What Was That Lyrics
[Verse 1]
A place in the city, a chair and a bed
I cover up all the mirrors, I can’t see myself yet
I wear smoke like a wedding veil
Make a meal I won’t eat
Step out into the street, alone in a sea
It comes over me
Oh, I’m missing you
Yeah, I’m missing you
And all the things we used to do
[Chorus]
MDMA in the back garden, blow our pupils up
We kissed for hours straight, well, baby, what was that?
I remember saying then, “This is the best cigarette of my life”
Well, I want you just like that
Indio haze, we’re in a sandstorm, and it knocks me out
I didn’t know then that you’d never be enough for—
Since l was seventeen, I gave you everything
Now, we wake from a dream
Well, baby, what was that?
[Post-Chorus]
What was that?
Baby, what was that?
[Verse 2]
Do you know you’re still with me, when I’m out with my friends?
I stare at the painted faces that talk current affairs
You had to know this was happening, you weren’t feeling my heat
When I’m in the blue light, down at Baby’s All Right
I face reality
I tried (I tried) to let (To let)
Whatever has to pass through me, pass through
But this is staying a while, I know
It might not let me go
[Chorus]
MDMA in the back garden, blow our pupils up
We kissed for hours straight, well, baby, what was that?
I remember saying then, “This is the best cigarette of my life”
Well, I want you just like that
Indio haze, we’re in a sandstorm, and it knocks me out
I didn’t know then, but you’d never be enough for—
Since l was seventeen, I gave you everything
Now, we wake from a dream
Well, baby, what was that?
[Post-Chorus]
What was that?
‘Cause I want you just like that
(When I’m in the blue light, I can make it alright)
What was that?
(When I’m in the blue light, I can make it alright)
Baby, what was that?
Summary of this Song Lyrics
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Lorde’s “What Was That” song reflects the lingering ache of a lost love, blending vivid memories with emotional introspection. The artist recalls a past relationship marked by intense connection and euphoria—moments like kissing for hours, sharing cigarettes, and doing MDMA together in a garden. These snapshots of intimacy are juxtaposed with the present, where the speaker feels lost and alone, unable to fully move on.
The lyrics explore the difficulty of letting go, despite knowing the relationship was ultimately unfulfilling. There’s a strong sense of nostalgia and yearning, as well as a realization that the relationship may have meant more to the artist than to their partner. The refrain, “What was that?” captures the confusion and emotional aftermath—trying to make sense of something that once felt magical but now feels distant and unreal.
Throughout the song, symbolic imagery—like covering mirrors, wearing smoke, and wandering through blue light—emphasizes themes of disconnection and unresolved grief. Though the artist attempts to process the past and embrace reality, the memories persist. The song captures the haunting nature of love lost too soon, and how even years later, certain moments can still hit with the force of a dream you don’t want to wake from.
Read:
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• What Was That Lyrics
• What Was That Lyrics Meaning
• 10 Life Lessons from Lorde’s Song What Was That
What Was That (MV)
Audio Credits & Details
Artist : Lorde
Lyricists : Lorde, Jim-E Stack
Musicians : Jim-E Stack, Lorde, Dan Nigro
Label : Universal Music New Zealand Limited
Genre: Pop
Date: April 24, 2025