Thompson's style is difficult to categorize, because his influences are varied. Growing up around folk music, he listened to a musical gamut that covered Hank Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke and gospel. As he fell in with other musical progeny, most notably close friend Rufus Wainwright, his sound developed into his own combination of country/western, rock, and his father's folk-rock.
Thompson played regular shows at Jon Brion's venue, Largo, in Los Angeles, while getting his first album contract together. He signed with Geffen who had big plans for him - but Geffen was soon after swallowed up by Virgin, who did not. In 2000 Thompson released his debut album, Teddy Thompson, which received much critical acclaim but little commercial success. He took a few years to tour and write before finally recording his second album on his own. While reviews for his first album were generally positive, the critics have gushed over his second album. Thompson has found his own sound and voice, although his family remains heavily involved in his music.
Thompson's fourth album, A Piece of What You Need was released in 2008. His fifth studio album, Bella, was released in 2011.
Altered State
Teddy Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No complaints, oh, this is the good life
But sometimes I need more
Just to get up and out the door
I like to live in an altered state
It makes me love all the things I hate
And I'm happy to be alive
I like to put on my happy face
While I cry on the inside
Is it so hard to be happy
That I struggle to feel just okay
And I need a lift just to get through
Just to get up to normal with you
I like to live in an altered state
It makes me love all the things I hate
And I'm happy to be alive
Don't want to come off too straight laced
I like to put on my happy face
While I cry on the inside
Yeah, sometimes I need more
Just to get up off the floor
I like to live in an altered state
It makes me love the things I hate
And I'm happy to be alive
Don't want to come off too straight laced
I like to put on my happy face
While I cry on the inside
The song "Altered State" by Teddy Thompson is a poignant reflection on the struggles of happiness and the need some people have to escape from reality. The song begins with Thompson acknowledging that life has been "all right" and that he is currently enjoying the good life, but sometimes that just isn't enough. He wants more just to get up and out the door. He then goes on to describe how he likes to live in an altered state, where he can love all the things he hates. He's happy to be alive but doesn't want to come off too straight, so he puts on his happy face while crying on the inside. Thompson seems to be describing a state of inner turmoil, in which he's struggling to be happy and needs to escape reality just to feel normal.
The song's chorus reinforces the idea that living in an altered state is a good thing. He repeats the lyric "I like to live in an altered state, it makes me love all the things I hate" multiple times, emphasizing that this is his coping mechanism. He's happy to be alive even if it means putting on a facade of happiness while internally struggling.
Overall, "Altered State" is a beautifully vulnerable and honest song about the struggle for happiness and the need some people have to escape from reality. It's a reminder that everyone struggles in their own way and that sometimes we need to find our own ways of coping.
Line by Line Meaning
So far things have been all right
Until now, everything has been satisfactory in my life.
No complaints, oh, this is the good life
I have nothing to complain about and I am content with my current lifestyle.
But sometimes I need more
Occasionally, I require something more than my current situation can provide.
Just to get up and out the door
In order to motivate myself to leave my house and start my day, I need that something extra.
I like to live in an altered state
I enjoy experiencing the effects of a mind-altering substance or activity.
It makes me love all the things I hate
While under the influence, I am able to appreciate things that I would normally dislike.
And I'm happy to be alive
The altered state makes me feel content and grateful for my existence.
Don't want to come off too straight
I do not want to appear rigid or boring to others.
I like to put on my happy face
I maintain a facade of happiness and positivity, even if I am struggling internally.
While I cry on the inside
Despite my outward appearance, I am experiencing emotional pain and sadness.
Is it so hard to be happy
I wonder why achieving happiness feels like such a difficult feat for me.
That I struggle to feel just okay
Even feeling content or just okay seems like a challenge for me.
And I need a lift just to get through
I require something to boost my mood and help me make it through the day.
Just to get up to normal with you
I want to be able to reach a level of emotional stability that is on par with the people around me.
Yeah, sometimes I need more
Again, I require that additional something to improve my mood and outlook on life.
Just to get up off the floor
I need that extra push to motivate myself and get back on my feet, both physically and emotionally.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ADAM TEDDY THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind