So What

Album: Three Imaginary Boys (1979)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A track from The Cure's first album, Three Imaginary Boys, "So What" was the only song for which they didn't have lyrics assembled when they entered the studio. Their drummer Lol Tolhurst supplied Robert Smith with a sheet of lyrics he had been working on, and Smith augmented it with a bag of sugar.

    This particular sugar bag had an offer printed on it for a cake icing and decorating set, which he lifted directly:

    Give your cakes and pies a professional look
    With this superb decorating set
    ...
    Each set includes a turntable
    A nine-inch icing bag
    With six high definition nozzles and adaptor
    With a 15-inch food decorating bag


    Tolhurst described the song as "very Dadaesque."
  • Vocalist Robert Smith has said that the song is an example of writing whilst intoxicated. He also described the track as "a sort of scream: after four days shut in a studio, we just had to do something." (Blank Space, 1979).
  • The album peaked at #44 in the UK.

Comments: 2

  • Anonymous@ Ali. I also knew the song for a long time yet couldn't understand what it was about until much later in my life. The ending of the song stood out the most, was when I thought Robert said:"Please send a decorating set. I include a chicken poster but so what?"
  • Ali from Wine, Cawow....goodness!!! talk about something different. that meanings amazing. this song actually, makes me laugh every time i hear it. he SOUNDS a bit drunk, or else something a bit different, and with all of the background noises, its absolutly brilliant.
    i find the meaning to this song pretty inspiring, considering i grew up with this song (my older sister loved it) and because a lot of their songs, are actually really inspiring.

    if youve never heard it, i really encourage you to. the whole time youll be thinking, "what on earth...was robert diong when he wrote this." i know thats what i always thought. and now i know...he was drunk!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Amanda Palmer

Amanda PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.