Miya Pearson
Where Did You Sleep Last Night is a traditional American folk song that has been covered by numerous artists over the years. One of the most notable renditions is by the grunge band Nirvana, who performed the song during their MTV Unplugged appearance in 1993. The song was later released as a single from their album MTV Unplugged in New York in November 1994. The bass tabs for the Nirvana version of the song are available online, with Krist Novoselic on bass. The song has also been featured in various forms of media, including TV shows, video games, and books.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Track Name | Where Did You Sleep Last Night |
| Band | Nirvana |
| Bass | Krist Novoselic |
| Bass Type | Acoustic Bass |
| Bass Tabs | Available on various websites |
| Genre | Grunge |
| First Performed | November 18, 1993 |
| First Released | November 1994 |
| Album | MTV Unplugged in New York |
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What You'll Learn
Where Did You Sleep Last Night's first official release
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" is an American folk song that has been recorded and performed by numerous artists over the decades. The song's origins are unknown, but it is believed to have originated in the Southern Appalachian area of the United States in the 1870s. The earliest recording of the song was in 1923, titled "Where Did You Stay Last Night?" by King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. However, the song gained widespread popularity in the 1940s when it was recorded by Dock Walsh and, a year later, by Lead Belly. Lead Belly's rendition, titled "In the Pines," emphasized the song's murderous and violent aspects, making it incredibly sinister compared to other artists' interpretations.
Bill Monroe, an American bluegrass musician, also recorded the song in 1941 and 1952, and his versions were highly influential on later bluegrass and country music renditions. Monroe's recordings, also titled "In the Pines," featured fiddles and yodelling and omitted any references to decapitation. Over the years, "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" has been performed and recorded by various artists, including the Kossoy Sisters, Arthur Smith & His Dixie Liners, and the Four Pennies, who reached the top 20 in the United Kingdom with their version in 1964.
One of the most notable and acclaimed performances of the song was by the American grunge band Nirvana. Kurt Cobain, the band's singer and guitarist, was introduced to the song by Lanegan, and he often played guitar on Lanegan's version. Nirvana occasionally performed "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" live during the early 1990s, with Cobain screaming the final verse. Their most famous performance of the song was during their MTV Unplugged appearance in 1993, which was later released on their album "MTV Unplugged in New York" in 1994.
Cobain's acoustic performance of the song received critical and commercial acclaim, and it has been described as ""one of the greatest single rock performances of all time." The song's impact was such that in 2013, nearly two decades after its release, the show's producer, Alex Coletti, recalled Cobain declining to perform an encore, feeling that they couldn't top the intensity and emotion of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night." Cobain's interpretation of the song has left a lasting legacy, with his raw and powerful delivery continuing to resonate with audiences long after its first official release.
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The song's bass guitarist, Krist Novoselic
Krist Anthony Novoselic, born on May 16, 1965, is an American musician, politician, and activist. He is best known as the bassist and co-founder of the rock band Nirvana, alongside Kurt Cobain and drummer Aaron Burckhard. Novoselic played bass on every Nirvana album, contributing to their distinctive sound and helping them establish themselves as a pivotal part of the Seattle grunge scene in the late 1980s.
Novoselic's interest in music began when he was 14 and living in Croatia, where he discovered punk rock bands like the Sex Pistols and the Ramones. He has cited Paul McCartney, Geezer Butler, John Entwistle, and Gene Simmons as fundamental influences on his bass playing. Novoselic's brother, Robert, played a pivotal role in his musical journey by introducing him to his friend, Kurt Cobain, who shared similar musical tastes.
Nirvana's debut album, "Bleach," was released in 1989, but it was their second album, Nevermind (1991), that catapulted them to worldwide fame. The band's success continued with their third album, "In Utero" (1993), but it abruptly ended in 1994 following Cobain's death. Despite Nirvana's short-lived career, they left an indelible mark on the music industry, with Novoselic's bass playing earning him a reputation as a legend among grunge fans.
After Nirvana, Novoselic remained musically active, collaborating with various artists. In 1996, he joined singer Johnny Cash, guitarist Kim Thayil, and drummer Sean Kinney to record a cover of Willie Nelson's "Time of the Preacher" for the tribute album "Twisted Willie." Novoselic also explored filmmaking, directing the pseudo-documentary "L7: The Beauty Process" in 1998. He continued to work with different bands, including the No WTO Combo, Eyes Adrift, and Flipper, showcasing his versatility and enduring passion for music.
In addition to his musical pursuits, Novoselic actively engaged in political activism and commentary. He wrote a weekly column on music and politics for the Seattle Weekly website from 2007 to 2010. He has served on the board of FairVote, an electoral reform organization, and became the board chair of Zócalo Public Square in 2020. Novoselic's political involvement extended to joining and leading various political parties, such as the Forward Party and the Cascade Party of Washington.
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Kurt Cobain's inspiration for the song
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" is a cover of the song "In the Pines" by American folk and blues singer and songwriter Lead Belly, who is often cited as the author of the song. Lead Belly's version of the song is influenced by earlier recordings, such as the folk version by the Kossoy Sisters, which asks, "Little girl, little girl, where'd you stay last night? Not even your mother knows." Another influential recording is by Bill Monroe in 1941 and 1952, which represents the "longest train" variant of the song.
Kurt Cobain of Nirvana played guitar on the version that appears on Mark Lanegan's 1990 album "The Winding Sheet". Cobain's interpretation of the song likely drew from Lead Belly's 1944 Musicraft version, as Lanegan owned an original 78 rpm record of this version, and it closely resembles the form, title, and lyrics of Cobain's version, including the "'Shiver for me' interjection before the instrumental verse."
In a 1996 interview with Rolling Stone, Lanegan said he was stunned by Nirvana's Unplugged performance of the song: "His version of that song is the definitive version — it blows mine away." The Unplugged performance, recorded in 1993 and released in 1994, is considered one of the great musical moments of the 1990s and earned Cobain acclaim from critics and other musicians and artists. Cobain's vocals during the final screamed verse were described as "unearthly, like a werewolf, unbelievable" by Canadian musician Neil Young.
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The song's alternative titles
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana, based on Lead Belly's interpretation of the song "In the Pines". The song was first released as part of their MTV Unplugged performance in 1993 and was later released on their MTV Unplugged in New York album in 1994.
The song has been known by several alternative titles, including:
- "In the Pines": This title was used by Bill Monroe and Lead Belly in their interpretations of the song. In a 2009 MTV article, Kurt Loder recalled discussing the song's title with Cobain, with the latter insisting on using "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" while Loder preferred "In the Pines."
- "Where Did You Sleep Last Night (In the Pines)": This was the original title sanctioned for the song's release as a B-side to the band's "Pennyroyal Tea" single in 1994. However, the single's release was cancelled following Cobain's death in April 1994.
- "Black Girl": This title was used by Lead Belly for his interpretation of the song, which served as the basis for Nirvana's version.
- "The Pine Hill Singers": This title was used by some sources to refer to the song, possibly derived from the song's association with the pine trees mentioned in its lyrics.
The different titles reflect the song's evolution and interpretation by various artists, each leaving their mark on its legacy.
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Where Did You Sleep Last Night's critical acclaim
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" is a traditional American folk song originating from two songs, "In the Pines" and "The Longest Train", dating back to at least the 1870s. The song has been recorded by numerous artists across various genres and is often associated with American musicians Bill Monroe and Lead Belly, who both recorded versions in the 1940s.
One of the most notable and acclaimed renditions of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" was by the grunge band Nirvana. Their version was based on Lead Belly's interpretation and was first recorded during their MTV Unplugged performance in 1993. Kurt Cobain, the band's singer and guitarist, earned critical acclaim for his acoustic performance and powerful vocals during the final screamed verse. Canadian musician Neil Young described Cobain's vocals as "unearthly, like a werewolf, unbelievable." The song was released on their platinum-selling album, "MTV Unplugged in New York", in 1994, becoming the last song on the last album Cobain recorded before his death.
Nirvana's interpretation of the song introduced it to a new generation of listeners and solidified its place in popular culture. The song has been referenced and featured in various media, including books, television shows, and video games. For example, in 2007, Czech-American writer-singer Natálie Kocábová used a strophe of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" for the opening of her novella, "Rose: A Way to the Light." Additionally, an instrumental version of Nirvana's cover plays in the cold open of episode 7 of the TV show "The Defenders."
Beyond its critical acclaim, Nirvana's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" also achieved commercial success. The song's inclusion on the popular "MTV Unplugged in New York" album, as well as its release as a promotional single, likely contributed to its reach and impact. The album's platinum-selling status further highlights the song's widespread appeal and the enduring interest in Nirvana's music.
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Frequently asked questions
Krist Novoselic played bass on the Nirvana cover of 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night'.
Bass tabs are bass guitar tablatures that show finger positions for playing bass lines. Bass tabs for this track can be found on websites such as Songsterr, BigBassTabs, and E-Chords.
The bass line in the song is characterized by a repetitive pattern that mainly consists of whole notes and half notes, with occasional eighth notes and rests.
Some other Nirvana songs with popular bass tabs include "The Man Who Sold The World", "About a Girl", "Lithium", "Come as You Are", and "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
