What Was That

• By: Lorde

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large town or urban area
cover /ˈkʌvər/ A2	verb - to place something over or in front of something else noun - something that is put over or on top of something else
smoke /smoʊk/ A2	noun - the cloud of black, gray, or white gases and dust that is produced by burning something verb - to inhale and exhale the smoke of burning tobacco or a drug
wedding /ˈwedɪŋ/ A2	noun - a marriage ceremony and any celebrations associated with it
meal /miːl/ A1	noun - an occasion when food is eaten
street /striːt/ A1	noun - a public road in a city or town
garden /ˈɡɑːrdən/ A1	noun - a plot of ground, usually near a house, used for growing flowers, vegetables, or fruit
pupil /ˈpjuːpl/ B1	noun - the dark circular opening in the center of the iris of the eye, through which light passes to the retina
cigarette /ˌsɪɡəˈret/ A2	noun - a thin cylinder of finely cut tobacco rolled in paper for smoking
haze /heɪz/ B2	noun - a slight obscurity in the air
sandstorm /ˈsændstɔːrm/ B2	noun - a storm of wind carrying sand through the air in a desert region
dream /driːm/ A1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep verb - to experience a dream
friends /frendz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
faces /ˈfeɪsɪz/ A1	noun - the front part of the head, from the forehead to the chin
reality /riˈæləti/ B2	noun - the state of things as they actually exist
problem /ˈprɒbləm/ A2	noun - a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome

Grammar:

• I cover up all the mirrors, I can't see myself yet

  ➔ Use of "yet" to indicate something expected in the future hasn't happened.

  ➔ The word "yet" indicates that the speaker expects to be able to see themself eventually, but at this moment, they can't. It implies a sense of anticipation or a process of healing or self-discovery.

• MDMA in the back garden, blow our pupils up

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of words): "We blow our pupils up" is implied after the first clause.

  ➔ This sentence uses a concise, almost poetic style by omitting "we" before "blow our pupils up". While grammatically incomplete in a formal sense, it's common in spoken English and song lyrics. The listener infers the implied subject based on the context.

• Well baby, what was that?

  ➔ Simple Past Tense (was) in a question form to inquire about a past experience.

  ➔ The phrase "What was that?" is a direct and somewhat vague inquiry about a past event or feeling. It implies confusion, curiosity, or perhaps a lack of understanding regarding the experience.

• I remember saying then, "This is the best cigarette of my life"

  ➔ Reported Speech (Indirect Speech): Reporting a direct quote from the past.

  ➔ The speaker is recalling a specific phrase they said in the past. This involves both using past tense ("remember saying") and presenting the direct quote as it was spoken at the time ("This is the best cigarette of my life"). Note the shift to present tense within the quote because that's how it was originally said.

• Well, I want you just like that

  ➔ Use of "just like that" as an adverbial phrase meaning 'exactly in that way'.

  ➔ "Just like that" refers back to the intense, fleeting feeling associated with the best cigarette they had. It conveys a desire to recapture a specific, heightened sensation or a moment of profound connection.

• I didn't know then that you'd never be enough for me

  ➔ Past Perfect Simple (didn't know) followed by Future in the Past (would never be) in a subordinate clause. This expresses a past realization about a future event from a past perspective.

  ➔ The speaker reflects on a past naivety. At a certain point in the past, they *didn't know* something (the lack of fulfillment). Later (still in the past relative to 'now'), they realized or understood that the other person *would never be enough*. This showcases a shift in perspective and understanding over time.

• Since I was seventeen, I gave you everything

  ➔ Present Perfect Simple (gave) combined with "since + past time" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present.

  ➔ The sentence highlights a period of sustained action and commitment. The use of "since I was seventeen" specifies the starting point of this period, emphasizing the duration and magnitude of the speaker's investment. It's implying that the giving has ended, but the consequences or feelings related to it persist.

• Do you know you're still with me When I'm out with my friends?

  ➔ Present Simple in the main clause ("Do you know") combined with a subordinate clause using Present Continuous ("When I'm out with my friends"). This creates a complex sentence describing a current condition in relation to a specific situation.

  ➔ The question explores whether the other person is aware of their continued influence on the speaker's life, even when the speaker is engaged in social activities. "Do you know you're still with me" is the core question, and the "When I'm out with my friends" part specifies the context where this lingering presence is felt.