☝️ Key Points
- The song is about the protagonist's attitude towards the expectations and judgment of others.
- The love and affection of their loved one are more important to them than what others think of them.
- They are content with small mistakes and setbacks, as long as they have the love of their partner.
- Material things don't matter to them, as long as they can taste the sweet lips of their loved one.
- The song lyrics emphasize the priority the protagonist gives to love and affection over the expectations and judgment of others.
Interpretation
The song 'What Do I Care?' by
Johnny Cash is about the protagonist's attitude towards the expectations and judgment of others. The lyrics express that he doesn't care about what others think of him or how they judge him. He is aware that he may not meet the expectations others have of him, but he doesn't care.
The chorus of the song goes: 'What do I care, just as long as you were mine a little while? When the road was long and weary you gave me a few good miles.' Here, the singer expresses that as long as he has the love and affection of his beloved, everything else doesn't matter. The moments and memories they shared are much more important to him than what others think of him.
The lyrics also emphasize that the protagonist is content with small mistakes and setbacks, as long as he can taste the sweet lips of his beloved. Money and material things don't matter to him, as long as he has the love of his partner. He says, 'Anything that I may miss is made up for each time we kiss.'
Overall, the song lyrics are about the priority the protagonist gives to the love and affection of his beloved over the expectations and judgment of others. He is happy and content as long as he has that love in his life.