Richard Shindell
Lyric guide

State of the Union

Read State of the Union lyrics by Richard Shindell on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

Richard Shindell visibility0 visits
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: Richard Shindell Canonical path: /richard-shindell/state-of-the-union Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

State of the Union

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

That nice easy mark at the edge of the park

Was a slam dunk if ever I saw one

I don't know what happened, I just let it go by

I guess maybe out of respect

This old town is my home, and I'm not so far gone

That I don't feel like anyone else

And it didn't seem right to add to the wrong

I decided to get me some help

If not know then when? I said to myself,

Over and over again

Make it right, get free, get rid of the junk

I've heard it can happen that way

I went down to the clinic on a hundred and tenth

And got on the methadone program

I waited on line every morning at nine

For my little white cup, my reprieve

It was going OK, I was feeling alright

I even got back with my daughter

I lost a few friends, who were anything but

And just took it one day at time

If not now then when, I kept asking myself

Over and over again

Make it right, get free, get rid of the junk

They say it can happen that way

I can't say for sure how it all fell apart

One thing just led to another

Next thing I knew I had stolen a car

I was flying straight up to the Bronx

Must've lost the old touch, I blew through a toll

They caught me just outside of Rye

Sporting all that remained of my new-found resolve

A shirt that said NYPD

Some shred of my soul could almost believe

That the Lord sent those cruisers for me

Make it right, get free, get rid of the junk

But it don't always happen that way

At the half-way house we're all sitting around

Watching the State of the Union

And I'm rolling that stone right back up the hill

Watching out for the shit coming down

The President's up there grining that grin

Thinking he's some kind of John Wayne

We're howling and jeering all his talk about shooting

And drilling our way out of this

If not now then when, I'll keep asking myself

Over and over again

Make it right? Get free? Get rid of the junk?

That nice easy mark at the edge of the park

Was a slam dunk if ever I saw one

I don't know what happened, I just let it go by

I guess maybe out of respect

This old town is my home, and I'm not so far gone

That I don't feel like anyone else

And it didn't seem right to add to the wrong

I decided to get me some help

If not know then when? I said to myself,

Over and over again

Make it right, get free, get rid of the junk

I've heard it can happen that way

I went down to the clinic on a hundred and tenth

And got on the methadone program

I waited on line every morning at nine

For my little white cup, my reprieve

It was going OK, I was feeling alright

I even got back with my daughter

I lost a few friends, who were anything but

And just took it one day at time

If not now then when, I kept asking myself

Over and over again

Make it right, get free, get rid of the junk

They say it can happen that way

I can't say for sure how it all fell apart

One thing just led to another

Next thing I knew I had stolen a car

I was flying straight up to the Bronx

Must've lost the old touch, I blew through a toll

They caught me just outside of Rye

Sporting all that remained of my new-found resolve

A shirt that said NYPD

Some shred of my soul could almost believe

That the Lord sent those cruisers for me

Make it right, get free, get rid of the junk

But it don't always happen that way

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "State of the Union"?

Richard Shindell performs "State of the Union", and this lyric page sits inside the Richard Shindell catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "State of the Union"?

Yes. The related section below points to A Juggler Out in Traffic and A Summer Wind, A Cotton Dress with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Richard Shindell?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Richard Shindell's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on State of the Union yet.