Written, produced and engineered by themselves, their debut album was released in 2007, receiving glowing reviews and earning a spot on Get Out's top 10 local albums. Later that year, they were named Best Rock Band of Phoenix (Phoenix New Times). Their single In The Music reached No. 9 on South Africa's influential TuksFM top 40.
Currently recording their second album, Kongos is releasing a single a month -- the first two have been: It's a Good Life and Come With Me Now.
"It's rare to be in on the ground floor of something that doesn't sound like anything else you might've heard before ..." (Phoenix New Times)
"Kongos sounds like no other band, not just in the Valley, but in the whole of mainstream rock music ..." (Get Out)
"Kongos are bound to make it big. Their songs are radio-ready and they have a frickin' kickin' accordion!" (Music-Critic.com)
Sites: Kongos.com (official)
The Trouble Is
Kongos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And not remember that I will die
Because I'm happily asleep
And I still don't understand
I think I've met myself before
But I shut my eyes and closed the door
Now all I do is sleep
The trouble is I've lost myself
The trouble is I can't find my way
I'm standing here and I'm all alone
And what I know I don't understand
The trouble is I've lost myself
The trouble is I can't find my way
I'm standing here and I'm all alone
And what I know I don't understand
I don't know how and I don't know when
I saw the path and felt the end
I walked away and did not fight
And now I see the fading light
And all I have is this one day
This one moment is the only way
But all I do is sleep
And I still don't understand
The trouble is I've lost myself
The trouble is I can't find my way
I'm standing here and I'm all alone
And what I know I don't understand
"The Trouble Is" is a haunting, introspective song by South African alt-rock band Kongos. The lyrics express a sense of detachment and confusion, with the singer struggling to connect with themselves and find their way in life. The opening lines, "I'll kick and scream before I try / And not remember that I will die" imply a resistance to change and a denial of mortality. The singer seems content to remain in a state of apathy and ignorance, unwilling to confront the deeper truths of existence.
The second verse hints at a past encounter with the self, but the singer has since closed off that part of themselves and now "all I do is sleep." They are trapped in a state of inertia and unable to understand what's happening around them. The chorus repeats the phrase "the trouble is I've lost myself", acknowledging the sense of disconnection and aimlessness. The bridge is especially poignant, with lines like "I walked away and did not fight / And now I see the fading light" suggesting that the singer has missed opportunities and wasted time.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll kick and scream before I try
I resist attempting new things and would rather throw a fit than step out of my comfort zone.
And not remember that I will die
I fail to acknowledge my own mortality and the limited time I have to live.
Because I'm happily asleep
I am content with my ignorance and lack of growth.
And I still don't understand
Regardless of my complacency, I remain confused and lost.
I think I've met myself before
I have had moments of self-awareness, but failed to embrace them.
But I shut my eyes and closed the door
I actively avoid confronting myself and refuse to explore these moments of introspection.
Now all I do is sleep
I have settled into a state of stagnancy and inactivity.
The trouble is I've lost myself
My lack of self-awareness has caused me to lose my sense of identity and purpose.
The trouble is I can't find my way
I am directionless and uncertain about how to move forward.
I'm standing here and I'm all alone
My lack of engagement with myself and others has left me isolated.
And what I know I don't understand
Even when I have knowledge, I fail to truly comprehend it.
I don't know how and I don't know when
I lack clarity and certainty about my life's journey and goals.
I saw the path and felt the end
At some point, I had a vision of where I wanted to go, but I also felt the potential failure at the end of the road.
I walked away and did not fight
I gave up on my dreams and goals without putting up a fight to see them through.
And now I see the fading light
I see my opportunities slipping away and my life reaching its inevitable end.
And all I have is this one day
The present moment is all I have; the past is gone and the future is uncertain.
This one moment is the only way
The decisions and actions I take in this present moment will ultimately shape my path and destination.
Contributed by Katherine J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andrea Mathis
GENIOUS