I Just Dropped in to See What Condition My Condition Is In
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Lyrics


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Woke up this morning with the sundown shining in
Found my mind in a brown paper bag within
Tripped on a cloud, fell eight miles high
Tore my mind on a jagged sky
Hey, I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in

Pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in
Watched myself crawling out as I was crawling in
I got up so tight I couldn't unwind
Saw so much till I broke my mind
Hey, I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in, yeah yeah yeah
See what condition I was in
Hey yeah baby, see what condition I was in

I got up so tight I couldn't unwind
Saw so much till I broke my mind
I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in

Someone painted "April fool" in big black letters on a dead-end sign
I had my foot on the gas since I left the road and I blew out my mind
Eight miles outta Memphis and I got no spare
Eight miles straight up downtown somewhere
I dropped in, check out this condition my condition was in

I said I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
Hey, check out the condition, oh, my condition
Yeah, oh what condition my condition was in
Oh, check it out
I got to see what condition it's in




Hey, I got to check out my condition and see...
Just make sure it's all right now...

Overall Meaning

The song "I Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Is In" by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings is about the experience of taking drugs and the effects it has on the mind and body. The singer of the song wakes up after a night of drug use and feels disorientated (found my mind in a brown paper bag within), leading them to want to check what state they are in (hey, I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in).


The second verse continues this theme of feeling lost in the midst of drug use. The singer pushes their soul into a deep dark hole (a metaphor for drug use), but watches themselves crawling out as they are crawling in. They feel tight and unable to relax, and they see so much that it breaks their mind. The bridge of the song describes the singer being on a reckless drive while in this state, blowing out their mind in the process.


Overall, the song is a cautionary tale about the dangers and consequences of drug use, and the desire to check in on oneself to ensure they are okay.


Line by Line Meaning

Woke up this morning with the sundown shining in
I woke up early in the morning when the sun was coming up


Found my mind in a brown paper bag within
I was feeling confused, disoriented or lost, as if my mind was trapped in a sealed bag


Tripped on a cloud, fell eight miles high
I felt like I was flying or floating, as if I was high up in the air


Tore my mind on a jagged sky
My thoughts were erratic or fragmented, as if I was trying to piece them together from a broken or jagged image


Hey, I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
I came by to check on my mental or emotional state or well-being


Pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in
I felt like I was in a very dark or depressed place, as if my soul had been pushed or dragged there against my will


Watched myself crawling out as I was crawling in
I felt like I was trapped in a cycle of despair or misery, as if I was trying to escape from a hole while also falling back into it


I got up so tight I couldn't unwind
I was feeling tense or anxious, as if I couldn't relax or let go of my worries


Saw so much till I broke my mind
I experienced or witnessed so many things that it overwhelmed or confused me, to the point of mental exhaustion or breakdown


Hey, I dropped in to see what condition my condition was in, yeah yeah yeah
I reiterated my intention to check on my emotional and mental state or well-being


See what condition I was in
I wanted to find out exactly how I was feeling, thinking or coping with my situation


Hey yeah baby, see what condition I was in
I expressed my curiosity and desire to know my own condition or state of mind


Someone painted "April fool" in big black letters on a dead-end sign
I felt like I had been misled or deceived, as if someone had played a trick or a prank on me and made me realize that I was stuck or going nowhere


I had my foot on the gas since I left the road and I blew out my mind
I was moving fast or recklessly, as if I was driving a car and pushing it to its limits, and it led to me feeling overwhelmed or confused


Eight miles outta Memphis and I got no spare
I was far from home or from a place where I could find help or support, and I had no resources or backup plan to rely on


Eight miles straight up downtown somewhere
I was headed towards a big or important destination, as if I was ascending or rising up towards it, but I wasn't sure where exactly it was located


I dropped in, check out this condition my condition was in
I arrived somewhere suddenly, as if I dropped or fell into it, and I wanted others to see or know about my mental or emotional state or well-being


I said I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
I repeated my purpose or intention to check on my own mental and emotional state or well-being


Hey, check out the condition, oh, my condition
I asked others to pay attention or take note of my mood, thoughts or feelings


Yeah, oh what condition my condition was in
I expressed my curiosity or concern about my own state of mind, emotions or well-being


Oh, check it out
I urged others to look for themselves and see what was happening with me


I got to see what condition it's in
I admitted that I needed to know how I was feeling or coping with my situation


Hey, I got to check out my condition and see...
I emphasized the importance of checking on my own mental and emotional state or well-being, as if it was crucial to my survival or success


Just make sure it's all right now...
I expressed my hope or request that everything would be okay or resolved soon, and that I could feel better or at peace with myself




Contributed by Hailey N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@risatungol

I woke up this mornin' with the sundown shinin' in
I found my mind in a brown paper bag within
I tripped on a cloud and fell-a eight miles high
I tore my mind on a jagged sky
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
… I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then i followed it in
I watched myself crawlin' out as i was a-crawlin' in
I got up so tight i couldn't unwind
I saw so much i broke my mind
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
… Someone painted "april fool" in big black letters on a "dead end" sign
I had my foot on the gas as i left the road and blew out my mind
Eight miles outta memphis and i got no spare
Eight miles straight up downtown somewhere
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
… I said i just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
Yeah yeah oh-yeah



All comments from YouTube:

@GardenGirlD76

So missed beautiful Sharon Jones! Bittersweet to hear this beautiful voice, but still awesome!

@oxman5571

Now that is the good stuff. I'm listening to the album today and this alone made it worth the purchase.

@chrismackenzie7252

Let's all just abide and appreciate this.

@gregc7699

Sharon Jones is sorely missed what a legend truly one of the greats

@edricklouidor2362

Missing you Always Ms. Jones Rip !!!!

@ericcando2903

Bringing new life to an underrated classic!

@Chapusse

The bass line is 10.

@alandasher8789

thats some soul baby! rip

@danielkobis147

From the new Sharon Jones & The Dapkings album, with unreleased songs from the past, but very great songs !!!

@phak74

Ho Sharon, how we miss you

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