The meaning of the lyrics of the song "5:15" by the artist "Who, The"

The phrase "Who cares?" in The Who's song "5:15" represents a sense of alienation, confusion, and apathy in the lyrics' persona.

The persona observes the world around him but feels disconnected from it. He sees 15-year-old girls as superficial and uninteresting, their behavior causing him nothing but boredom and disappointment. Comparing himself to a "muffled tidal wave," a " runaway caboose," he embodies a sense of being lost, adrift, with no sense of belonging.

The phrase "Who cares?" isn't about indifference but rather a defense mechanism against the feeling of not belonging and being misunderstood. He "apologizes a lot" for his past transgressions, acknowledging his mistakes without seeing a way out. The image of a "teenage diplomat" in drag further emphasizes the feeling of alienation and loneliness — he is "outrageous" in the eyes of society, destined to be misunderstood and judged.

The recurring line "Inside out" speaks to emotional vulnerability and a desire to withdraw from the world. He feels lost and disoriented, "staggering" through life in a haze. The "train" acts as a metaphor for life that keeps moving forward, leaving him behind, unable to find his place. "Who cares?" becomes a desperate cry for help, an expression of pain and despair.