"country"——乡下？国家？

有一首民歌：Country road，take me home。这里的"country"，指的是什么？

"country， nation， state "这三个词都可以翻译成国家，但是各有所指。

country:

1.An area of land that has or used to have its own government, presidents, etc. and laws: （有政府和法律的区域）: 国家。

She didn't know what life in the foreign country would be like. 她不知道外国的生活会是什么样。

2.land that is outside towns and cities, including farming land. 郊外、乡村。

She was cycling along a country road near London. 她正沿着她伦敦附近的一条乡间小路骑车。

3.all the people who live in the particular country: （居住在某一特定国家的所有的人）全国人民。

The whole country took to the streets to celebrate its National Day. 全国人民走上街头庆祝国庆日。

nation:

1.a country with one government: （有一个统一政府）国家。

The president is delivering a speech to the nation through broadcast. 总统通过广播对全国讲话。

2. a large group of people of the same race, language and culture. （ 同样种族、语言、文化的一个群体）: 民族。

The Chinese are a nation of great inventors and thinkers. 中国人是一个拥有众多伟大发明家和思想家的民族。

3.all the people in the country （一国之内所有的人）国民:

The entire nation, it seemed, was watching TV. 好像全国人民都在看电视。

state:

1.A country considered as an organized political community controlled by one government. （由一个政府控制的有组织的政治群体）: 国家。

They wish to limit the power of the state. 他们希望限制政府的权力。

2. An organized political community forming part of a country. （一个有组织的政治群体，是国家的一部分）: 州、邦。Queensland is one of the states of Australia, 昆士兰是澳大利亚的一个州。

3. The physical or mental condition that someone or something is in（某人或者某物所处的身体和精神上的状态）：状况、状态。

She was in an extremely confused state of mind. 她思绪纷乱。

简单总结一下： 这几个词在汉语中都可以翻译成国家。"country"作为国家，国土意义比较浓厚；"nation" 一般指的是民族，而"state"则是政治角度上所指的国家，“政权”。