311 mix rock, rap, reggae and funk into their own unique sound. After years of consistent touring, 311 have developed a reputation as one of the hardest working, most influential and most entertaining live bands in the U.S.
311 have released ten studio albums, one live album, one greatest hits album and three dvd's - and have sold over 8.5 million albums in the U.S. Seven of their albums have reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Sales Chart...and 9 of their singles have reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Alternative Rock Radio Chart (including the #1 singles Down, Love Song & Don't Tread On Me. Along with Amber, All Mixed Up, Come Original, Creatures For Awhile, Hey You, and Sunset in July).
311’s newest album, Universal Pulse, released in Summer 2011, was produced by Bob Rock, mixed by Chad Sexton and debuted at #7 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart.
The band's celebratory live shows & incessant touring schedule have earned them a massive grassroots following nationwide. Since its inception in 2004, 311’s annual summer headlining amphitheatre run, Unity Tour, has become one of the largest modern rock concerts of the summer. Support acts on previous Unity Tours have included Sublime with Rome, The Offspring, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Papa Roach, The Wailers, O.A.R., Matisyahu, and Ziggy Marley. Unity Tour 2012 will feature support from Slightly Stoopid.
311 BIO/HIGHLIGHTS:
* 311 was formed in 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska by vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum, vocalist/dj SA Martinez, lead guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut. The band now resides in Los Angeles.
* 311 has sold over 8.5 million units in the U.S.
* 311 has had 8 albums reach the Top 10 on Billboard’s U.S. Top 200 Sales Chart
* 311 has had 9 singles reach the Top 10 on Billboard’s U.S. Alternative Chart (including the #1 singles “Down”, “Love Song” & “Don’t Tread On Me” along with “Amber”, “All Mixed Up”, “Come Original”, “Creatures (For a While)”, “Hey You” and "Sunset in July")
* 311’s new album, Universal Pulse, debuted at #7 in July 2011 and was produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith).
* 311’s new album, due summer of 2011, was produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith).
* 311’s sound is a unique hybrid of rock, reggae, hip-hop & funk. A balance of hard rocking anthems and melodic reggae grooves - with an underlying message of unity & positivity.
* After years of incessant touring, 311 has developed a reputation as one of the most influential & most entertaining live bands in the U.S.
* With their celebratory live shows, 311 has earned a massive grassroots following. For the past nine years, 311 has headlined their summer “Unity Tour” in ampitheatres across the U.S.- drawing crowds of 10,000 to 18,000 people in Atlanta, Boston, DC, New Jersey, Los Angeles, St. Louis, West Palm, Charlotte, VA Beach, Denver, etc. The tour is consistently one of the largest modern rock concerts of the summer in the U.S.
* Past 311 tours have included an impressive array of opening acts. Bands such as No Doubt, Korn & Incubus all supported 311 on U.S. tours before they became headliners.
* Support acts on 311’s Unity Tour have included :
Sublime With Rome, The Offspring, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Papa Roach, The Wailers, O.A.R., Matisyahu and Ziggy Marley.
* 311 has always stayed true to their own approach and their underlying message of unity and positivity. That message still rings true for them today…in their lyrics and at their celebratory live shows. Singer Nick Hexum typically ends each show with the words, “Stay Positive and Love Your Life.”
• Every other year on March 11th (“3-11 Day”), 311 holds a special concert event that attracts thousands of 311 fans from around the world. The show includes an extended setlist (5 hours / 60+ songs) and state of the art production. Last year the band sold-out the Mandalay Bay Arena and tickets were sold to fans in all 50 U.S. states and 13 different countries. 311 fans traveled from around the globe to meet each other and to celebrate 311 Day together.
Trouble
311 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About a kid from the middle
Had my mind set on glory
Whatever I had to give
I had no anchor to keep me from forever drifting
Caught up in danger somehow I have survived
I was always looking for trouble, trouble, it always followed me
Of all the liquor and enough of pharmaceuticals
All at once I up and pulled the bamboo out my cuticles
The bullshit, trouble was coming from me, honestly
Oh oh oh
I got a mind full of weapons
In the battle of me versus myself
And everything that I kept in
I'm finding the courage to tell
The sweetest repose comes in the strangest of places
I never supposed clarity would find me
I was always looking for trouble, trouble, it always followed me
I would always have to do a double, a double 'cause one just ain't enough
Of all the liquor and enough of pharmaceuticals
All at once I up and pulled the bamboo out my cuticles
The bullshit, trouble was coming from me, honestly
Oh oh oh
Point of contention, pain will both motivate and
Lead to you change, oh oh oh
It's been said before, I'll say it again
You only will get, one spin oh oh oh oh
I was always looking for trouble, trouble, it always followed me
I would always have to do a double, a double 'cause one just ain't enough
Of all the liquor and enough of pharmaceuticals
All at once I up and pulled the bamboo out my cuticles
The bullshit, trouble was coming from me, honestly
Oh oh oh
The song “Trouble” by 311 is a deeply personal exploration of the struggles the lead singer went through during his formative years. The lyrics speak of a kid from the middle who was set on glory but had no anchor to keep him from forever drifting. Despite this lack of direction, the singer always found himself looking for trouble and it seemed to always follow him around. He indulged in drugs and alcohol, and at one point, pulled the bamboo out of his cuticles in search of release.
Despite the darkness that surrounds the lyrics, there is a sense of hopefulness in the chorus as the singer realizes that the point of contention and pain will both motivate and lead to change. The sweetest repose may come from the strangest of places, and he finds the courage to confront his inner demons and find clarity.
The bittersweet nature of the lyrics reflects the complex feelings that come with personal growth and the struggles that precede it. It speaks to anyone who has found themselves searching for something they cannot quite name, and battling inner demons that threaten to consume them. The song is a testament to the human experience and the ability to rise above even the most difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me tell ya little story
The singer is about to share a personal experience.
About a kid from the middle
The singer is telling a story about someone from an average background.
Had my mind set on glory
The person in the story was determined to achieve great things.
Whatever I had to give
The person was willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.
I had no anchor to keep me from forever drifting
The person had no stable influence to keep them on the right path.
Caught up in danger somehow I have survived
Despite the dangers the person faced, they managed to survive.
I was always looking for trouble, trouble, it always followed me
The person was constantly seeking out trouble and attracting it.
I would always have to do a double, a double 'cause one just ain't enough
The person had to take extreme measures to deal with the trouble they attracted.
Of all the liquor and enough of pharmaceuticals
The person would use drugs and alcohol to cope with their problems.
All at once I up and pulled the bamboo out my cuticles
The person did something drastic to change their behavior.
The bullshit, trouble was coming from me, honestly
The person acknowledges that their behavior was causing their problems.
I got a mind full of weapons
The person has the ability to harm themselves or others mentally.
In the battle of me versus myself
The person is struggling with internal conflicts.
And everything that I kept in
The person has bottled up their emotions for a while.
I'm finding the courage to tell
The person is starting to open up and share their feelings.
The sweetest repose comes in the strangest of places
The person found peace in an unexpected way or situation.
I never supposed clarity would find me
The person did not expect to find clarity in their situation.
Point of contention, pain will both motivate and
Pain can be a motivating force to make changes.
Lead to you change, oh oh oh
Pain can lead to positive transformation.
It's been said before, I'll say it again
The artist is repeating a common saying or idea.
You only will get, one spin oh oh oh oh
We only have one life to live, we must make the most of it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH MICHAEL HENRYK R. WILLS, THOMAS CHRISTOPHER BURKE, LAWRENCE JAMES DIAMOND, MICHAEL JAMES ANDREW EVANS, THOMAS WILLIAM PAYNE RHOADES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
I'mSpecial
Let me tell ya little story
About a kid from the middle
Had my mind set on glory
Whatever I had to give
I had no anchor to keep me from forever drifting
Caught up in danger somehow I have survived
I was always looking for trouble, trouble, it always followed me
I would always have to do a double, a double 'cause one just ain't enough
Of all the liquor and enough of pharmaceuticals
All at once I up and pulled the bamboo out my cuticles
The bullshit, trouble was coming from me, honestly
Oh oh oh
I got a mind full of weapons
In the battle of me versus myself
And everything that I kept in
I'm finding the courage to tell
The sweetest repose comes in the strangest of places
I never supposed clarity would find me
Point of contention, pain will both motivate and
Lead to you change, oh oh oh
It's been said before, I'll say it again
You only will get, one spin oh oh oh oh
starshines4161
This video is hella powerful for people that have addiction/dependence issues. Props to Nick for sharing these lyrics.
christina 311 USS
So true. This and several other songs. I'm so glad that he pushed through it all and has a totally different life now.
Buck311
Absolutely amazing video. Great job and i hope to see more vids like this
olddirt311
Word up 311. Great album.
casefc3s
The new album is definitely amazing, love the hints of old styles mixed in. :)
Amber Churchill
love this song! been sober 13 months and this is like my new theme song! good for them to write a song against the battle of addiction, it claims so many people!!
8:16 am
Everything is a fight.
christina 311 USS
Congratulations. They so many with this theme, especially around this time period. Very inspirational. I think I was around 15 months at that point. I've had to start over a few times and I always go back to this song. Plus others with the same theme: Get Down, Golden Sunlight, Sun Come Through, and others.
Amber Churchill
@Rob I’ve been sober now for 10 years! It will be 11 on August 5th! Thank you!
Rob
Still sober? Hope so!