Lorde – What Was That. Lyrics Meaning: Waking Up From a Fever Dream
Ever had a moment, a night, or maybe even a whole summer that was so intensely vivid and magical that once it was over, you were left completely dazed, wondering if any of it was real? It’s a feeling of emotional whiplash, like waking up from a dream you can’t quite shake. You can still feel the ghost of it, the warmth and the color, but the present reality feels stark and quiet in comparison.
That confusing, beautiful, and slightly heartbreaking sensation is the exact world Lorde plunges us into with her song. It’s a perfect sonic snapshot of that disorienting moment after an incredible high. So, if you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Wait, what just happened?”, then this track is about to become your new anthem. Let’s dive into the story it tells, because it’s not just about a breakup; it’s about the dizzying, confusing echo that’s left behind.
The Ghost of a Memory in Lorde’s “What Was That”
The song opens with a scene of profound isolation. Lorde paints a picture of someone trying to disappear within their own space. It’s quiet, it’s lonely, and it’s deliberate. She’s not just alone; she’s actively avoiding herself.
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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
This isn’t just sadness; it’s a deep disconnection. Covering the mirrors is such a powerful image—it’s a refusal to face the person you are now, after that experience. The world outside is bustling, a “sea” of people, but she feels utterly alone. This sets the stage perfectly for the flashback that’s about to hit.
From Ecstasy to Echo
And then, the memory crashes in. The contrast between the grey present and the neon-colored past is jarring. This wasn’t just a simple, sweet romance. This was an all-consuming, world-altering experience, heightened and almost psychedelic. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated euphoria.
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
The line “what was that?” isn’t just a casual question. It’s a profound, disoriented plea. Was it real? Was it just the drugs? Was it love? Or was it something else entirely, something too bright and fast to even be named? She craves that intensity again—”I want you just like that”—the way you crave the peak of a feeling you know you might never get back. It was a dream, and now, in the quiet of her city apartment, she’s woken up.
The Blue Light of Reality
The haunting doesn’t stop when she’s alone. The ghost of this person and this feeling follows her everywhere, even into social situations that are supposed to be a distraction. She’s physically present with her friends, but her mind is somewhere else entirely, replaying the past.
Do you know you’re still with me
When I’m out with my friends?
I stare at their painted faces
They talk current affairs
There’s a total disconnect. While her friends are grounded in the present, talking about “current affairs,” she’s lost in a memory. It’s a familiar feeling for anyone who’s ever gone through a major emotional shift; the rest of the world keeps moving, and you feel stuck in a time loop. This is where the song’s raw honesty really shines.
When the Party’s Over
The “blue light, down at Baby’s All Right” becomes a pivotal scene. This “blue light” feels like a moment of cold, hard clarity. It’s the opposite of the warm, hazy glow of the memory. In this light, there are no filters. There’s no hiding. It’s where she has to face the truth of her situation.
I try (I try)
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
She’s not wallowing; she’s actively trying to heal and move forward. But she’s also realistic. She acknowledges that this feeling isn’t going to vanish overnight. It has weight, it has roots, and it’s “staying a while.” This self-awareness is what makes the song so mature and relatable. It’s the quiet admission that some things just take time.
The beautiful message here isn’t about forgetting the past or pretending it didn’t happen. It’s about learning to live in the “blue light” of the present. The line “When I’m in the blue light, I can make it alright” is a quiet declaration of strength. It suggests that even in the coldness of reality, she’s finding a way to be okay. She’s learning to carry the memory without letting it consume her. It’s a reminder that resilience isn’t about being invincible; it’s about finding your footing after being knocked off-center.
So, What Was That?
In the end, Lorde doesn’t give us a neat answer, because there isn’t one. “What Was That” perfectly captures the ambiguity of intense, fleeting connections. It was a dream, a drug-fueled haze, a moment of pure love, a sandstorm that knocked her out. Maybe it was all of those things at once. The song is a journey from the dizzying high of a memory to the quiet strength of accepting the present. It’s about understanding that some experiences are so powerful they defy easy explanation, and that’s okay.
What’s your take on this? Does the song resonate with a particular memory for you, or do you interpret the “blue light” differently? I’d love to hear your perspective on what this beautiful, hazy song means to you.
