Trouble Every Day
Frank Zappa Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I'm about to get sick
From watchin' my TV
Been checkin' out the news until my eyeballs fail to see
I mean to say that every day is just another rotten mess
And when it's gonna change, my friends, is anybody's guess

So I'm watchin' and I'm waitin'
Hopin' for the best
Even think I'll go to prayin'
Every time I hear 'em sayin'
That there's no way to delay that trouble comin' every day
No way to delay that trouble comin' every day

Wednesday I watched the riot, I seen the cops out on the street
Watched 'em throwin' rocks and stuff and chokin' in the heat
Listened to reports about the whisky passin' 'round
Seen the smoke and fire and the market burnin' down
Watched while everybody on his street would take a turn
To stomp and smash and bash and crash and slash and bust and burn

And I'm watchin' and I'm waitin'
Hopin' for the best
Even think I'll go to prayin'
Every time I hear 'em sayin'
That there's no way to delay that trouble comin' every day
No way to delay that trouble comin' every day

Well, you can cool it you can heat it
'Cause, baby, I don't need it
Take your TV tube and eat it
And all that phony stuff on sports and all the unconfirmed reports
You know I watched that rotten box until my head began to hurt
From checkin' out the way the newsmen say they get the dirt
Before the guys on channel so-and-so, further they assert
That any show they'll interrupt
To bring you news if it comes up
They say that if the place blows up
They'll be the first to tell
Because the boys they got downtown are workin' hard and doin' swell
And if anybody gets the news
Before it hits the street they say that no one blabs it faster
Their coverage can't be beat
And if another woman driver
Gets machine-gunned from her seat
They'll send some joker with a brownie and you'll see it all complete

So I'm watchin' and I'm waitin'
Hopin' for the best
Even think I'll go to prayin'
Every time I hear 'em sayin'
That there's no way to delay that trouble comin' every day
No way to delay that trouble comin' every day

Hey, you know something people?
I'm not black but there's a whole lots a times I wish I could say I'm not white

Well, I seen the fires burnin' and the local people turnin'
On the merchants and the shops who used to sell their brooms and mops
And every other household item
Watched the mob just turn and bite 'em
And they say it served 'em right
Because a few of them are white
And it's the same across the nation, black and white discrimination
Yellin' "you can't understand me!"
And all that other jazz they hand me
In the papers and TV and all that mass stupidity
That seems to grow more every day
Each time you hear some nitwit say
He wants to go and do you in
'Cause the color of your skin
Just don't appeal to him
No matter if it's black or white because he's out for blood tonight

You know we gotta sit around at home and watch this thing begin
But I bet there won't be many left to see it really end
'Cause the fire in the street ain't like the fire in the heart
And in the eyes of all these people don't you know that this could start?
On any street, in any town, in any state if any clown
Decides that now's the time to fight
For some ideal he thinks is right
And if a million more agree, there ain't no great society
As it applies to you and me
Our country isn't free
And the law refuse to see if all that you can ever be
Is just a lousy janitor
Unless your uncle owns a store
You know that five in every four
Just won't amount to nothin' more
Than watchin' rats go across the floor




And make up songs about being poor
Blow your harmonica, son!

Overall Meaning

The song Trouble Every Day by Frank Zappa is a commentary on the state of America in the 1960s. The song describes the feeling of hopelessness and despair that people felt as they watched the news and witnessed the violence and unrest that was happening all around them. The lyrics suggest that there is no way to delay the trouble that is coming every day.


The first verse describes the feeling of being sick from watching TV and checking out the news every day. The lyrics suggest that every day is a mess and that nobody knows when things will change. The chorus suggests that there is no way to delay the trouble that is coming every day, and that people are just waiting and hoping for the best.


The second verse describes the riots and violence that were happening in America in the 1960s. The lyrics suggest that people were turning against each other and that the situation was getting worse. The final verse suggests that America is not a great society and that people are trapped in poverty and hopelessness. The song ends with the line "Blow your harmonica, son!" which may suggest that music is a way to cope with the troubled times.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I'm about to get sick
The singer is sick and tired of watching the news on television all the time.


From watchin' my TV
The singer is sick of watching TV.


Been checkin' out the news until my eyeballs fail to see
The singer has been watching the news so much that their eyes are tired.


I mean to say that every day is just another rotten mess
The artist thinks every day is a bad day.


And when it's gonna change, my friends, is anybody's guess
The artist doesn't know when things will get better.


So I'm watchin' and I'm waitin'
The singer is passively waiting for something to happen.


Hopin' for the best
The singer is optimistic about the future.


Even think I'll go to prayin'
The artist is willing to believe in prayer.


Every time I hear 'em sayin'
The artist is referring to news broadcasters and experts.


That there's no way to delay that trouble comin' every day
There is no escaping the problems of the world.


Wednesday I watched the riot, I seen the cops out on the street
The singer witnessed a violent protest and police involvement.


Watched 'em throwin' rocks and stuff and chokin' in the heat
The police and protestors were fighting in the streets during a hot weather day.


Listened to reports about the whisky passin' 'round
There were reports of alcohol consumption during the protest.


Seen the smoke and fire and the market burnin' down
The singer witnessed the destruction of property during the protest.


Watched while everybody on his street would take a turn
The singer's neighbors all joined in on the violent protest.


To stomp and smash and bash and crash and slash and bust and burn
The protestors were destroying everything in sight.


Well, you can cool it you can heat it
The artist is telling people to calm down.


'Cause, baby, I don't need it
The singer does not want to be a part of society's problems.


Take your TV tube and eat it
The singer is telling people to turn off their TVs.


That seems to grow more every day
The artist believes the news media is getting worse and more sensational every day.


No matter if it's black or white because he's out for blood tonight
Racism can lead to violence and it doesn't matter who you are, you could be a victim.


You know we gotta sit around at home and watch this thing begin
The artist feels powerless and can only watch society fall apart.


But I bet there won't be many left to see it really end
The singer predicts people will not survive if society continues on this path.


And the law refuse to see if all that you can ever be
The artist believes the law is not protecting or helping people.


Is just a lousy janitor
The singer thinks that some people are stuck in low-paying jobs with no hope for advancement.


Unless your uncle owns a store
Unless you come from a wealthy family, you won't have good opportunities.


You know that five in every four
The singer is using irony to accentuate how unfair society is.


Just won't amount to nothin' more
Many people will not have a chance to do more with their lives.


Than watchin' rats go across the floor
People will be stuck in low-paying jobs.


And make up songs about being poor
People will be forced to sing about their difficult lives, making light of their struggles.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Frank Zappa

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

actual flam

Just recently started really reading into the lyrics even though I knew what the song was about.
Something that really stuck with me was the final verse, in particular:

You know we gotta sit around at home
And watch this thing begin
But I bet there won't be many left
To see it really end

Zappa had some real 2020 vision.



Socrates Again

"Trouble Every Day"

Well I'm about to get sick
From watchin' my TV
Been checkin' out the news
Until my eyeballs fail to see
I mean to say that every day
Is just another rotten mess
And when it's gonna change, my friend
Is anybody's guess

So I'm watchin' and I'm waitin'
Hopin' for the best
Even think I'll go to prayin'
Every time I hear 'em sayin'
That there's no way to delay
That trouble comin' every day
No way to delay
That trouble comin' every day

Wednesday I watched the riot...
Seen the cops out on the street
Watched 'em throwin' rocks and stuff
And chokin' in the heat
Listened to reports
About the whisky passin' 'round
Seen the smoke and fire
And the market burnin' down
Watched while everybody
On his street would take a turn
To stomp and smash and bash and crash
And slash and bust and burn

And I'm watchin' and I'm waitin'
Hopin' for the best
Even think I'll go to prayin'
Every time I hear 'em sayin'
That there's no way to delay
That trouble comin' every day
No way to delay
That trouble comin' every day

Well, you can cool it,
You can heat it...
'Cause, baby, I don't need it...
Take your TV tube and eat it
'N all that phony stuff on sports
'N all the unconfirmed reports
You know I watched that rotten box
Until my head begin to hurt
From checkin' out the way
The newsman say they get the dirt
Before the guys on channel so-and-so

And further they assert
That any show they'll interrupt
To bring you news if it comes up
They say that if the place blows up
They will be the first to tell,
Because the boys they got downtown
Are workin' hard and doin' swell,
And if anybody gets the news
Before it hits the street,
They say that no one blabs it faster
Their coverage can't be beat

And if another woman driver
Gets machine-gunned from her seat
They'll send some joker with a brownie
And you'll see it all complete

So I'm watchin' and I'm waitin'
Hopin' for the best
Even think I'll go to prayin'
Every time I hear 'em sayin'
That there's no way to delay
That trouble comin' every day
No way to delay
That trouble comin' every day

Hey, you know something people?
I'm not black
But there's a whole lots a times
I wish I could say I'm not white

Well, I seen the fires burnin'
And the local people turnin'
On the merchants and the shops
Who used to sell their brooms and mops
And every other household item
Watched the mob just turn and bite 'em
And they say it served 'em right
Because a few of them are white,
And it's the same across the nation
Black and white discrimination
Yellin' "You can't understand me!"
'N all that other jazz they hand me
In the papers and TV and
All that mass stupidity
That seems to grow more every day
Each time you hear some nitwit say
He wants to go and do you in
Because the color of your skin
Just don't appeal to him
(No matter if it's black or white)
Because he's out for blood tonight

You know we got to sit around at home
And watch this thing begin
But I bet there won't be many live
To see it really end
'Cause the fire in the street
Ain't like the fire in the heart
And in the eyes of all these people
Don't you know that this could start
On any street in any town
In any state if any clown
Decides that now's the time to fight
For some ideal he thinks is right
And if a million more agree
There ain't no Great Society
As it applies to you and me
Our country isn't free
And the law refuses to see
If all that you can ever be
Is just a lousy janitor
Unless your uncle owns a store
You know that five in every four
Just won't amount to nothin' more
Gonna watch the rats go across the floor
And make up songs about being poor

Blow your harmonica, son!



All comments from YouTube:

Al

Most prophetic song ever written!

Karsten Elkjær

Not really prophetic, as much as the problems he is singing about having not been solved 60 years later.

Zack Zallie

We need Zappa now more than ever.

DJ Montini 94

This song never old and never die 😈🤘🤘🤘

Chewbacca Pannekoek

A song with some of the best lyrics of all time. It is as relevant today as it was in 1966.

Drink Locally

Frank Zappa is the best. Way ahead of his time. Excellent song

Iain Neville

This has got to be the most astonishing and brutally honest piece of social commentary ever recorded - and it comes from 1966!!! It frightens me shitless that its relevance today is even more profound...!!!

Angela Valli

The more things change the more they stay the same.

Simcha Baruch

New boss same as the old boss. ©

Simcha Baruch

Roscoe Patterson this song is from 1966 escape from L.A 1996, what do you mean.

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