Though Mitchum continued to use his singing voice in his film work, he waited until 1967 to record his follow-up record, That Man, Robert Mitchum, Sings. The album, released by Nashville-based Monument Records, took him further into country music, and featured songs similar to The Ballad of Thunder Road. "Little Old Wine Drinker Me," the first single, was a top ten hit at country radio, reaching #9 there, and crossed over onto mainstream radio, where it peaked at #96. Its follow-up, "You Deserve Each Other," also charted on the Billboard Country Singles Chart.
What Is This Generation Coming To?
Robert Mitchum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the USA the teenager have the country in confusion
In the USA the teenager have the country in confusion
Rock n rollin′ all of the time
Have the parents out of their mind
Parents likin' Liberace
Kids is likin Elvis Presley
So they rock n rollin night and day
Bouncin′ up and down in the way they do
The parents shakin' their head and say
What is this generation comin' to?
All the parents say the children will grow up to be delinquents, oh
If the children only dance to the rock n roll and the calypso
Parents tell them they should only
Like the opera and symphony
But the young kids are too busy
Diggin′ Mr. Belafonte
Trouble, Trouble
So they rock n rollin night and day
Bouncin′ up and down in the way they do
The parents shakin' their head and say
What is this generation comin′ to?
When the kids is bouncin' up to the jukebox like the monkeys and frogs
All the newspapers they say that the teenagers goin′ to the dogs
But the kids don't go to the dogs,
That′s the truth and these are the facts
All the girls is changin' for chicks
All the fellows changin' for cats
Trouble, Trouble
So they rock n rollin night and day
Bouncin′ up and down in the way they do
The parents shakin′ their head and say
What is this generation comin' to?
Robert Mitchum's song "What Is This Generation Coming To?" was released in 1958, a time when rock n roll was gaining popularity among teenagers in the USA. The lyrics of the song describe the conflict and confusion between parents and teenagers about the music they listen to and their changing lifestyle. The song portrays the tension between generations and the different attitudes towards popular culture. The parents are depicted as liking classical music, while the kids are shown to prefer Elvis Presley and Harry Belafonte. The lyrics reflect the generational divide and the fear of parents that their children are becoming delinquents.
The song opens with a repetition of the word "trouble," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. Mitchum sings the lyrics in a spoken-word style with a raspy voice that adds to the rebellious and edgy feel of the song. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "so they're rock n rollin night and day" and suggests that the teenagers are rebelling against their parents by embracing a new music genre that challenges the traditional norms.
The lyrics also emphasize the gender divide of that time. The young girls are shown to be changing their hairstyles and clothes, while the boys are changing their attitudes towards life. The song reflects the social changes that were happening in America at the time, such as the rise of youth culture, the civil rights movement, and the sexual revolution.
Line by Line Meaning
Trouble, Trouble, Trouble, Trouble
The situation is bad and it is causing problems.
In the USA the teenager have the country in confusion
Teenagers are causing confusion and chaos in the USA.
Rock n rollin′ all of the time
Teenagers are constantly listening to rock and roll music.
Have the parents out of their mind
Parents are going crazy because of their children’s behavior.
Parents likin' Liberace
Parents enjoy classical music and performers like Liberace.
Kids is likin Elvis Presley
Kids prefer Elvis Presley and rock and roll music.
So they rock n rollin night and day
Teens are constantly listening to and dancing to rock and roll music.
Bouncin′ up and down in the way they do
Teens are dancing in a way that is unfamiliar to their parents.
The parents shakin' their head and say
Parents are disapproving of their children's behavior.
What is this generation comin' to?
Parents are wondering where the future generation is headed.
All the parents say the children will grow up to be delinquents, oh
Parents believe that their children's behavior will lead to them becoming delinquents.
If the children only dance to the rock n roll and the calypso
Parents think that their children should only enjoy certain types of music.
Parents tell them they should only
Parents are instructing their children to only like classical music and opera.
Like the opera and symphony
Parents want their children to appreciate more refined forms of music.
But the young kids are too busy
Teens are too caught up in their own interests to listen to their parents.
Diggin′ Mr. Belafonte
Teens are listening to Harry Belafonte and calypso music.
When the kids is bouncin' up to the jukebox like the monkeys and frogs
Teens are dancing around the jukebox in a lively and energetic way.
All the newspapers they say that the teenagers goin′ to the dogs
Newspapers are reporting that teens are heading toward failure and ruin.
But the kids don't go to the dogs,
Teens aren't headed toward failure and ruin like the newspapers suggest.
That′s the truth and these are the facts
The reality is different from what newspapers report.
All the girls is changin' for chicks
Girls are changing their hairstyles and overall looks to be more fashionable.
All the fellows changin' for cats
Boys are also changing their appearance to be more stylish and fashionable.
Writer(s): Don Raye, Joseph Burke
Contributed by Charlie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maja B
Trouble, Trouble, Trouble, Trouble
In the USA the teenager have the country in confusion
In the USA the teenager have the country in confusion
Rock n rollin’ all of the time
Have the parents out of their mind
Parents likin’ Liberace
Kids is likin Elvis Presley
Trouble, Trouble
So they rock n rollin night and day
Bouncin’ up and down in the way they do
The parents shakin’ their head and say
What is this generation comin’ to?
All the parents say the children will grow up to be delinquents, oh
If the children only dance to the rock n roll and the calypso
Parents tell them they should only
Like the opera and symphony
But the young kids are too busy
Diggin’ Mr. Belafonte
When the kids is bouncin’ up to the jukebox like the monkeys and frogs
All the newspapers they say that the teenagers goin’ to the dogs
But the kids don’t go to the dogs,
That’s the truth and these are the facts
All the girls is changin’ for chicks
All the fellows changin’ for cats