So What? Lyrics

Lyric discussion by ktkingster 

Cover art for So What? lyrics by Ani DiFranco

i typically don't comment but feel compelled here since no one seems to have captured the essence of this song.

it it about a woman who was in a relationship and loved very deeply an extremely self-destructive person.

the relationship has ended due to the self-destructive person doing what they do best: sabotaging their own happiness and pushing away the person who loves them most.

and the woman is left to watch off to the side as this person pretends to be someone they're not, trying to mask the pain (usually with alcohol), going out and partying, trying to live this fantasy life, trying to forget the pain they feel inside and how once again they ruined the best thing that ever happened to them .. and they did it on purpose. it was an even better self-hating act than cutting their arm.

but of course all of it only makes their internal pain worse, and they continue to careen towards rock bottom. all the while remembering that this woman loved them so.

and all she can say is, now being pushed out of this person's life and forced to witness the destruction, probably having been pushed by them to her breaking limit to where she didn't even WANT to be a part of their life anymore because it ultimately hurt so bad, ultimately this person always comes back to validate that she is still there, but they both know things will never be the same .. and all she can say to them is, yeah, i loved you, so what?