State of the Union is used by two bands both from the USA and a UK/USA coll… Read Full Bio ↴State of the Union is used by two bands both from the USA and a UK/USA collaboration.

1. State of the Union, electro band based in Los Angeles, California. It emerges as a powerhouse in the alternative/electronic/industrial scene. Their unique blend of industrial dance and more accesible forms of EBM with contemporary electronic styles and very deep, thoughtful,inspiring lyrics ranging from hard-hitting electronic beats to haunting ballads and symphonic orchestrations. State of the Union has earned incredible acclaim for their energetic live performances and gained a fanatical worldwide following. State of the Union is one of the brightest bands to explode onto the scene in quite some time. Johann Sebastian, the singer and architect behind this multidimensional project continues to leap from strength to strength with his follow-up album "Evol Love Industry" to be release in North America, Europe and rest of the world at the beginning of 2008.

State Of The Union's name itself is an expression of Johann's outlooks, enveloping political overtones at the same time still resembling the rage and emotion that he was initially trying to portray in his music. They felt it was only fitting to follow their own aspirations in pursue of their own musical scope. Their debut effort Black City Lights inspired by the loyalist to the EBM and Darkwave scene, fuses together expressions and elements of philosophy, politics, love and symbolism through the medium of hard hitting and addictive dance music.

State Of The Union live band is:
- Johann Sebastian: Vocals, Lyrics and Programming
- Jimmy Nimra: Drums

www.state-of-the-union.info

2. State of the Union played dark, introspective, and despair-driven gloom core in a style that groups them with likes of Dystopia, CHRISTDRIVER, Asbestos Death and even some Neurosis and Godflesh. Originally formed in Rapid City, South Dakota, they toured the country extensively and were a staple feature of Minneapolis’ underground punk / crust shows during the mid-late 90’s. On the strength of their live performances and their self-released debut EP, they were picked up by Profane Existence Records, who released their Rez-Erection EP in 1995. Shortly after the release of their second EP, the band sought to escape the dead-end scene of Rapid City relocated as a unit to Seattle, Washington. Once settled they went to work recording their first full length release, also released by Profane Existence in 1998. Although the first pressing of 1000 albums sold out in a matter of weeks, it was never repressed due to a three-year hiatus of Profane Existence Records from 1999-2002.

The band recorded a second LP, slated for release in 2000, but the project faltered without a label and STATE OF THE UNION disbanded shortly thereafter. While STATE OF THE UNION remain one of the lesser known bands on Profane Existence Records, they have one of the most fiercely loyal following even to this date. Former SOTU members have not dropped out of the scene by any means and play on today in several other Seattle area bands such as SOD HAULER, WORMWOOD, ARID SEA and THE PRIDS. In March 2008 Profane Existence released a discography CD, containing all released material as well as the unreleased LP.

3. A colloaboration between Boo Hewerdine, an English songwriter and lead singer of indie legends The Bible and Brooks Williams, a slide guitar wizard from Statsboro, Georgia, USA.
see UK gig info

Lights in the Abyss
State of the Union Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've dreamt far away
Of a place where I could stay
Where no one else can hear the beating of my heart
My life I gave to you
And as an open book you took
The motivations and good intentions I pursued

Lights go out in the abyss even if the sky looks gray

In the end it is just another day
Conceal the fog and scrape the clouds
And reach as high as you can go
In the end it'll be just another day

I look into those eyes
To find peace of mind
I stood the test of time
Through the blistering skies

You made me feel so good
I have no words to describe you

Overall Meaning

The song "Lights in the Abyss" by State of the Union describes a longing for a place where one's true self can be heard and seen without any outside influence. The lyrics suggest the desire for authenticity, where the beating of one's heart can be heard without external interference. The song speaks about surrendering one's life to a higher power and being vulnerable to it, with the hope that it will protect and guide the person "through the blistering skies". The verse "Lights go out in the abyss even if the sky looks gray, in the end, it is just another day" suggests that the world can be a lonely place, but one should still continue to reach higher and strive for their goals even if it seems like nothing is changing.

The song overall is about finding solace and hope within oneself, even when the world seems devoid of it. The lyrics are deep and introspective, reflecting an inner turmoil that is common to many people. The song encourages perseverance and the strength to look beyond the mundane daily routine and strive for a deeper purpose.

Line by Line Meaning

I've dreamt far away
I've imagined a place beyond my current circumstance

Of a place where I could stay
Somewhere I could exist and be valued

Where no one else can hear the beating of my heart
A place where I can be true to myself

My life I gave to you
I've offered all that I am to you

And as an open book you took
You know me better than anyone

The motivations and good intentions I pursued
All the things that drive and inspire me

Lights go out in the abyss even if the sky looks gray
Things can go dark suddenly

In the end it is just another day
No matter how significant it seems now, it's just another day

Conceal the fog and scrape the clouds
Eliminate obstacles and aim higher

And reach as high as you can go
Strive to achieve your highest potential

In the end it'll be just another day
At the end of the day, no matter what's happened, it's just another day