Songs That Were Based On Real-Life Crimes

Nirvana's 1991 song "Polly" has some truly bizarre lyrics like "Polly wants a cracker" and "I think she wants some water to put out the blowtorch" (per Genius). But once you know the story behind the song, they take on a much darker meaning. According to Far Out Magazine, frontman Kurt Cobain wrote "Polly" after reading a newspaper story about a real crime.

In 1987, a teen girl attended a rock concert at the Tacoma Dome in Washington State. On her way home from the show, she was kidnapped by Gerald Friend and held hostage at his house, where he raped her before hanging her from the ceiling and torturing her with a blowtorch. Luckily, the girl escaped with her life, and Friend is now in prison.

Curiously, Cobain sings the song from the perspective of Friend, the criminal, showcasing all of his warped and selfish thoughts. While it was misunderstood at the time, this was meant as a slight against flawed male thinking rather than sympathy for a rapist. When NME asked about the song in a 1991 interview, Cobain said, "The problem with groups who deal with rape is that they try to educate women about how to defend themselves. What really needs to be done is teaching men not to rape."

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

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