Origin and History
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (also known as "In the Pines" or "Black Girl") is a traditional American folk song with roots dating back to at least the 1870s. The song has been performed by countless artists across genres, but it gained widespread modern recognition through Kurt Cobain’s haunting rendition with Nirvana on their 1993 MTV Unplugged performance.
Famous Versions
- Lead Belly – One of the earliest recorded versions (1940s), deeply influential in folk and blues circles.
- Nirvana – Their stripped-down, emotional cover introduced the song to a global rock audience.
- Clifford Gibson, Pete Seeger, and others – Each brought unique regional and stylistic interpretations.
Lyrics (Nirvana Version)
My girl, my girl, don't lie to me
Tell me where did you sleep last night
In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night throughMy girl, my girl, where will you go
I'm so lonesome I could die...