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The State Lyrics
Oh, I was free to live and love
And kill as I saw fit
I was at peace, there really was
No one I was at war with
The only common good
Was that we understood
That laws unjust were only good for breaking
That difference legalized instead of sameness
Left nobody free
But that was the day before I married my conscience to the state
My taxes paid these roads we laid
To places of my choosing
There were no eyes up in the skies
Looking down into my bed
There was no government
Without our consent
And keys were made for anyone who just claimed it
And glass was all of every wall that framed it
From sea to shining sea
But that was the day before I married my conscience to the state
Right and wrong were written on my heart and not just in the laws that condemned me
But now with Caesar satisfied I can even do the things that should offend me
And kill as I saw fit
I was at peace, there really was
No one I was at war with
Was that we understood
That laws unjust were only good for breaking
That difference legalized instead of sameness
Left nobody free
But that was the day before I married my conscience to the state
To places of my choosing
There were no eyes up in the skies
Looking down into my bed
Without our consent
And keys were made for anyone who just claimed it
And glass was all of every wall that framed it
From sea to shining sea
But that was the day before I married my conscience to the state
But now with Caesar satisfied I can even do the things that should offend me
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Like most of the songs on this album, this is a metaphor for problems with the modern American church and her marriage to political systems.
It's a story of how the Church, as well as individual Christians, is supposed to separate itself from the State (to varying degrees, anyway) so as to follow the teachings of Jesus over and above the laws of the land.
This song notes, however, that a large swath of the modern Church has married itself to the state, metaphorically, and is willing to violate the teachings of Christ when told to by the State.
Exactly WHICH teachings you think we are violating will depend on which political platform you stand. Those toward the right wing might point to mainstream Christian churches' pro-choice stance (among other things.) Those on the left wing may point to fundamentalist churches' support of war or torture (among other things.) Both would, of course, be right. But if you want to get the real meaning, you need to look at your OWN side and see what evils it is willing to perpetuate at the order of the State (or at the order of the party or movement or...)
ilike what u said, but can u help me understand this part: "That difference legalized instead of sameness Left nobody free" ?
He could be talking about the legal doctrine of separate but equal used by the government (differences legalized?). Of course that is only a stab in the dark. The implication within the song being that since the government OK'd that concept, that makes it morally right to segregate. They (maybe the church within the US) were only concerned about it until the day they married their conscience to the state.
Also there is reason to believe Derek would include references to Segregation and Civil Rights. Other songs on the Stockholm Syndrome are about the Civil Rights Movement and government interference (Jena and Jimmy).