NeedToBreathe - State I'm In Lyrics
Lyrics
When I woke this morning
It was already night
Saw a number on the phone
That I don't recognize I know
I've been across this land like ten times now
I've seen every little corner of your two bit town
I know
Where I'm going
Bright lights they won't leave me alone
Need a shadow or a hole in the wall
Baby I don't know
I don't know what kind of state I'm in
We've got a ways to go
Been around this whole town by now
I can't tell you how you're supposed to get out
Baby I don't know
I don't know what kind of state I'm in
We've got a ways to go
When I woke this morning it was already night
Saw a number on the phone
That I don't recognize I know
I've been across this land like ten times now
I've seen every little corner
Of your two bit town I know
Where I'm going
I'm an ordinary man a wheel on the cage
I've never been this lost
But I don't wanna have to stay
In the morning I'm leaving
And I don't know where I'm going
Video
NEEDTOBREATHE - "State I'm In" [Official Audio]
Meaning & Inspiration
NeedToBreathe, a band renowned for weaving profound spiritual truths into their anthemic rock sound, offered "State I'm In" as a compelling reflection on human disorientation and yearning, released on April 15, 2014, as part of their album *Rivers In the Wasteland*. This particular track stands as a raw, honest confession of lostness, a powerful narrative about finding oneself at a crossroads where familiar paths offer no solace, yet a desperate hope for departure remains. The song’s essence lies in its candid exploration of the soul’s journey through confusion, weariness, and an eventual, albeit uncertain, step of faith.
The story within "State I'm In" unfolds with a striking image of waking into darkness, a profound sense of temporal and spiritual disorientation. The lyricist feels adrift, confronted by unfamiliarity and the weariness of repetitive, unfulfilling journeys, having traversed the "land like ten times now," exploring every corner of a "two bit town." This speaks to the human tendency to seek contentment in worldly pursuits, only to find them ultimately lacking, leaving one exhausted and unfulfilled. The "bright lights" that refuse to dissipate symbolize the relentless demands and distractions of life, perhaps even the false allurements of a fallen world that prevent true rest and clarity. The desperate cry for "a shadow or a hole in the wall" reveals a profound longing for refuge, a hidden place away from the overwhelming noise and demands, a space to simply be and find peace. The core of the song’s introspection is the admission, "I don't know what kind of state I'm in," a vulnerable acknowledgement of spiritual or existential lostness, where the path forward is obscured, and the way out remains a mystery even to the one navigating it.
This poignant confession of not knowing one's spiritual condition resonates deeply with biblical themes of wandering and the need for divine guidance. The experience of waking to "night" when it should be "morning" parallels the spiritual blindness described in Isaiah 59:9-10, where people "grope along the wall" and "stumble at noon as though it were twilight" because they have lost their way. Similarly, the weariness from endlessly traversing a "two bit town" without finding satisfaction echoes the sentiment in Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, which proclaims the futility of human toil "under the sun" when separated from God's eternal purpose. The constant pressure of "bright lights" can be seen as the world's allurements that distract from the true light, much like Jesus warned in John 12:35, advising to "Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you." The longing for "a shadow or a hole in the wall" is a primal human need for sanctuary, a craving fulfilled by God Himself, as Psalm 91:1-2 declares, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"
The song further articulates a profound sense of entrapment, likening the speaker to "an ordinary man a wheel on the cage." This powerful imagery captures the feeling of being caught in a cycle of activity without true progress, a spiritual hamster wheel. This feeling of being "lost" and unable to escape parallels the cry of Romans 7:24, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?" Yet, even in this depth of despair, a flicker of hope ignites: "I don't wanna have to stay." This refusal to remain stagnant, despite the lack of a clear destination, is the song's most inspiring moment. It culminates in a powerful declaration of faith: "In the morning I'm leaving, And I don't know where I'm going." This echoes the ultimate act of faith demonstrated by Abraham in Hebrews 11:8, who "obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." It is a testament to trusting in an unseen hand, a willingness to step out into the unknown, confident that leaving a state of lostness for any journey guided by faith is better than remaining captive. This departure, without a clear map, is precisely where God's guidance becomes paramount, as Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." "State I'm In" ultimately serves as an anthem for the spiritually weary, a powerful reminder that even when the path is unclear and the destination unknown, the courageous step of leaving our current "state" of confusion, relying on faith, is the first step toward God's unfolding purpose.