The song "The State of Dreaming" by Marina and The Diamonds explores the themes of escapism, longing for perfection, and fear of mortality. The lyrics paint a picture of a protagonist who is dissatisfied with their current reality and seeks solace in their dreams.
The opening verse suggests that many individuals cling to the idea of a better life, holding onto their last shreds of hope. Meanwhile, the protagonist admits to living their life within a dream, only truly awakening when they sleep. This implies that they find comfort and fulfillment in their dreams where they can escape the harshness of reality. The desire to have it all, expressed in wanting to sell their miserable soul, signifies a longing for perfection or a better existence.
The chorus repeats the idea of living in a dream, emphasizing that the protagonist has been living in an invented world. This further highlights their longing to escape from the constraints and shortcomings of their current life.
The second verse suggests that the protagonist aspires to be wonderful, implying a dissatisfaction with their own existence and perhaps feeling inadequate compared to the people in their town, who can be quite cruel. It reinforces the idea that the protagonist seeks an idealized version of themselves.
The bridge delves deeper into the protagonist's fear, stating that if only someone knew how they live in constant fear and how they know their time is running out. This fear could stem from the realization that their dreams, while providing temporary solace, are not a sustainable substitute for reality, and the passage of time only brings them closer to confronting the limitations of their own existence.
In the final chorus and outro, the repetition of the lines about living in a dream and an invented land signifies a continuous cycle of escapism. The protagonist's life is described as a function, which could symbolize their repeated attempts to evade reality by retreating into their dreams.
Overall, "The State of Dreaming" conveys the message that the desire to escape from reality and pursue an idealized version of life can be a comforting but ultimately futile endeavor. It explores the complexities of longing for perfection, feeling dissatisfied with one's existence, and the fear that time is running out.
This meaning interpretation has been generated by AI.
">