Song Description
"The States" was written about the living a comfortable, yet very shielded routine relative to the rest of the world. Specifically the sheltered, virtual-reality world of Madison, WI that is closed off from most societal problems. Madison is seemingly perfect compared to the globe- minimal crime, psuedo-bums, and the most friendly, intelligent collection of people I have ever seen in one place. The States are the place to be.
When I speak of routine here, I site buying an unnecessary $3 cup of coffee daily from Starbucks (the "caffeine store"), enhancing our image in "dashing" suits for intensive job hunting, and US standards of food consumption ("childrens' plates are filled like mens"), all while a poor schmuck in Buenos Aires Argentina cleans gutters for 10 hours a day, and gets 2 empanadas for dinner while still completely content, simply because he hasn't had/known any better.
The choruses discuss worring about skimpy, meaningless issues in a utopic routine, while stuff that actually deserves worrying about (outside of the States) is left oblivious to the narrator, who is absorbed in a hyper-reality which is ultimately not his fault.
| Song Length |
3:55 |
Genre |
Rock - Modern, Pop - Rock |
| Tempo |
Fast (151 - 170) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Engaging, Restless |
Subject |
Conformity, State |
| Similar Artists |
Weezer, R.E.M. |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
The States
Must be a big big day
The caffeine store gives change in 10's
Must be a dashing suit
Looking like Bruce Wayne again
Must be the afternoon
Post-lunch nap has left us wrecked
Must be a villain's game
Jokers drawn out from the deck
You don't want the extra me
When there's strings attached
Not like these puppets you make dance...spontaneously
While the world outside dissolves
I sit and solve your little thought clouds in the States
Must be the supper hour
Children's plates are filled like men's
Must be a three-piece suit
Looking like Capone again
Must be the end of the day
Clothes on the floor in a heaping mess
Must be the end of the States
The only time left is a half a sec, wait a sec, we don't have a second now
You don't want the extra me
When there's strings attached
Like life support you can afford...financially
While the world outside dissolves
I sit and solve your little thought clouds in the States
Mutual friends went hindering
Killing the seed and pulled a leaf off of my clover now there's three
There's a key with a lock I'm jimmying
To your stock I'll try to sell before it's plummeting
You don't want the extra me
When there's strings attached
Like time outside the bar we'd spend...haphazardly
While the world outside dissolves
I sit and solve your little thought clouds in the States