The Stae of Things:
Before examining the content of
The State of Things, one should keep in mind the cohesive nature of the record
as a whole. The album discusses four main dichotomized issues:
1) the oppressiveness of a nation (or kingdom) vs. the sovereignty of a higher
force
2) western fidelity vs. the unwavering love of the One which defines such
3) the western church vs. the grace and truth that it was founded upon
4) art vs. creativity and the lack of the interaction between the two
The juxtapositions flow like this: the first half of the record (tracks 1-4) speak to the problems and lacks in the aforementioned areas, after the middle track (track 5) we then see the second half of the record (tracks 6-9) counter the first. Thus track 1 sets out the problem and track 6 speaks to that. Similarly track 2 and 7 coordinate, and so it goes. The whole record is capped off by The End (track 10) which pays homage to the fact that even though God is good and offers us relief from these problems; we often choose not to partner with Him in his solutions.
Therefore, throughout the record we encounter four problems, a divider, four encouraging solutions, and then the realization that we’re still fucked for the most part due to our lack of compliance with the One who knows best.
All of this is, of course, draped across the framework of pop-music, so this record can not fully discuss these issues; only poetize them for pondering and remembrance.
Enjoy.
1) The State of the Union
A Nation to others:
This is the way that it will be, I will build such an army that you will bow
before me.
I will be like Joseph (the keeper with the sword) and the rest are Jacob’s
others just begging with the hordes for food.
Instead of being generous I will
keep you in your place: petrol trees and water were made for the human race.
We’re the home of the brave and the land of the free, but if you fuck with the
middle east, then you’re fucking with me.
We want to choke you with our culture and hold you to our ideals.
We want to tempt you with our bodies until virginity is killed.
You will know all our slogans, profanity, and slang.
You’ll invest in our fashion until you’re one day enslaved.
This is not the way freedom goes.
This is the way it will be: I’ll
control the planet and you’ll listen to me.
I’ll control the currency and no one will mind while the people have their cable
(TV) and their thin white lines.
2) The State of fidelity
I think It’s time you let go of
me dear, the children are at home they should be sleeping.
But, Christ, look at us, we should be sleeping.
When I pick up the phone now she says ‘I’m 10 pounds thinner.’
That’s really great, but you’ve caught me at such a bad time, that’s the hang up
now sign.
When he sits in bed at night, he has to use the kids nightlight to find that phone to call that lover, and ‘oh, it’s so good to hear your voice.’
‘Who was that dear? Was that
your brother?’
‘No dear precious, it was another friend from work who’s having problems with
his life,
so go to sleep my steadfast loving wife.’
When he sits in bed at night, he has to use the kids nightlight to find that phone to call that lover, and ‘oh, it’s so good to hear your voice.’
3) The State of the Church
Wretched over-cynical and tame, fallible but respectable all the same
Its better-loving not bitter-loving games they’ve played with our sorrows and
our shames.
The grievous and ambitious that get ahead, where ministry and servanthood are
finally dead.
So reap apart your consequences and string barbed wire between your fences,
The goal is to keep out the sick and lame, the wretched over-cynical and tame.
The fruit is ripe just falling
from the tree, instead of helping we’d rather talk ecclesiology.
There’s no concern for something greater its who’s shooting first, who’s
shooting straighter, but this body’s sick and the doctor’s come for you and me.
4) The State of the Arts
Pens and pencils have been destroyed by people with no imagination.
Silent pictures show us that no one really needs to speak at all.
Just wait for Rolling Stone to show us all the writing on the wall.
Oh, it’s the state of the arts, where every dollar plays its part.
Angels were hanging from the
ceiling, and Cherubs were christening the walls.
But those same angels are now hanging in the malls.
The bottom line has shown us that no one really needs to create at all.
Just use the tried old tricks to show us all the writing on the wall.
Oh, it’s the state of the arts, where every dollar plays its part.
5) Middle
(Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord, oh, ye generation of vipers!)
6) The State of Control
Man to God:
Kingdoms they will rise and fall, as they have been predestined after all.
There’s nothing underneath the sun that’s new, but does that mean there’s
nothing we can do?
“I’m not sure if you’re still there, time will tell if you still care.”
For me and mine. But stop and think of who invented time.
But you say “How can this be? In spite of all this suffering there’s a plan for
human history.”
“Now I see that you’re still there, and time has shown that you still care.”
7) The State of Love
Man to God:
In time every man must fall on his face and sing this song:
My God, my God, why haven’t you forsaken me?
This throat, these lungs, I offer this apology.
First in my life is often set on
me, so tear me down and reincur my sanity.
My God, my God, why haven’t you forsaken me?
This throat, these lungs, I offer this apology.
My God, my God, why haven’t you forsaken me?
This heart and mind despising my humanity.
8) The State of Grace
God to man:
Blessed boys where have you died and gone?
You’ve hidden when I called you, you’ve crucified my son.
You start to think that you don’t need me now, but it didn’t work for Israel and
I loved them anyhow.
So sing and dance because I have chosen you for this great romance. Yes sing
and dance sure can deny me now but there will be another chance.
Surely you have seen me in the air, and just because you feel alone don’t mean
I’m not there.
You may sound that it sounds obscene that this God would want to know you
personally, but I say that I’m the lucky one.
We may never know just why you
fight me so.
But I know what’s best for you, trust me I should know.
I’ve known you when you weren’t even there, I know all your filthy faults,
I’ve numbered your hair.
You always say that it sounds
obscene that this God would want to know you personally, but I say that I’m the
lucky one.
You may always have to ask why, but all I ask is that you live life respecting,
expecting what’s to come.
So sing, and dance, cause I have chosen you for this great romance.
9) The State of Creation
All of God’s people said, ‘that we have been created.’
And the wise men now they all agree, ‘that we have been created.’
And those who fucked it for us all spoke with our Creator, and in their infinite
wisdom said they could do it better.
One day we will see that everything from then until now is God’s creative redeeming history.
And now we’re left to run the
world by our own devices, but when those plans all come unfurled we’ll see who
our christ is.
One day we will see that everything from then until now is God’s creative
redeeming history.
And at that time we’ll be put in our place (with the entire human race).
When will we see that we have been created?
10) The End
God to men:
Well the worst has been said, and the gloves have been dropped and you little
boys have gone too far to say that I’m not here.
But the reigns have been loosed and the wills have been freed, but of all the
things you’ve chosen here you’ve hardly chosen me.
But you see: I’m here, I’m still here my sons.