Trouble in 421
Incubus Lyrics


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The evening began as a positive swaret
And my abode was 4-2-0 G.
But little did I know that in the very next apartment
There'd be trouble on the brew for me!
Ubiquitous I wish I could be
Because the clock cuts short my own day!

One hundred things to do before I rest my sore ass
Upon the cushion that supports my array!
Can this be?
Trouble!
So if I may, slip you a tip.
You'd best stay away from 4-2-1.
Trouble!

So get high the green way.
So get by the green way, yes!
I knocked upon their door
In hopes of bidding them their welcome
And instead I was caught by an eye.
His pupil was wide open

Kinda like a liquor barn at 3:00.
It was indoubadoubly dose derived.
It was then that they took me
And shined their light between my eyes.

He said "What are ya new?
Why are you here? What's the catch?
Why not explain in clear? Why you're peaking around?"
I wish I could've just kept to my own.

My hospitality has been too well spent and I've paid my rent!
I should've kept my thoughts, on who might've been inside
So that my mind could sit and delude my pride!
I beg my common sense to keep my
Neighbor out away from my front door

Until I find a way




To hide myself from those in 4-2-1, one
..one away from the good one.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Incubus's "Trouble in 421" are a narrative about a night out gone wrong. The singer starts the evening in a positive mindset ("The evening began as a positive swear"), residing in apartment 420. However, he soon discovers that there is trouble brewing in the apartment next door – apartment 421. The lyrics highlight the singer's frustration, wishing that he could be ubiquitous so he could accomplish everything he wants to do in one day, but the clock always cuts it short.


Despite wanting to stay away from apartment 421, the singer knocks on their door to welcome them instead ("I knocked upon their door in hopes of bidding them their welcome"). This is where the narrative takes a dramatic turn, as he is confronted by a resident with a wide-open pupil, likely under the influence of drugs ("His pupil was wide open / Kinda like a liquor barn at 3:00 / It was indoubadoubly dose derived"). The resident questions the singer's intentions, and he regrets ever getting involved with them ("I wish I could've just kept to my own"). The song ends with the singer pledging to keep his distance from apartment 421 until he finds a way to protect himself ("I beg my common sense to keep my / Neighbor out away from my front door / Until I find a way").


Line by Line Meaning

The evening began as a positive swaret
The night started off well


And my abode was 4-2-0 G.
I was in my home, apartment 420G


But little did I know that in the very next apartment
But unfortunately, in the apartment right beside mine


There'd be trouble on the brew for me!
There was going to be trouble for me


Ubiquitous I wish I could be
I wish I could be everywhere at once


Because the clock cuts short my own day!
Because time feels limited and passes too quickly


One hundred things to do before I rest my sore ass
I have many tasks to do before I can relax


Upon the cushion that supports my array!
Sit on the couch to rest


Can this be?
Is this really happening?


Trouble!
There is a situation causing problems


So if I may, slip you a tip.
If I can give you some advice


You'd best stay away from 4-2-1.
Stay away from apartment 421


So get high the green way.
Smoke marijuana, the safer way


So get by the green way, yes!
Get through life with the help of marijuana


I knocked upon their door
I went to their apartment and knocked on their door


In hopes of bidding them their welcome
To greet them and offer a friendly welcome


And instead I was caught by an eye.
But instead, someone noticed me


His pupil was wide open
The person had dilated pupils


Kinda like a liquor barn at 3:00.
Similar to the look of liquor store lights at 3am


It was indoubadoubly dose derived.
The person was clearly under the influence of something


It was then that they took me
That's when they grabbed me


And shined their light between my eyes.
They shone a light in my eyes to disorient me


He said "What are ya new?
The person asked why I was there


Why are you here? What's the catch?
They questioned my motives for being there


Why not explain in clear? Why you're peaking around?
They wanted me to explain why I was snooping around


I wish I could've just kept to my own.
I wish I had stayed in my own business


My hospitality has been too well spent and I've paid my rent!
I have been nice enough and paid my rent on time


I should've kept my thoughts, on who might've been inside
I should have been more mindful of the people in that apartment


So that my mind could sit and delude my pride!
So I could pretend nothing was wrong and feel better about myself


I beg my common sense to keep my
I hope I can remind myself to stay


Neighbor out away from my front door
Away from my front door


Until I find a way
Until I can figure out


To hide myself from those in 4-2-1, one,
How to avoid the people in apartment 421


..one away from the good one.
They are only one apartment away from mine




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALEX KATUNICH, BRANDON BOYD, BRANDON CHARLES BOYD, GAVIN KOPPEL, JOSE PASILLAS II, JOSE ANTHONY II PASILLAS, MICHAEL EINZIGER, MICHAEL AARON EINZIGER

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Comments from YouTube:

dickrobot

I never realized until now how much this sounds like something from Mr. Bungle's first album. I miss this version of Incubus. I saw them live in the mid 90s and they blew me away.

OGT 420

Reminds me of Patton with primus, which should happen lol

Everyday Deckienson

A mi me recuerda a Harold Of The Rocks... de Primus

Jay 88

dickrobot yeah, was like a RHCP/Mr bungle

Craig M

This is one of my favorite guitar solos ever, Enzinger shreds it

Brian DeRhen

Yep!

GrizzlyGaming86

Sink beneath the line bro... that is where it is at.

Isidra Garza

I see a lot of people hate on there new stuff but in my opinion these guys still got it. I saw them a month ago in El Paso and it was the best live concert I’ve seen.

TarantuLando CalCuLingus

@RAMONES3122 false

Tank Boi

Facts

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