I Got Trouble

Neotraditional country, hard-core honky-tonk, early-1990s Nashville sound

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[Intro: lone fiddle, pedal steel swell, no drums, 8 bars]

[Verse 1: sparse — acoustic guitar, brushed snare, walking bass, warm baritone, conversational]
She said, "Sit." So I sat down.
She said, "I can't stay." Moved 'cross town.
She said, "Roll over." So I rolled.
Gave her everything I owned.
She said, "Fetch." I brought the deed.
She said, "Beg." I begged, "Please."
[voice drops, near-spoken, steel bend under]
One thing I asked, hat in my hand:
"Let me keep Trouble."

[Chorus: restrained start — steel and bass only, vocal low and tight, then build]
Whistle in the dark —
Here comes Trouble.
Over the fence —
On the double.
Tail up high —
Ain't too subtle.
[drums and full band hit, harmony stack enters]
My ol' lady done me wrong, but I got Trouble.

[Verse 2: full band, driving two-step, confident delivery]
She took his hand and she shook mine.
[steel bend on "heal"]
Said, "Heel." I couldn't heal in time.
She walked out with my so-called friend.
And she took Trouble with him.

[Chorus: fuller — fiddle and steel answering the vocal, band wide open]
Whistle in the dark —
Here comes Trouble.
Over the fence —
On the double.
Tail up high —
Ain't too subtle.
[harmony stack, belt the last line]
My ol' lady done me wrong, but I got Trouble.

[Instrumental Break: fiddle solo 8 bars, steel guitar answering, full band, two-step shuffle]

[Bridge: stripped way back — voice, pedal steel, low kick drum only, storytelling, sly]
It wasn't stealin' — it was retrievin'.
She quit feedin' him. He started strayin'.
Come midnight he'd be back at my door,
Drop somethin' of mine on the floor.
I'd fill his bowl. He'd wag and grin.
Then head on back to the house I ain't in.

[Verse 3: quiet — piano and steel only, no drums, slow and settled, reflective]
About a month on, sun turnin' red,
Me and Trouble on the porch, Trouble happy and fed.
Usually 'bout now he'd be headed 'cross town.
Tonight he just laid his old head down.
Ain't nothin' left over there to bring back.
[spoken, soft, no music but steel pad]
This is home now, Trouble.

[Final Chorus: full band, lifted, belted, big harmonies, everything in]
Whistle in the dark —
Here comes Trouble.
Over the fence —
On the double.
Tail up high —
Ain't too subtle.
[full harmony stack, drums driving]
My ol' lady done me wrong, but I got Trouble.

[Outro: nylon-string guitar and voice only, steel pad underneath, intimate, slow]
Trouble sits when I sit.
Trouble stays where I stay.
If I'm ever feeling lonely,
Trouble's just a whistle away.
[whistle, lone and fading, steel bend answers it]
[End]

2555/7500

[Intro: lone fiddle, pedal steel swell, no drums, 8 bars] [Verse 1: sparse — acoustic guitar, brushed snare, walking bass, warm baritone, conversational] She said, "Sit." So I sat down. She said, "I can't stay." Moved 'cross town. She said, "Roll over." So I rolled. Gave her everything I owned. She said, "Fetch." I brought the deed. She said, "Beg." I begged, "Please." [voice drops, near-spoken, steel bend under] One thing I asked, hat in my hand: "Let me keep Trouble." [Chorus: restrained start — steel and bass only, vocal low and tight, then build] Whistle in the dark — Here comes Trouble. Over the fence — On the double. Tail up high — Ain't too subtle. [drums and full band hit, harmony stack enters] My ol' lady done me wrong, but I got Trouble. [Verse 2: full band, driving two-step, confident delivery] She took his hand and she shook mine. [steel bend on "heal"] Said, "Heel." I couldn't heal in time. She walked out with my so-called friend. And she took Trouble with him. [Chorus: fuller — fiddle and steel answering the vocal, band wide open] Whistle in the dark — Here comes Trouble. Over the fence — On the double. Tail up high — Ain't too subtle. [harmony stack, belt the last line] My ol' lady done me wrong, but I got Trouble. [Instrumental Break: fiddle solo 8 bars, steel guitar answering, full band, two-step shuffle] [Bridge: stripped way back — voice, pedal steel, low kick drum only, storytelling, sly] It wasn't stealin' — it was retrievin'. She quit feedin' him. He started strayin'. Come midnight he'd be back at my door, Drop somethin' of mine on the floor. I'd fill his bowl. He'd wag and grin. Then head on back to the house I ain't in. [Verse 3: quiet — piano and steel only, no drums, slow and settled, reflective] About a month on, sun turnin' red, Me and Trouble on the porch, Trouble happy and fed. Usually 'bout now he'd be headed 'cross town. Tonight he just laid his old head down. Ain't nothin' left over there to bring back. [spoken, soft, no music but steel pad] This is home now, Trouble. [Final Chorus: full band, lifted, belted, big harmonies, everything in] Whistle in the dark — Here comes Trouble. Over the fence — On the double. Tail up high — Ain't too subtle. [full harmony stack, drums driving] My ol' lady done me wrong, but I got Trouble. [Outro: nylon-string guitar and voice only, steel pad underneath, intimate, slow] Trouble sits when I sit. Trouble stays where I stay. If I'm ever feeling lonely, Trouble's just a whistle away. [whistle, lone and fading, steel bend answers it] [End]

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