Troubled Child
Journey Lyrics


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Sunrise, creepin' in your eyes
Cold empty side walks
Miles away from trustin' someone
Far from giving up
Young blood, cry tough
Mean street run
There's a hunger inside you
Desperate rebel runaway
Far from giving up

Someday, someway, all very soon
You'll end, long nights
Chasin' the moon

War with yourself
Makes you feel better
Caught behind the lines
Troubled child
Faith finds a cure
It makes you feel better
You know you can shine
Troubled child

Voices echo, from the past
Decisions made for you
Trials they're made
To touch your heart
Never found their way

Someday, someway, all very soon
You'll end, long nights
Chasin' the moon

War with yourself
Makes you feel better
Caught behind the lines
Troubled child
Faith finds a cure
It makes you feel better
You know you can shine
Troubled child

War with yourself
Makes you feel better
Caught behind the lines
Troubled child
Faith finds a cure
It makes you feel better




You know you can shine
Troubled child

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Troubled Child by Journey tell a story of a conflicted and lost individual who is in search of something that can make them feel alive. The first two lines depict a sense of desolation and loneliness as the sunrise "creeps in" the singer's eyes and they find themselves walking on "cold, empty sidewalks". The following line reinforces this feeling of isolation, as they say they are "miles away from trusting someone". However, despite feeling lost, the singer is not willing to give up and has a "hunger inside".


The chorus repeats the lines "war with yourself/makes you feel better/caught behind the lines/troubled child/faith finds a cure/it makes you feel better/you know you can shine", highlighting the singer's inner struggles and their search for faith and hope. The second verse describes the singer's past and the decisions that were made for them, but these trials did not touch their heart or help them find their way. The song ends with the same chorus, reassurance that "someday, someway" the long nights of searching for purpose will come to an end.


Overall, Troubled Child conveys a message of hope to individuals who may be struggling to find their place in the world. Despite feeling lost and alone, the singer holds on to the belief that they can overcome their inner conflicts and find their way to a brighter future.


Line by Line Meaning

Sunrise, creepin' in your eyes
The beginning of a new day, and the light entering your eyes, signaling hope for a fresh start.


Cold empty side walks
The feeling of loneliness and isolation that one experiences while walking on deserted streets.


Miles away from trustin' someone
A state of mistrust and caution, developed as a result of past experiences that have led to betrayal or heartbreak.


Far from giving up
Despite the struggles and hurdles one faces, there is no sense of surrender or backing down.


Young blood, cry tough
Being young and naive, with no prior experience, it feels tough and challenging to deal with the harsh realities of life.


Mean street run
Being on the rough side of the town, with violence and crime lurking around in every nook and corner.


There's a hunger inside you
A deep desire, an unquenchable thirst, for something bigger and more significant in life.


Desperate rebel runaway
Feeling like an outsider, a rebel who is running away from a society that fails to appreciate or understand their true potential.


Someday, someway, all very soon
Hopeful anticipation that someday, in the near future, things will improve and become better.


You'll end, long nights
The expectations of nights that won't be as dark or painful as they are currently are, indicating hope and faith.


Chasin' the moon
A feeling of constantly trying to achieve the unattainable or reach something farther than one's grasp.


War with yourself
Fighting one's inner demons, grappling with fears, doubts, and insecurities that hold them back in life.


Makes you feel better
Takes away the pain and the frustration, eventually leaving one feeling at peace with themselves.


Caught behind the lines
Feeling stuck in life, with no progress or growth happening, and the path ahead seems blocked.


Troubled child
Describing the sense of unrest, turmoil, and distress someone goes through in their journey of self-discovery and growth.


Faith finds a cure
Believing in something beyond oneself, finding hope in higher powers, and ultimately discovering a healing force that brings peace to one's soul.


You know you can shine
Encouragement to embrace one's true potential, to realize that the troubled child can be the beacon that guides others and shines bright amidst the darkness.


Voices echo, from the past
Remnants of memories and past experiences that continue to linger and haunt someone, shaping their present life and future decisions.


Decisions made for you
Being subject to someone else's choices and decisions in life, feeling like one's own voice and will doesn't matter or isn't heard.


Trials they're made
The struggles and hardships that one goes through in life, which are meant to test their resolve, character, and strength.


To touch your heart
A reminder that these trials and hardships will shape and touch one's heart, ultimately making them stronger and more resilient.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jonathan Cain, Neal Joseph Schon, Stephen Ray Perry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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