Their music is clearly influenced by bands like R.E.M., although their sound is distinctively brighter and janglier, featuring contrast-filled intrumentation and catchy and crisp hooks and unusual chord progressions, giving vivid life to Don McGlashan's lyrics, dominated by poetic imagery and everyday themes.
Their debut The Mutton Birds (1992) was followed by Salty in 1993. In 1995 a compilation of their two first albums, titled Nature, was released outside of New Zealand. Also around this time the first two albums were re-released within NZ as a box set entitled Box of Birds. After moving to England the band released Envy of Angels in 1996, and it is perhaps their strongest album in terms of songwriting and arrangements. After a limited-edition collection of singles and B-sides (Too Hard Basket) and a live album (Angle of Entry), they released Rain, Steam and Speed in 1999.
Flock - The Best of The Mutton Birds was later released in New Zealand and Australia.
Trouble With You
The Mutton Birds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's trouble with you
And I'm going under again
I'm going under again
Seems like this night won't end
There's trouble with you
And I can't stand myself
I can't stand myself
Me, I'd like to stand in the rain
Feel it washing me down
Find some place I can stand
Forever, ever, on and on
But there's trouble with you
It's growing out of the ground
Roots spreading in the ground
Wish I could tear it down
Me, I'd like to stand in the rain
Feel it washing me down
Find some place I can stand
Forever, ever, on and on
And on and on until the rain
Washes me away
But there's trouble with you
And my skin's burning up
Oh it's burning up
Wish I could make it stop
Wish I could make it stop
The Mutton Birds' song Trouble With You is an emotional track that navigates the depths of a complicated relationship. The song is characterized by its haunting melody, which complements the lyrics that touch on themes of regret, self-loathing, and longing. The use of repetition in the lyrics emphasizes the singer's sense of being trapped in a cycle of pain and hurt caused by the person he is addressing. The phrase "there's trouble with you" is repeated throughout the song, highlighting the toxicity in the relationship and the burden it has on the singer.
The singer's pain is palpable in the lyrics, as he expresses a desire to escape his current situation and be someone else. He wishes he could stand in the rain and wash away the troubles that surround him. The image of rain as a purifying force is a common motif in literature and art, and in this song, it represents the singer's longing for a fresh start. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the "trouble" is deeply rooted, and the singer can't escape it.
Overall, Trouble With You is a poignant portrayal of the difficulties that come with unhealthy relationships. The repetition of the phrase "there's trouble with you" underscores the singer's sense of being trapped, and the song's melancholic melody further highlights the pain and despair of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
There's trouble with you
I sense something isn't right with you
And I'm going under again
Your presence is causing me to feel overwhelmed and helpless
I'm going under again
I'm losing control and sinking in my emotions because of you
Seems like this night won't end
Time feels slow and endless in this state of distress
And I can't stand myself
Your behavior is making me feel ashamed of myself
I can't stand myself
I'm tired of feeling this way and wish it would stop
Wish I was someone else
I want to escape the situation I'm in and be someone different
Me, I'd like to stand in the rain
I desire a cathartic release, letting the rain wash away my troubles
Feel it washing me down
I crave the feeling of being cleansed of my emotional burden
Find some place I can stand
I want to find a safe haven away from the source of my turmoil
Forever, ever, on and on
I long for a sense of constancy and stability
It's growing out of the ground
The trouble with you is becoming all-consuming and deeply rooted
Roots spreading in the ground
The problem with you is spreading and taking hold
Wish I could tear it down
I want to eradicate the issue at its core
And on and on until the rain
The hopelessness and distress will continue until I find a way to release it
Washes me away
Until I'm able to find a way to let go of the pain and emotion
And my skin's burning up
The distress is becoming physical and causing me physical discomfort
Oh it's burning up
The discomfort and pain is steadily getting worse
Wish I could make it stop
I want to control the situation and put a stop to the pain
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
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