Abigail Anne Tucker (born 22 January 1973) is an Australian singer-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴Abigail Anne Tucker (born 22 January 1973) is an Australian singer-songwriter and actress, who is best known for her acting roles in shows such as Heartbreak High and The Secret Life of Us. She came to fame as a contestant in the Australian version of New Faces in the early 1990s and soon after won a role in the spin-off from Australian film The Heartbreak Kid - Heartbreak High. This diversion into the acting arena was probably an opportunity to get internationally known as a personality with the opportunity to launch a worldwide singing career from the show, a plan that had worked for Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, and one that would be copied by Laura Vasquez, Natalie Imbruglia and Tammin Sursok. In fact both Heartbreak High and a subsequent role in The Secret Life of Us gave Abi the exposure as a singer with slots not only on the show plus tracks on spin-off CDs.

However, unlike Kylie, Abi has not succeeded in having any large hits in the United Kingdom or North America and it wasn't until 2003 that her debut album Dreamworld was released. Not a musician afraid to experiment with her sound, she tried out a heavier rock style, forming short-lived band Bully during the late nineties whilst living in the UK. Abi is well known as a live music performer in Sydney whilst her songs have also appeared not only on The Secret Life of Us album but as well on the soundtrack to the movie Angst (where she plays the part of May). She also contributed backing vocals to some songs on David McCormack's debut solo album, Candy in 2002.

Abi appeared in the play Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Trouble
Abi Tucker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dave Lawrence:

There's paint peeling on the ceiling
The garden's in some kind of state
We're friendly with the neighbours,
Tough they know we didn't come to stay
So call in the carpet cleaners
A ute to take the furniture away

Living this rental lifestyle
Just spirits passing through the day

Abi Tucker:

Baby, I've been foolish
Sometimes people are strange
But I'm learning to let go, let everything come
At least I do now anyway
And I think of you tomorrow
Like I thought of you yesterday
And though I wish you well. I will always
Wonder what it would have been if you'd stayed

Dave Lawrence:

Oh, from freedom is born trouble
And so it goes on
Oh, from freedom is born trouble

Well it looks just like purgatory
To those who've got their blinkers on
But I can hear the angels signing, from the local
Church on Sunday morn
And I know you're dad don't like it
He's just a little insecure
Won't somebody please remind him, oh honey,
That there ain't no cure

Oh, from freedom is born trouble

Overall Meaning

The song Trouble by Abi Tucker is a poignant and contemplative take on the challenges that come with living a transient life. The two verses are sung by different vocalists, one male and one female, who seem to be reflecting on different aspects of the lyrics. The first verse, sung by Dave Lawrence, paints a picture of a rundown rental property, with peeling paint on the ceiling and furniture being moved out. In this transient lifestyle, the couple are friendly with the neighbours but are still seen as outsiders who didn't come to stay. Dave's choice of words reflects a general sense of impermanence, as if they are just "spirits passing through the day." The chorus adds to this sense of uncertainty and vulnerability, pointing out that "from freedom is born trouble."

Abi Tucker's verse adds a more personal perspective to the lyrics. She sings about feeling foolish and learning to let go, even when people act strangely. She reflects on her thoughts of someone else, whom she wishes had stayed, despite wishing them well. The repetition of "tomorrow" and "yesterday" suggests a sense of longing and regret, indicating that it is difficult to let go of this person. The chorus follows up Abi's thoughts with the same phrase, emphasizing that freedom can lead to trouble, which might be a broader reference to the challenges that come with living a free and transient life.

Overall, the lyrics to Trouble are a reminder that life is unpredictable and that change can be difficult to manage. The song is a subtle critique of living a transient lifestyle, suggesting that the freedom it offers can also bring trouble. However, the song also hints that there are moments of beauty and spirituality that can be found even in the midst of uncertainty and impermanence.

Line by Line Meaning

There's paint peeling on the ceiling
The condition of the house is deteriorating, as seen from the paint peeling off the ceiling.

The garden's in some kind of state
The garden is messy and needs maintenance.

We're friendly with the neighbours, Tough they know we didn't come to stay
Although the neighbors are cordial, they are aware that the tenants will not be around for long.

So call in the carpet cleaners
It is necessary to hire professionals to clean the carpet.

A ute to take the furniture away
A pickup truck is needed to carry the furniture out.

Living this rental lifestyle
The tenants are living a transient lifestyle due to renting the house.

Just spirits passing through the day
The tenants are just living day by day, without any long-term plans or goals.

Baby, I've been foolish
The artist acknowledges that they have made some mistakes.

Sometimes people are strange
People can be unpredictable and hard to understand at times.

But I'm learning to let go, let everything come
The artist has adopted an attitude of surrender, letting go of control and accepting whatever life brings.

At least I do now anyway
The singer has recently learned to let go and live in the moment.

And I think of you tomorrow
The artist frequently thinks of someone from their past and wonders what could have been.

Like I thought of you yesterday
The person from the past has been on the singer's mind for some time.

And though I wish you well. I will always
Despite the singer's good intentions, they cannot help but wonder what might have happened if things had been different.

Wonder what it would have been if you'd stayed
The singer is curious about how their life would have turned out if the other person had stayed in their life.

Oh, from freedom is born trouble
The artist believes that freedom, while desirable, can also lead to problems.

And so it goes on
This cycle of freedom and trouble continues indefinitely.

Well it looks just like purgatory
To the unobservant, the situation may seem like a kind of limbo or purgatory.

To those who've got their blinkers on
This refers to those who are not paying attention to the reality of the situation.

But I can hear the angels signing, from the local Church on Sunday morn
Despite the challenging circumstances, the artist can still find comfort and reassurance in their faith.

And I know you're dad don't like it
The artist is aware that someone's father disapproves of their lifestyle.

He's just a little insecure
The father's behavior is the result of his own emotional struggles.

Won't somebody please remind him, oh honey, That there ain't no cure
The singer recognizes that the father's insecurity cannot be easily rectified.

Writer(s): Abigail Anne Tucker, David Lawrence

Contributed by David F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS