Since then, while maintaining her singing career, she has occasionally encountered controversy, partly due to her statements and gestures—such as her ordination as a priest despite being a woman with a Roman Catholic background—and her strongly expressed views on organised religion, women's rights, war, and child abuse.
In addition to her ten solo albums her work includes many singles, songs for films, collaborations with many other artists and appearances at charity fundraising concerts.
Since converting to Islam in 2018 she has changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat.
In December 2019 she gave her first UK concert in five years at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, London.
On 26 July 2023, O'Connor's family issued a statement that she had died at the age of 56, without indicating the date or cause.
In the statement, the singer’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
The acclaimed Dublin performer released 10 studio albums, while her song “Nothing Compares 2 U” was named the number one world single in 1990 by the Billboard Music Awards. Her version of the ballad, written by musician Prince, topped the charts around the globe and earned her three Grammy nominations.
The State I'm In
Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hoping for a chance to see
You above everyone
Rescue me from this heat
I'm waiting for night to fall
And it's been days
Are you sorry yet
When the flag was half-way down
Just look at me now
Oh, it's like a breeze blowing beneath my skin
Oh, won't you help me change the state I'm in
Oh, I can't stand myself since you've been gone
There's nothing there to lean upon
(What I'd give for a minute more)
I walk into a photograph
The waiter took so well
Oh, if I could only laugh
Like that girl did at some hotel
I call out to anyone
But not too loud
I'm not ready yet
To share the phone or TV set
It's a long long way to come
Out of this one
And now it seems so fatal
The last stone we left uncradled
And I ask you
Are you sorry yet
Are you sorry yet
Cause I may never come
Out of this one
In Sinéad O'Connor's song "The State I'm In," the singer seems to be in a state of confusion and sadness due to the end of a relationship. She is "circling around the sun" and hoping for a chance to see her former partner "above everyone" else. The heat of the day is too much for her to bear, and she's waiting for night to fall. The lyrics hint that her former partner is responsible for the relationship's end by stating that they "took our one and final breath" when the flag was halfway down, meaning the end was already apparent.
The singer is clearly struggling without her former partner, saying she "can't stand herself since [they've] been gone." She's looking for a way to change the state she's in and seems to be seeking refuge from the pain. She keeps thinking about what she could have done differently to keep the relationship alive, and she regrets not being able to put up a fight as she says "What I'd give for a minute more." She also wishes to be carefree and happy like the girl in the photograph, who laughs freely at a hotel.
Furthermore, the lyrics hint that the singer rarely likes to share as she's "not ready yet to share the phone or TV set." This may indicate that she is still clinging onto things that remind her of her former partner, unable to let go. She keeps questioning her former partner, asking "Are you sorry yet?" and repeats it, emphasizing her pain and hoping that they feel guilty for hurting her. Finally, the last stanza sees the singer realizing the severity of the situation, admitting that the last stone they left untouched is now fatal, and it may be too late to turn back.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm circling around the sun
I'm going through life waiting for a chance to see something or someone that gives me hope and purpose.
Hoping for a chance to see
My life is without direction and I'm always searching for someone or something that can guide me.
You above everyone
You are the one person who can rescue me from my struggles and make everything better for me.
Rescue me from this heat
My struggles are causing me intense emotional pain and I need someone to help me cope with it.
I'm waiting for night to fall
I'm struggling to cope with the difficulties of life and I can't wait for it to end.
And it's been days
The struggles I'm going through have been going on for a long time and they are wearing me down.
Are you sorry yet
I'm asking if you regret the actions that led to the current state of my life.
That you took our one and final breath
Your actions caused the end of our relationship and now I'm struggling to move on from it.
When the flag was half-way down
Our relationship ended in a way that was unexpected and left me feeling incomplete.
Just look at me now
My struggles have left me feeling emotionally and mentally drained.
Oh, it's like a breeze blowing beneath my skin
My struggles are having a physical effect on me and are leaving me feeling vulnerable.
Oh, won't you help me change the state I'm in
I'm asking for your help to move on from the difficult state I'm currently in and find a better place.
Oh, I can't stand myself since you've been gone
Your absence has left me feeling lost and struggling to find a sense of self-worth.
There's nothing there to lean upon
I'm struggling to find any kind of support or comfort to help me through my difficulties.
(What I'd give for a minute more)
I'm wishing I could have just a brief moment of happiness and relief from my struggles.
I walk into a photograph
I'm looking back on a time that was happy and carefree, but that now feels like it was a long time ago.
The waiter took so well
I have a specific memory in my mind of a time when I was happy and I'm trying to hold on to that memory.
Oh, if I could only laugh
I'm longing for the happiness and laughter that used to come so easily to me.
Like that girl did at some hotel
I'm remembering a specific time when I was happy and carefree and I'm trying to hold on to that memory.
I call out to anyone
I'm desperately seeking someone to help me through my struggles and offer me support and comfort.
But not too loud
I'm afraid of being too vulnerable and putting myself in a position where I can be hurt.
I'm not ready yet
I'm not yet ready to move on from my struggles and deal with the pain that comes with it.
To share the phone or TV set
I'm not yet ready to share my life with someone else and move on from my past relationship.
It's a long long way to come
Moving on from my struggles and finding happiness again is going to be a long and difficult journey.
Out of this one
I'm struggling to move on from my past relationship and find a way to be happy again.
And now it seems so fatal
My struggles have reached a point where they feel insurmountable and I can't see a way out.
The last stone we left uncradled
There were unresolved issues between us that are now contributing to my struggles.
And I ask you
I'm asking for your help and support to help me move on from my struggles and find happiness again.
Cause I may never come
I'm afraid that I may never be able to move on from my struggles and find happiness again.
Out of this one
I'm struggling to move on from my past relationship and find a way to be happy again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ANNE PREVEN, SCOTT CUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K. Maczák
on Troy
The song is about her abusive mother, who locked her out of the house, and she sitting in the long grass in summer keeping warm , while her mother turned off the light inside the house , and she screamed . etc.