Floyd the Barber Lyrics
Bell on door clangs, come on in
Floyd observes my hairy chin
Sit down chair, don't be afraid
Steamed hot towel on my face
[Chorus]
I was shaved
I was shaved
I was shaved
[Verse 2]
Barney ties me to the chair
I can't see, I'm really scared
Floyd breathes hard, I hear a zip
Pee-pee pressed against my lips
[Chorus]
I was shamed
I was shamed
I was shamed
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 3]
I sense others in the room
Opie, Aunt Bee, I presume
They take turns and cut me up
I die smothered in Aunt Bee's muff
About
The title and lyrics of this song were inspired by the 1960s television program, The Andy Griffith Show. Floyd, Barney, Opie and Aunt Bee were characters in the portrayal of a small, idyllic American town called Maybury.
Cobain used the show’s innocent setting to tell a twisted story of going to the barber for a shave, only to end up being held captive, then tortured, raped, and murdered by the locals. Using this platform, he makes a philosophical point, describing how people of the time whitewashed their ‘50s upbringing to the point of refusing to acknowledge real social issues of the time.
Strangely enough, according to NME, police reports implied that when Cobain’s body was found, a nearby television was tuned to a station that aired syndicated re-runs of The Andy Griffith Show. It may have been one of the last images he saw.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Blew
- 2.Floyd the Barber
- 3.About a Girl
- 4.School
- 5.Love Buzz
- 6.Paper Cuts
- 8.Scoff
- 9.Swap Meet
- 10.Mr. Moustache
- 11.Sifting
- 12.Big Cheese
- 13.Downer