In 1991, Nirvana closed their seminal album. It doesn't matter with a song titled “Something in the Way,” in which Kurt Cobain imagined what life would be like if he lived under the Young Street Bridge in his hometown of Aberdeen, Washington. Now, that historic bridge faces destruction.
The bridge, which connects North Aberdeen to the city centre, was built in 1956 and inspired Cobain's classic lyrics, which begin with the lines “Under the bridge/the canvas a leak has sprung…” In the 30 years In the years since his death, the bridge has become something of a monument to Cobain, and currently sports layers of well-wishes and Nirvana-related graffiti on its walls.
But, as explained by Website created by the City of Aberdeen for the project. (through guerrilla candy), the bridge suffers the effects of “aging and deterioration of the conditions of the bridge.” Now, with a $23 million federal funding grant, the city hopes to revitalize the bridge and “honor the importance of Kurt Cobain,” although the original structure itself may be destroyed.
Aberdeen has three proposals for what to do with the bridge. The first is to rehabilitate and revitalize the bridge (“not a new bridge”). The second option is to keep parts of the bridge, but replace other parts, while the third option is to replace it entirely. Public meetings will be organized to discuss the different proposals and the final plan will be announced next June. Whatever happens, though, the city assures people that the end result will be something that “fits the importance of Kurt Cobain.”
Speaking of “Something in the Way,” Cobain once said that it was “like I was living under a bridge and I was dying of AIDS, if I was sick and I couldn't move and I was a total street person.” “That was kind of a fantasy.” Last year, Nick Oliveri alleged that late Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan co-wrote the song. Listen to it below.
Meanwhile, news of the bridge's pending fate comes the same week as the 30th anniversary of Cobain's death. To mark the occasion, everyone from Frances Bean Cobain to members of Godsmack, L7, Code Orange, 311 and more made statements and paid tribute. For more information, revisit our article on Cobain's tragic final days.
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