Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: punk
Song Meaning of “The Boston States” by The Stanfields
The Boston States is a raw, melancholic anthem about the frustrations of modern life set against the backdrop of Boston. The narrator is a former hometown hero, now living a life of monotony and conformity, slowly fading away. The lyrics capture a range of emotions, from the deep sense of loneliness to despair and the longing for a heroic past. The song is a lament of life stuck in a system which offers little hope of change or progress.
The chorus speaks to the bitter longing of the narrator, asking “What ever happened to The Boston States, the people with fire and brimstone in their veins.” This speaks of the robust reality of the old community, where people were passionate and strong and driven, a far cry from the regimented, soulless existence he now leads. The chorus serves as a stark reminder that although life can be hard, it’s even harder when we forget how to fight for what we believe in.
Further on the narrator’s state of mind is described, he doesn’t recognize himself anymore, lives in hermetic detachment as he watches his dreams slowly disappear around him. He’s consumed by the day to day, and his spirit slowly being drained away.
The Boston States is a powerful lament on the loss of individuality and of dreams, depicting in vivid detail the modern world that’s become a hostile home to the hopeless and the broken.