"Lithium"
Single by Nirvana
from the album Nevermind
B-side(s)	"School (live)"/"Curmudgeon"
Released	1992
Format	CD
Recorded	May - June, 1991 at Sound City, Van Nuys
Genre	Grunge
Length	9 min 28 s
Label	DGC
Producer(s)	Butch Vig
Chart positions
#64 (US) #28 (UK)
Nirvana singles chronology
"Come as You Are" (1992)	"Lithium" (1992)	"In Bloom" (1993)

"Lithium" is a song by the grunge band Nirvana. It originally appeared on and was the third single from their breakthrough album Nevermind. It would later appear on their live album From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah and their greatest hits album Nirvana. An acoustic version appears on the 2004 box set With the Lights Out. The lyrics were written by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. Cover of Nirvanas single, Lithium. This image is the cover of an album or single. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short record, usually featuring one or two tracks as A-side, often accompanied by several B-sides, usually remixes or other songs. ... Nirvana was a popular American rock band from Aberdeen, Washington. ... Nevermind is the second studio album from the American grunge band, Nirvana. ... In recorded music, the terms A-side and B-side refer to the two sides of 7 inch vinyl records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. ... For other things named school, see school (disambiguation). ... Look up curmudgeon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The Compact Disc logo was inspired by that of the previous Compact Cassette. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Van Nuys is a district within the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Grunge music (sometimes also referred to as the Seattle Sound) is an independent-rooted music genre that became a commercially successful offshoot of hardcore punk, thrash metal, and alternative rock in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... A minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour and to 60 seconds. ... Look up second in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Butch Vig Bryan Butch Vig (born August 2, 1957 in Viroqua, Wisconsin) is both a rock musician and record producer. ... A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Nirvana was a popular American rock band from Aberdeen, Washington. ... Come as You Are is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana. ... In Bloom is a song by the grunge band Nirvana. ... Grunge music (sometimes also referred to as the Seattle Sound) is a genre of alternative rock inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock. ... Nirvana was a popular American rock band from Aberdeen, Washington. ... Nevermind is the second studio album from the American grunge band, Nirvana. ... From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah is a live compilation album from the American grunge band, Nirvana. ... Nirvana is a best-of compilation album from the American grunge band, Nirvana. ... With the Lights Out is a box set, containing 3 CDs and 1 DVD, from the American grunge band, Nirvana. ... Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – ca. ...

The name of the song is often attributed to the metal lithium's tendency to be found in mood stabilisers such as lithium carbonate and lithium orotate; because of this the lyrics are often interpreted as describing bipolar disorder. Nonetheless, there is much disagreement about the exact meaning and interpretation of it. General Name, Symbol, Number lithium, Li, 3 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 2, s Appearance silvery white/gray Atomic mass 6. ... A mood stabilizer is a psychiatric medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder to suppress swings between mania and depression. ... Lithium salts are chemical salts of lithium used as mood stabilizing drugs, primarily in the treatment of bipolar disorder, depression, and mania; but also in treating schizophrenia. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression) is a diagnostic category describing a class of mood disorders in which the person experiences states or episodes of depression and/or mania, hypomania, and/or mixed states. ...

Memorable performances

Nirvana was asked to perform their hit, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards but the band wanted to play a new song called "Rape Me". MTV declined, and eventually it was agreed that the band would play "Lithium". When the band began their performance, Kurt strummed and sang the first few bars of "Rape Me", before jumping into "Lithium". Nearing the end of the live performance, Krist Novoselic threw his bass into the air, (later saying it was because his bass was cutting out) but misjudged the catch and the bass smacked him in the forehead, causing him to collapse. Cobain and drummer Dave Grohl, oblivious to this, continued to play as Novoselic rose and staggered offstage. Smells Like Teen Spirit is a song by the American grunge band, Nirvana. ... The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ... Rape Me is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. ... Krist Novoselic in 1991 Krist Anthony Novoselic (born May 16, 1965, Compton, California) is a Croatian-American rock musician best known as the bassist for Nirvana. ... A session drummer at practice A drummer is a musician who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums. ... David Eric Grohl (born January 14, 1969, in Warren, Ohio) is an American rock musician. ...

Track listing

The following songs appeared on the single:

1. "Lithium" [LP Version] (Cobain) - 4:19
2. "Been A Son" [live, Paramount Theatre (Seattle, Washington) 1991.10.31] (Cobain) - 2:33
3. "Curmudgeon" (Cobain, Nirvana) - 3:00

The Nirvana song called Been A Son has been released in at least six different versions. ... Look up curmudgeon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Chart positions

Accolades

• Ranked #20 in Kerrang!'s "100 Greatest Rock Tracks Ever" (1999)
• Ranked #42 in Kerrang!'s "100 Greatest Singles of All Time" (2002)
• Ranked #5 in NME's "Top 20 Nirvana Songs" (2004)
• Ranked #8 in Q's "10 Greatest Nirvana Songs Ever" (2004)

Kerrang! is a weekly music magazine (mainly rock) published by EMAP in the United Kingdom. ... The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a music magazine in the UK which has been published weekly since March 1952. ... Q is a music and entertainment magazinepublished monthly in the United Kingdom. ...

See also

List of songs about mental illness This is a list of songs related to mental illness, including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. ...

External links

• Lithium Lyrics