She is known for her sense of humor, which is expressed in both her music and her onstage performances. Many of her songs alternate between emotional reflections on romance and outright comedy. Two of her more famous songs include "Sensitive New Age Guys" and "Bald Headed Men".
You Think You've Got Problems
Christine Lavin Lyrics
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About what it's like to be a walking hypochondriac in the 1990's
Oh but I can't 'cause... I'm not feeling good
I think I'm coming down with something,
something serious.
And I'd like to tell you a story
About what it's like to be the pessimistic voice in the crowd everywhere I go
everything would still be as terrible as it is right now,
so why go on living?
I'd like to tell you a story
About how I've alienated everybody I've ever met in my whole entire life.
Nah, but I can't 'cause... 'Cause you're so stupid
you probably don't even know what a big word like "alienate" even means!
Life is hard
Life is rough
Life is cruel
Life is tough
Oh, like a dog stuck in a tree
I've been abandoned by humanity
And I'd like to tell you a story
about how hard it is for me to concentrate.
I'm so easily distracted every time I try to do my work
Nah, but I can't tell you about that 'cause.... Ooh! when did I break that nail?
Damn, I hate when that happens.
And I'd like to tell you a story
About how I can't ever seem to make a decision these days
I've become so undecided about everything.
Nah but I can't cause...
Oh yes I can!
No I can't...
Yes, I can...
No! No No No
And I'd like to tell you a story
About how it feels to be extremely PMS right now
Ah but I can't... 'cause I don't feel like it!
Life is hard
Life is rough
Life is cruel
Life is tough
Oh, like a dog stuck in a tree
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, woe is me
I really do think I'm coming down with something
I think I've got that chronic fatigue syndrome
The yuppie flu
I'd like to tell you all about it...
But I'm too tired
Christine Lavin's "You Think You've Got Problems" is a humorous take on the persona of a hypochondriac in the 1990s. The song starts with the singer expressing a desire to share her story, but she's unable to because she's unwell. She then shifts to describing how it feels to constantly be the pessimistic voice in any conversation, expressing her belief that she's unable to make any positive difference, so what's the point of living? The song goes on to explore the idea of the persona being unable to form any lasting connections with people and how life is nothing but hard, rough, cruel, and tough. The persona is constantly distracted and unable to focus, unable to make decisions, and continually battling PMS symptoms.
The song is a satirical commentary on the hypochondriac culture of the 1990s, where individuals would self-diagnose themselves using the internet, leading to a spike in anxiety disorders. Hypochondriacs were attempting to navigate a world that was increasingly becoming technology-driven and information was more readily available than ever before. By highlighting such issues, Lavin makes light of the situation, for these problems may not seem like anything significant on their own, but in the grand scheme of things, they contribute to the feeling of being overwhelmed.
The song provides a humorous and relatable outlook on life that anyone can relate to, even those not experiencing the persona's hypochondria. It serves as a reminder that through humor, we can all relate to each other's problems and find a way to laugh at them.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd like to tell you a story
The singer has something to share about their life experiences or feelings.
About what it's like to be a walking hypochondriac in the 1990's
The singer wants to talk about the experience of always feeling sick and worrying about their health.
Oh but I can't 'cause... I'm not feeling good
The singer's physical state is preventing them from sharing their story.
I think I'm coming down with something, something serious.
The artist believes they are experiencing a severe illness.
About what it's like to be the pessimistic voice in the crowd everywhere I go
The artist wants to share their experience of feeling negative and hopeless in social situations.
Oh but I can't 'cause... what difference would it make?
The singer questions the point of sharing their pessimistic outlook when everything still feels terrible.
everything would still be as terrible as it is right now, so why go on living?
The singer believes there is no hope for improvement and wonders if life is worth living.
About how I've alienated everybody I've ever met in my whole entire life.
The artist wants to share their experience of pushing people away and feeling alone.
Nah, but I can't 'cause... 'Cause you're so stupid you probably don't even know what a big word like 'alienate' even means!
The artist is frustrated with their audience and feels they will not understand the meaning of the word 'alienate'.
Life is hard Life is rough Life is cruel Life is tough
The artist is expressing their belief that life is difficult and challenging.
Oh, like a dog stuck in a tree I've been abandoned by humanity
The singer feels alone and unsupported, like a dog stuck in a tree without help from humans.
about how hard it is for me to concentrate.
The artist wants to share their experience of struggling to focus.
I'm so easily distracted every time I try to do my work
The singer finds it difficult to stay on task without getting sidetracked.
Nah, but I can't tell you about that 'cause.... Ooh! when did I break that nail? Damn, I hate when that happens.
The singer gets distracted by a broken nail, demonstrating their difficulty with concentration.
About how I can't ever seem to make a decision these days
The singer wants to discuss their inability to make choices.
I've become so undecided about everything.
The artist struggles to commit to any particular option or course of action.
Nah but I can't cause... Oh yes I can! No I can't... Yes, I can... No! No No No
The artist is indecisive and changes their mind multiple times, exemplifying their struggle with decision-making.
About how it feels to be extremely PMS right now
The singer wants to share their experience of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Ah but I can't... 'cause I don't feel like it!
The singer is choosing not to discuss their PMS, possibly because they don't want to or because they don't feel well.
I really do think I'm coming down with something
The artist believes they are getting sick.
I think I've got that chronic fatigue syndrome The yuppie flu
The artist believes they have either chronic fatigue syndrome or yuppie flu, both of which are chronic illnesses associated with fatigue.
I'd like to tell you all about it... But I'm too tired
The artist wants to share their experience with chronic illness, but they are too fatigued to discuss it.
Contributed by Muhammad L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.