The song highlights social issues that were prominent in the late 80s such as homelessness and a rise in illicit street drugs being used in youth. It tells the stories of a young homeless boy named and Johnny and a 15 year old teen mother who has turned to sex work to provide for her child. Janet comments on these two fictional examples saying that they are people in our real world struggling with the same issues as the two characters and that she believes that the world is becoming a significantly worse place.
The song works in conjunction with the 21 second interlude before it titled “T.V.”. The interlude sees somebody flickering through tv channels and the topics being depicted on the news are violent crimes.
State of the World
Janet Jackson Lyrics
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To feed the baby before he starts to cry
No rest, no time to play
Fifteen, the mother is a runaway
No time for dreams or goals
Pressure is so strong
Her body, she has sold, so her child can eat
In our home and other lands
Drugs and crime spreadin' on the street
People can't find enough to eat
Now our kids can't go out and play
That's the state of the world today
State of the world, ooh baby
Little Johnny, all alone
His only friend, the doll he carries with him
Goes to school each and every day
To be teased because he has no place to stay
This young and homeless boy feels his life is worthless
Instead of suicide, he cries himself to sleep
And it's happenin' to this world we live in
There's got to be a better way, ooh
Drugs and crime spreadin' on the street
People can't find enough to eat
Now our kids can't go out and play
That's the state of the world today
State of the world, ooh
Ooh
Da-do, da-do, da-do, da-do
Nation
Can't give up hope now
Let's weather the storm together
Drugs and crime spreadin' on the street
People can't find enough to eat
Now our kids can't go out and play
That's the state of the world today
Drugs and crime spreadin' on the street (ah)
People can't find enough to eat (ah)
Now our kids can't go out and play (ah)
That's the state of the world today (ah)
Drugs and crime spreadin' on the street
People can't find enough to eat (starving people)
Now our kids can't go out and play (they can't even walk the streets)
That's the state of the world today (don't give up, state of the world today)
Hey, hey, hey
That's the state of the world today
That's the state
That's the state of the world today
Janet Jackson's "State of the World" is a powerful commentary on the hardships and injustices faced by individuals around the world. The song opens with a woman waking up at 5 a.m. to feed her baby before he starts to cry. She is a teenage mother who has had to abandon her dreams and resort to selling her body to provide for her child. The chorus speaks to the state of disarray that society has fallen into - drugs and crime spread on the streets, people can't find enough to eat, and children can't even play outside. The second verse follows a young boy named Johnny who lives on the streets and endures endless teasing because he has no place to call home. The song ends with a message of hope, encouraging listeners to "weather the storm together."
The song is a poignant reflection on the hardships that people around the world face every day. The opening verse focuses on teenage pregnancy and the lack of time and resources that young mothers have, leading them to abandon their dreams and resort to desperate measures to provide for their children. The second verse follows a young boy named Johnny who is homeless and has no place to call home. The song stresses the importance of community and solidarity in the face of these challenges, ending with a message of hope and urging listeners to support one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Five AM, rise and shine
Starting the day very early
To feed the baby before he starts to cry
Taking care of a baby's needs on time
No rest, no time to play
Being constantly busy and occupied with responsibilities
Fifteen, the mother is a runaway
Being young, vulnerable, and escaping from a difficult situation
No time for dreams or goals
Being unable to aspire or plan ahead due to overwhelming circumstances
Pressure is so strong
Being under a lot of stress and burden
Her body, she has sold, so her child can eat
Being forced to sacrifice oneself and resort to prostitution out of desperation
What is happening to this world we live in
Expressing concern and disbelief at the state of the world
In our home and other lands
Referring to the global prevalence of issues affecting society
Drugs and crime spreadin' on the street
Noticing an increase in criminal activity and drug abuse in public areas
People can't find enough to eat
Observing widespread hunger and lack of access to basic needs
Now our kids can't go out and play
Being worried for children's safety and inability to enjoy carefree activities
That's the state of the world today
Summing up the dire situation currently happening
Little Johnny, all alone
Introducing a character who is facing isolation and loneliness
His only friend, the doll he carries with him
Compensating for the lack of human connections with an object of comfort
Goes to school each and every day
Attending school despite personal challenges and struggles
To be teased because he has no place to stay
Being bullied and ridiculed by peers for their difficult background
This young and homeless boy feels his life is worthless
Experiencing a profound sense of hopelessness and despair due to one's circumstances
Instead of suicide, he cries himself to sleep
Choosing not to take drastic measures and resorting to crying as a means of release
There's got to be a better way, ooh
Expressing a belief that there must be a solution to the problems at hand
Nation
Addressing the audience as a collective group that can make a positive change
Can't give up hope now
Urging others to hold onto hope and remain optimistic
Let's weather the storm together
Encouraging unity and cooperation to overcome challenges
Drugs and crime spreadin' on the street (ah)
Reiterating the concerning trend of criminal activity in public areas
People can't find enough to eat (ah)
Highlighting the pervasive issue of hunger and poverty in society
Now our kids can't go out and play (ah)
Emphasizing the negative impact of societal problems on children's well-being
That's the state of the world today (ah)
Repeating the statement that describes the unfortunate and alarming situation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James III Harris, Terry Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind