Roger, along with the other Byrds members, was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
Trouble in Mind
Roger McGuinn Lyrics
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But I won't be blue always
Yes, the sun gonna shine,
In my back door someday
I'm goin' down, down to the river,
I'm gonna take my rockin' chair
Lord, if the blues overtake me,
'Cause I'm trouble in mind, you know that I'm blue,
But I won't be blue always
Yes, the sun gonna shine,
In my back door someday
I'm gonna lay, lay my head,
On some sad, old railroad iron
I'm gonna let that 2:19,
Pacify my mind
I'm trouble in mind, baby you know that I'm blue,
But I won't be blue always
Yes, the sun gonna shine,
In my back door someday
The lyrics of Roger McGuinn & Josh White Jr's song "Trouble in Mind" is a classic blues song that expresses the feeling of sadness and despair that people experience when they are going through difficult times. The song opens with the singer proclaiming that he's feeling blue, but he also expresses his hope that he won't feel that way forever. He knows that the sun will shine in his life again someday.
The lyrics reflect the experience of many people who have felt the weight of the world on their shoulders, but have also experienced the hope that comes from knowing that things won't always be that way. The second verse of the song describes the singer's desire to escape his troubles by going down to the river and rocking away his worries. He knows that the blues may overtake him, but he's determined to keep rocking until he feels better. The last verse of the song describes the singer's plan to lay down his head on some old railroad iron and let the sound of the train passing by pacify his mind.
Overall, "Trouble in Mind" is a song about resilience and hope in the face of adversity. It speaks to the common human experience of feeling down and out, but also to the human desire for hope and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Trouble in mind, babe, I'm blue,
I am feeling troubled and sad at the moment, dear.
But I won't be blue always
However, I believe that this feeling won't last forever.
Yes, the sun gonna shine,
I am hopeful that brighter days are ahead.
In my back door someday
I envision that good things will come directly to me someday in the future.
I'm goin' down, down to the river,
I'm heading down to the river, probably to find some relief.
I'm gonna take my rockin' chair
I plan to bring my rocking chair and relax by the river.
Lord, if the blues overtake me,
If I start getting overcome by my sadness,
I'm gonna rock on away from here
I'll use my rocker to move away from the negativity.
'Cause I'm trouble in mind, you know that I'm blue,
My troubles are on my mind, and I remain in this state of sadness as you already know.
I'm gonna lay, lay my head,
I'll put my head down somewhere to rest.
On some sad, old railroad iron
It's on the railroad tracks where I'll find some peace.
I'm gonna let that 2:19,
I'm going to allow the sound of a train
Pacify my mind
to calm my troubled mind.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Richard M. Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind