pictures on the wall. I think the "he" is Kurt; maybe? I think by scared he means more shocked or surprised at how Dave was so sure he wanted in the band and he would live with him when he barely knew him.

Idk thats just what I think.

Well, okay, so this I'd MY point, if Kurt wrote it. (I thought he did loloops) 'He's scared in case I want it' He, himself. Is scared his conscious is leading him to kill himself, And 'I want it' meaning, maybe I do want it. 'He's scared cus I want it all' Meaning, He, his conscious is scared that he might kill himself, or, that he want everything (pain guilt, etc) to go away. 'All in all the clock is slow' Meaning, he's waiting. Waiting for his time to be up on this world. 'Six colour pictures all in a row, of, a marigold' We all know Kurt was an amazing artist;loved to draw, it's just maybe a painting idea, that Some how represents a deep meaning.

This song reminds me to the first notes in In Bloom, Marigold could be the "Beatles" version.

About the meaning, when I first listened this song I thought this was about Kurt's last days jealousy towards Dave, because of the money and fame Dave was earning because of him and also, Kurt was afraid to be betrayed by Dave.

But now, having listened to some interviews, I think this song talks about a love/hate triangle, where "Marigold" could be Courtney, "he" is Kurt, and the "slow clock" could mean patience, to miss someone or waiting to make a "I-want-it-all" decision that scares "him". Facts that make me think so:

1. Apparently, Kurt smiled when Dave first played the song. So it didn't sound like a passive aggressive cynical lyric against him.

2. Kurt kissed Dave while playing/recording the song. I didn't know they were such affective with each other!

3. Kurt and Dave shared bedroom while on tour, so I guess they shared the most intimate secrets, they both dated one Bikini Hill member, they were like partners in crime and they also shared that sensitive personality, they treated each other with too much sweetness to be two badass, strong and young grunge-stars. Anyway, 6 color pictures of a marigold could just be Courtney pictures Kurt carried with him.

4. According to Courtney, Dave and her used to like each other when she was just a Billy Corgan groupie and before she started dating Kurt. Dave rejected / joked with Courtney telling her things like she had a round face and she had a terrible hairstyle. Courtney still thinks Dave was cute.

5. Dave was the only Nirvana member at Kurt and Courtney wedding, and there's that weird wedding picture with Courtney, Dave and Kurt, all holding hands like if it were a threesome wedding.

6. Dave's constant "paternal" attention to Kurt's daughter, unlike Krist. And few years ago, Courtney falsely accused Grohl of having an affair with adult Frances, which sounded like an attempt to get his attention after 20 years… or like jealousy of the relationship that the adult Frances was cultivating with Dave. In fact she (Courtney) managed to avoid the meeting between Dave and her daughter at the 2014 Rock and Roll hall of Fame. Something must have happened between Dave and Courtney, beyond money.

7. And the definitive evidence: This song was released as a B-side for Heart-Shaped Box, the song talking about Courtney and the love box she gifted him. Marigold could be Dave's perspective of that romance he lived "in the middle" with interests and feelings mixed towards Kurt and Courtney.

no, but i assume Dave or Krist, honestly don't know. This was my first Nirvana song i ever heard. How backwards is that? I was only "musically aware" in 1997, so i was finding nirvana songs and this was the first i heard the whole thing of, not even Teen Spirit. Oh, well, it's extremely addictive.

That is very untrue no body listen to this idiot.....i heard Nirvana talking about this song in a an interview... Dave was asked if it was hard to sing Marigold and do the drumming at the same time and he replyed,"Not at all, I sing backup on alot of our songs, once Kurt forgot some Polly lyrics when we were touring and I have to drum and sing for him,it's not that hard for me"

I love this song, but it feels like something is missing from it. I think if it had a good bridge in it, it would totally kick ass even more than it does now.