Their first release in 1985 was a seven-inch single named "Crazy Game", with the B-side "Everybody's Waiting (for Someone to Come Home)". That same year, the Indigo Girls released a six-track Extended play album named "Indigo Girls", and in 1987 released their first full-length album, Strange Fire, recorded at John Keane Studio in Athens, Georgia, and including "Crazy Game". With this release, they secured the services of Russell Carter, who remains their manager to the present; they had first approached him when the EP album was released, but he told them their songs were "immature" and they were not likely to get a record deal.
They were signed to Epic Records in 1989 and won the Grammy for best contemporary folk album later that year (for their self titled release) Some of their hit songs include "Galileo," "Closer to Fine," and "Shame on You."
Aside from being musicians, Ray and Saliers are activists, constantly supporting causes like gun control, women's rights, Native American rights, environmental protection, the abolition of the death penalty, and as lesbians themselves, LGBT rights. They constantly devote their time and money to such causes, often playing benefit concerts.
Ray and Saliers both have side projects. Ray owns and founded Daemon Records, an independent label based in Decatur. She also has a career as a solo artist, and has released two albums thus far. Saliers is the part owner of Watershed, a restaurant and wine bar in Decatur.
Together, the Indigo Girls are constantly touring. Their new album, Poseidon and the Bitter Bug, was released March 24, 2009.
Trouble
Indigo Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here in the South we fix something to eat
Steam risin' up off the greenery
And we welcome the strangers we meet
Alien sick growing in these walls
Like moss in a crack that time made
I brush a guy in the airport whistling it's a small world after all
And the prices are higher but the kids still selling lemonade
Get to the point of it
Get to the sense of it
I'm in a hurry to get through it
A hurricane flag flappin' in a bad storm
Same color of the spider underneath my nail that bit me in my dream
And who would take out the Dominican Republic
And send God's sweet children floating down a poison stream
Secret society of conference rooms
I pledge my allegiance to the dollar
And when the clergy take a vote all the gays will pay again, yeah
'Cause there's more than one kind of criminal white collar
To get to the point of it
Get to the sense of it
I'm in a hurry to get through it
One day the war will stop
And we'll grow a peaceful crop
And a girl can get a wife
And we can bring you back to life
Sacks of flour and rice or poker chips
Greasy palms and systems underhanding
And maybe we'll take a walk on Pluto
But be no closer to the understanding
And get to the point of it
Get to the sense of it
I'm in a hurry to get through it yeah
"Trouble" by Indigo Girls is a song with a strong message about the problems and injustices that exist in society. The lyrics depict life in the South and how people welcome and feed strangers. However, trouble came to the South in the form of alien sickness growing in the walls like moss in a crack created by time. This metaphor is used to illustrate how deeply rooted social problems can be. When the singer brushes past a man in the airport whistling "It's a small world after all," it serves as a poignant reminder of how small the world really is, and how interconnected we are. Even with this realization, the prices are still high, yet children continue to sell lemonade.
The song then shifts to talk about the problems plaguing society such as hurricanes and the unequal distribution of wealth. The line "I pledge my allegiance to the dollar" highlights how capitalism and the love of money can create an oppressive structure that benefits only a few. The song also touches on the topic of discrimination, particularly against the LGBT+ community, hinting at the possibility of more discrimination and oppression to come.
Despite all the problems, there is still hope for the future. The singer envisions a world without war and a world where same-sex marriage is legal. However, even with all the progress made, there will still be issues that society will struggle to understand, and people will feel an urgency to get to the point and the sense of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Trouble came around here
Trouble has arrived in this area
Here in the South we fix something to eat
In this southern region, we prepare food to eat
Steam risin' up off the greenery
Water vapor is emerging from the plants
And we welcome the strangers we meet
We embrace and accept unfamiliar individuals
Alien sick growing in these walls
An unfamiliar illness is growing within these walls
Like moss in a crack that time made
It is growing like moss in a crack formed by the passing of time
I brush a guy in the airport whistling it's a small world after all
I encountered a man at the airport who was whistling a popular tune, 'It's a Small World After All'
And the prices are higher but the kids still selling lemonade
Despite an increase in prices, children are still selling lemonade
Get to the point of it
Let's focus on the main idea
Get to the sense of it
Let's understand the meaning
I'm in a hurry to get through it
I'm trying to finish it quickly
A hurricane flag flappin' in a bad storm
A symbol of a hurricane flapping in a dangerous storm
Same color of the spider underneath my nail that bit me in my dream
Similar color to the spider that bit me in my dream and was under my nail
And who would take out the Dominican Republic
Who would attack the Dominican Republic?
And send God's sweet children floating down a poison stream
To expose innocent individuals to harmful elements
Secret society of conference rooms
A clandestine group that operates from private meeting rooms
I pledge my allegiance to the dollar
I commit to putting financial gain above all else
And when the clergy take a vote all the gays will pay again, yeah
In case there's another vote by religious officials, the LGBTQ+ community will be harmed
'Cause there's more than one kind of criminal white collar
There are multiple types of unethical actions performed by high-powered individuals
To get to the point of it
To understand what's most important
Get to the sense of it
Let's comprehend the meaning
I'm in a hurry to get through it
I want to finish this quickly
One day the war will stop
A time will come when the war will end
And we'll grow a peaceful crop
We will enjoy a harvest of peace
And a girl can get a wife
A woman can legally marry another woman
And we can bring you back to life
And we may have the capability of reviving you from death
Sacks of flour and rice or poker chips
A comparison between essential items and less important things
Greasy palms and systems underhanding
A reference to corrupt practices and dishonest systems
And maybe we'll take a walk on Pluto
Perhaps we'll explore Pluto
But be no closer to the understanding
But we still may not have a better comprehension of certain things
And get to the point of it
And let's focus on what's most important
Get to the sense of it
And let's try to understand the meaning behind it
I'm in a hurry to get through it yeah
I want to hurry up and finish this
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Amy Elizabeth Ray, Emily Ann Saliers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Noah Hardy
He was one of my favorite drummers growing up. I use to watch this on VHS when I was little. When I got older my dad bought it for me on DVD and now I can watch it on Youtube. This was my favorite Lineup
Who Fan Extraordinaire
I was more of a Jerry Marotta fan, but no complaints.
Tarn1981 Tarn
Why , at 40 years of age , am I only just finding this band? I absolutely love it
L Allen
My ❤️ feels so full when I listen to any of their music. ✌🏼❤️🌎
antomus
I love them!