10 Life Lessons from Lorde’s Song What Was That
Lorde’s “What Was That” song is rich with emotion and introspection, wrapped in vivid imagery and raw vulnerability. Here are 10 life lessons we can draw from the song:
1. Healing Takes Time
> “I cover up all the mirrors, I can’t see myself yet”
– Sometimes, we’re not ready to face ourselves after loss or change. And that’s okay—healing is not linear.
2. Nostalgia Can Be Both Beautiful and Painful
> “MDMA in the back garden… We kissed for hours straight”
– Revisiting intense memories can bring a bittersweet kind of ache. Cherish them, but don’t get stuck there.
3. Love Isn’t Always Enough
> “I didn’t know then that you’d never be enough for—”
– Even deep love can’t always fix what’s broken or fulfill every need.
4. Identity Can Feel Shaky After a Breakup
> “Since I was seventeen, I gave you everything”
– When we tie our identity to someone else, their absence can leave us feeling lost—but it also opens the door to rediscovery.
5. The Present Is Harder Without Closure
> “Well, baby, what was that?”
– The repeated question suggests lingering confusion. Sometimes we don’t get answers—and we learn to live without them.
6. Emotional Residue Lingers
> “Whatever has to pass through me, pass through / But this is staying a while, I know”
– Some experiences stick with us longer than we’d like. And that’s part of being human.
7. We Often Romanticize the Past
> “This is the best cigarette of my life”
– Intense moments can gain almost mythic status in memory. They’re rarely as perfect as we remember.
8. Growth Often Begins in Discomfort
> “I face reality”
– Facing the truth, especially alone, is hard—but it’s where real transformation starts.
9. Your Surroundings Don’t Always Match Your Feelings
> “I stare at the painted faces that talk current affairs”
– Even in a crowd, especially in social settings, loneliness can hit the hardest.
10. Art Is a Safe Space for Processing Pain
By writing and sharing this song, Lorde transforms confusion and heartbreak into something others can connect with. We can all do that in our own way.
Read:
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• What Was That Lyrics
• What Was That Lyrics Meaning