Indie pop act Big Troubles began working together in 2009, but their music … Read Full Bio ↴Indie pop act Big Troubles began working together in 2009, but their music speaks of their love for the sounds of the '80s and '90s, ranging from shoegaze bands, jangle pop, and the C-86 brigade to lo-fi pop and the first stirrings of grunge. Big Troubles were formed by Alex Craig and Ian Drennan, two friends from Ridgewood, New Jersey who attended high school together. The two shared enthusiasm for the likes of Teenage Fanclub, My Bloody Valentine, the Cleaners from Venus, and Let's Active, and when they both went off to college -- Craig attending New York University and Drennan enrolling at Tufts University in Massachusetts -- they stayed in touch and began writing songs together. In 2009, Craig and Drennan started recording as Big Troubles. Their debut, 2010's Worry, was very much a homemade affair, recorded with four-track cassette decks, a primitive drum machine handling the percussion and Craig and Drennan overdubbing overdriven electric guitars and outdated analog synths into the sound of a full band. On their second album, 2011's Romantic Comedy (recorded with jangle pop hero Mitch Easter), Big Troubles de-emphasized the lo-fi side of their sound and honed in on their pop influences.
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Minor Keys
Big Troubles Lyrics

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Listen to the saddest songs just to feel anything at all
All the songs in minor keys always sounded all the best to me

It's the one that got away
It's the one that never came
It's the chances that you missed
It's the girl you never kissed
It's the one you never had

It's the one that left you sad

It's a typical situation, souvenir self-medication
It's a masochistic remedy, reminder of what wasn't to be at all

It's the one that got away
It's the one that never came
It's the chances that you missed
It's the girl you never kissed
It's the one you never had
It's the one that left you sad

Feeling so tired
The city's breeze always feels so quiet (?)
Show me where it hurts
As we watch the world burn

And we'll watch the world burn
And we'll watch the world burn
And we'll watch the world burn
And we'll watch the world burn

It's the one that got away
It's the one that never came
It's the chances that you missed
It's the girl you never kissed
It's the one you never had
It's the one that left you sad

It's the one that got away
It's the one that never came
It's the chances that you missed
It's the girl you never kissed

It's the one you never had
It's the one that left you sad

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Minor Keys" by Big Troubles reflect the common human tendency to seek solace in sad music. The singer is admitting to listening to the saddest songs just to feel something, anything at all. Specifically, songs in minor keys have always sounded the best to the singer. This could be interpreted as a preference for melancholic melodies that reflect the feeling and experiences of the singer.

The chorus of the song repeatedly emphasizes the one that got away. This could refer to a person or opportunity that was missed or lost. The chances that were missed and the girl that was never kissed are a representation of missed opportunities in life that cannot be regained. The lyrics suggest that the singer is haunted by these missed chances and the one that never came.

The bridge of the song reiterates the idea that listening to sad music is a form of self-medication. The singer finds solace in the pain expressed by the music, even if it is a reminder of what could not be. The final lyrics of the song seem to encompass the idea that the world has gone wrong, and there is a shared pain in watching it burn. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that the one that got away, the missed chance or opportunity, is a universal human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Listen to the saddest songs just to feel anything at all
I listen to sad songs just to feel something because I am numb.

All the songs in minor keys always sounded all the best to me
I prefer songs that are in minor keys because they are sad and resonate with my mood.

It's the one that got away
There's someone I wanted to be with but could not be with.

It's the one that never came
There was something I wanted that never came to fruition.

It's the chances that you missed
I missed opportunities that could have changed my life.

It's the girl you never kissed
I regret not having made a move on someone I was attracted to.

It's the one you never had
There's someone or something I never got to experience.

It's the one that left you sad
I am unhappy because I missed out on something or someone important to me.

It's a typical situation, souvenir self-medication
Feeling sad and listening to sad songs is a common way for me to cope with my emotions.

It's a masochistic remedy, reminder of what wasn't to be at all
Listening to sad songs is like inflicting pain on myself, reminding me of what could have been but never was.

Feeling so tired
I am exhausted and drained of energy.

The city's breeze always feels so quiet (?)
Even though I'm in a bustling city, it always feels silent and lonely.

Show me where it hurts
I am in pain and need someone to help me heal.

And we'll watch the world burn
We'll witness chaos and destruction around us.