Bruce Springsteen – State Trooper

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  General Comment:My take on it- It's about a mysterious, dark figure that's just riding along the NJ turnpike. We know he's done something bad but we don't know what it is ("but I got a clear conscience
  'Bout the things that I done") and he fears that if he is pulled over by the State Trooper, he will either kill him, or be arrested for whatever he has done, or something like that.

  Flag ryfall101on August 10, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Okay, I have to write a response to this because its criminal a song this good would only have 8 comments.
  
  What makes this song so incredibly good, and like many of the songs on Nebraska is that the characters, which are usually so richly illustrated by Springsteen, are obscured and left open to interpretation. In "Atlantic City", its not entirely clear what the "little favor" is, but its clear that its something horrible. Even still, "Atlantic City" and "Johnny 99" illustrate their character much more than "State Trooper" where any details are vague. We only know that they're dark and foreboding.
  
  This song is only two chords over and over. This creates an atmosphere of haunting repetition, so much that creates a feeling of anxiety, so you feel exactly what you think the main character is feeling. The Police did almost the same thing with "Every Breath You Take" which is kinda stalkerish.
  
  The simplicity and repetition in this song is genius. "talk, talk, talk, talk, till you lose your patience".
  
  Everybody else has hit the nail on the head, especially mirrorsreflection, but that's really the amazing thing about the song. EVERYBODY knows what its about, although it doesn't explicitly say what its about. The fact that you can FEEL the meaning of this song and know it in your soul says more about the incredible songwriting here than you can analyze with your mind.

  Flag VolantSoloon June 25, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:A response to Frankie Teardrop maybe?

  Flag nic-ckon August 07, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:Sounds a lot like the band Suicide, which is intentional, but awesome.

  Flag lemonparty.govon June 25, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:this is my favourite song from nebraska, and the live thing with arcade fire is even better.

  Flag notethetreeson October 15, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:Perhaps, Thesmellyone. Based on the context of the rest of the album I always imagine that this song, unlike the other murderer songs (the serial killer in 'Nebraska', murderers in 'Johnny 99' and 'Highway Patrolman'), is about a real monster. The other ones killed for petty reasons but this guy's left undescribed, which makes him sound like a total lunatic.

  Flag Cherub Rockon June 08, 2006   Link

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    Nice! Love this interpretation.

    Flag differentstrokes5on April 05, 2012  
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  General Comment:I got pulled over by the state police the other night with this song on... good times.

  Flag STon March 26, 2006   Link

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    Thats probably a lot better than what happened to me, I had "F*** the Police" by N.W.A. playing when I got pulled over.

    Flag SamuraiTedon December 18, 2008  
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  General Comment:Personally this is one of my favourite songs on Nebraska, along with Atlantic City and Mansion On The Hill. I dunno why no one seems to post much on some of Springsteen's best songs...Anyways, I agree with mirrorsreflection, but to expand on it slightly I think its reffering to the murderer the whole album's about (Charlie Starkweather) as he's driving between states, probably on the "wanted list" and not wanting to be stopped because it could mean he gets caught, or as mirrorsreflection said, he doesn't want to have to kill the trooper.

  Flag Thesmellyoneon July 29, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:great song to listen to when ur drivin at night in the middle of nowhere...sounds like its about a lunatic... gives me chills, the riff sounds like a heartbeat or a pounding in your head or something to that extent... almost impossible not to jump outta your seat when bruce screams at the end...
  
  as far as meanings... i think the guy is a lunatic, and he's committed some type of crime and he doesnt want the state trooper to pull him over b/c he knows he'll have to kill him if he does... thats why he talks about the troopers wife and kids, and he keeps repeating "please dont stop me"... anyone think otherwise?

  Flag mirrorsreflectionon February 01, 2005   Link

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