What Is a Woman?

Song Meaning

The lyrics grapple with a profound, almost existential question: "What is a woman?" The narrator cycles through a series of inquiries, probing the perceived essence and emotional landscape of womanhood. There's an immediate sense of confusion and perhaps a touch of melancholy, as the questions themselves suggest a lack of clear answers or a deep-seated uncertainty about identity and desire. The repeated phrasing, "What is a woman?" acts as a persistent, almost anxious refrain. The central tension appears to stem from a perceived societal or internal pressure for women to be defined by romantic love. The narrator questions why a woman would fear not being in love and why it's considered wrong for her to be alone. This suggests a narrative where a woman's value or completeness is intrinsically linked to her romantic relationships, creating a conflict between this expectation and the possibility of self-sufficiency or contentment in solitude. The bridge offers a poignant, if somewhat bleak, metaphor for female maturation. Young girls are depicted as vibrant and changeable, like "April with rainbows." However, this phase is presented as temporary, with the implication that growing up means the end of this colorful, dynamic period, leaving behind a more static or somber existence. This imagery powerfully contrasts the perceived innocence and potential of youth with the perceived limitations of adulthood for women. Ultimately, the lyrics suggest that for a woman, to "be a woman" is equated with loneliness, a state that can only be alleviated by being in love. This framing, while perhaps reflecting a specific perspective within the song, highlights a deep-seated feeling of incompleteness or a reliance on external validation for a woman's sense of being "alive." The repeated "Mmm" in the outro leaves the listener with a lingering sense of unresolved contemplation.