Trouble (Cat Stevens Song)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

"Trouble" is a song written by the English singer-songwriter and musician,
Cat Stevens Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; ), commonly known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and musician. He has sold more than 100 million records and has more than two billion st ...
, during a period from 1969 to 1970. Stevens was recovering during what amounted to nearly a year of
convalescence Convalescence is the gradual recovery of health and strength after illness or injury. Details It refers to the later stage of an infectious disease or illness when the patient recovers and returns to previous health, but may continue to be a sou ...
, after being diagnosed with a
collapsed lung A pneumothorax is collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. Symptoms typically include sudden onset of sharp, one-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. In a minority of cases, a one-way valve is formed by ...
and
tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...
. He spent three months in King Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst, England, transferring afterward to another nine months of bedrest at home. O'Driscoll, Michelle. ''Disc Magazine'' intervie
"Tea with the Tillerman"
/ref> Stevens, who was near death at the time he was admitted in the hospital, used the time he was recuperating for contemplation, and wrote dozens of songs, including "Trouble", many of which were recorded much later. Phillips, Mark. Originally aired on 3 December 200
''CBS Sunday Morning'', Yusuf Islam Reflects on His Return; Artist Once Known as Cat Stevens Talks About New Album
Retrieved 12 August 2007
When he was hospitalized, Stevens was often alone in a very spare and plain room. He was told that at the time he was admitted, he had perhaps only a few weeks of life left in him. The effect on the 19-year-old pop star was pronounced. He said, "To go from the show business environment and find you are in hospital, getting injections day in and day out, and people around you are dying, it certainly changes your perspective. I got down to thinking about myself. It seemed almost as if I had my eyes shut." Islam, Yusu
Yusuf Islam: Biography
/ref> The song itself shows Stevens switching from heavily orchestrated pop music to a folk-rock emphasis. While recovering, Stevens donated his spare time, and some of his newer, more introspective songs for
Colin Higgins Colin Higgins (28 July 1941 – 5 August 1988) was an Australian-American screenwriter, actor, director, and producer. He was best known for writing the screenplay for the 1971 film '' Harold and Maude'', and for directing the films '' Foul Play ...
and
Hal Ashby William Hal Ashby (September 2, 1929 – December 27, 1988) was an Cinema of the United States, American film Film director, director and Film editing, editor. His work exemplified the countercultural attitude of the era. He directed wide-rangi ...
's 1971 film soundtrack of ''
Harold and Maude ''Harold and Maude'' is a 1971 American romantic black comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby and released by Paramount Pictures. It incorporates elements of dark humor and existentialist drama. The plot follows the exploits of Harold Chasen ...
''. Most of the tunes used for the movie appear on Stevens's next albums, '' Mona Bone Jakon'' and ''
Tea for the Tillerman ''Tea for the Tillerman'' is the fourth studio album by singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, released in November 1970. Overview Stevens' fourth album released during the year 1970, ''Tea for the Tillerman'' includes many of his best-known songs such ...
'', with the exception of two songs which were not released until the release of the album '' Footsteps in the Dark: Greatest Hits Vol. 2'' in 1984, " If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" and " Don't Be Shy". In ''Harold and Maude'' the song "Trouble" is used in the scene of Maude's impending death, with her devoted young lover heartbroken over the turn of events.


Appearances in the media

* The Cat Stevens recording was used in the 1971 film ''
Harold and Maude ''Harold and Maude'' is a 1971 American romantic black comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby and released by Paramount Pictures. It incorporates elements of dark humor and existentialist drama. The plot follows the exploits of Harold Chasen ...
'', starring
Bud Cort Walter Edward Cox (born March 29, 1948), known professionally as Bud Cort, is an American actor known for his unorthodox starring roles in Robert Altman's '' Brewster McCloud'' (1970), for which he was nominated for a Golden Laurel Award, and Ha ...
and
Ruth Gordon Ruth Gordon Jones (October 30, 1896 – August 28, 1985) was an American actress, playwright and screenwriter. She began her career performing on Broadway at age 19. Known for her nasal voice and distinctive personality, Gordon gained internati ...
. * The song was also used in the 2006 film ''
A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints ''A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints'' is a 2006 American drama film based on a 2001 memoir of the same name by author, director, and musician Dito Montiel, which describes his youth in Astoria, Queens, New York, during the 1980s. Montiel wrote ...
'', starring
Robert Downey, Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965), also known as RDJ, is an American actor. One of the highest-grossing actors of all time, his films as a leading actor have grossed over $14 billion worldwide. In 2008, Downey was named by ''Time ...
,
Channing Tatum Channing Matthew Tatum (born April 26, 1980) is an American actor and producer. He made his film debut in the drama ''Coach Carter'' (2005), and had his Breakthrough role, breakthrough with the sports comedy film ''She's the Man'' (2006) and t ...
,
Rosario Dawson Rosario Isabel Dawson (born May 9, 1979) is an American actress. She made her feature-film debut in the 1995 independent drama '' Kids''. Her subsequent film roles include '' He Got Game'' (1998), '' Josie and the Pussycats'' (2001), ''Men in B ...
, and
Shia LaBeouf Shia Saide LaBeouf ( ; born June 11, 1986) is an American actor and filmmaker. He played Louis Stevens in the Disney Channel series ''Even Stevens'', a role for which he received Young Artist Award nominations in 2001 and 2002 and won a Dayt ...
. It is based on a 2001 memoir of the same name by
Dito Montiel Orlandito Montiel is an American author, filmmaker, and musician. Early Career & Music Born in New York City, Montiel was active in the early '80s New York hardcore punk scene when he was vocalist for Queens-based Major Conflict. Later, he woul ...
, in which he described growing up in
Astoria, New York Astoria is a neighborhood in the western portion of the New York City Boroughs of New York City, borough of Queens. Astoria is bounded by the East River and is adjacent to four other Queens neighborhoods: Long Island City, Queens, Long Island C ...
during the 1980s. * The song was featured in an episode of '' ER''. The song has been featured on the soundtrack of the pilot for the television show '' Alias'', and in an episode of ''
Everwood ''Everwood'' is an American drama television series created by Greg Berlanti. Berlanti, Mickey Liddell, Rina Mimoun, Andrew A. Ackerman and Michael Green served as executive producers. The series aired on the WB from September 16, 2002, to Jun ...
''. * The song, performed by
The Holmes Brothers The Holmes Brothers were an American musical trio (music), trio originally from Christchurch, Virginia. Mixing sounds from blues, Soul music, soul, Gospel music, gospel, Country music, country, and rhythm & blues, they have released twelve stud ...
, was used on the soundtrack of the TV series ''
Crossing Jordan ''Crossing Jordan'' is an American crime drama television series created by Tim Kring, that aired on NBC from September 24, 2001, to May 16, 2007. It stars Jill Hennessy as Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh, a crime-solving forensic pathologist employed ...
'', and is included on the album ''Music From the NBC Television Series Crossing Jordan'', 2003. * The song was used in the 2008 documentary '' American Teen'', directed by Nanette Burstein. * The song was used in the 2011 independent film '' Bringing Up Bobby'', directed by
Famke Janssen Famke Beumer Janssen (; born 5 November 1964) is a Dutch actress and former model. She played Xenia Onatopp in ''GoldenEye'' (1995), Jean Grey (film series character), Jean Grey / Phoenix in the X-Men (film series), ''X-Men'' film series (2000†...
. * The song is performed by
Leem Lubany Leem Lubany (, ; born ) is an Israeli Arab-Palestinian actress. She is known for her role as Nadia in the 2013 film ''Omar''. She also played Gabrielle Joubert in the American television series ''Condor'' (2018–2020). Her most recent project ...
in the film '' Rock the Kasbah'' starring
Bill Murray William James Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an American actor and comedian, known for his deadpan delivery in roles ranging from studio comedies to independent dramas. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Bill Murra ...
. * The song was used at the end of the episode "Not Giants, But Windmills" of the television show ''Graves'' (S01E10).


Cover versions

*
Kristin Hersh Martha Kristin Hersh (born August 7, 1966) is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter known for her solo work and with her rock bands Throwing Muses and 50 Foot Wave, 50FootWave. She has released eleven solo albums. Her guitar work and comp ...
, formerly of the
Throwing Muses Throwing Muses are an American alternative rock band formed in 1981 in Newport, Rhode Island, United States, that toured and recorded extensively until 1997, when its members began concentrating more on other projects. The group was original ...
, recorded a rendition of the song for her 2001 solo album, '' Sunny Border Blue''. *
Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...
as well as their guitarist
John Frusciante John Anthony Frusciante ( ; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician and the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, having been with the band across three iterations. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic gu ...
as a solo artist have covered the song live *
Eddie Vedder Eddie Jerome Vedder (born Edward Louis Severson III; December 23, 1964) is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. He is the lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and one of three guitarists for the rock band Pearl Jam. He was previously a gues ...
of
Pearl Jam Pearl Jam is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. One of the key bands in the grunge, grunge movement of the early 1990s, Pearl Jam has outsold and outlasted many of its contemporaries from the early 1990s, ...
performs a rendition of the song. * The
Athens, Georgia Athens is a consolidated city-county in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. Downtown Athens lies about northeast of downtown Atlanta. The University of Georgia, the state's flagship public university and an Research I university, ...
jam band A jam band is a musical group whose concerts and live albums substantially feature improvisational "jam session, jamming". Typically, jam bands will play variations of pre-existing songs, extending them to musical improvisation, improvise ove ...
Widespread Panic Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell (musician), John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJ ...
performs the song live. After a single live performance in 1989, the band added the song to its regular rotation of cover songs in 2000, and has performed it over 40 times since. A live performance version from the band's 20 July 2002 concert appears on the DVD '' Live from the Backyard''. *
Elliott Smith Steven Paul Smith (August 6, 1969 â€“ October 21, 2003), known as Elliott Smith, was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and lived much of his life in Portland, Oregon, whe ...
recorded a cover of the song for the soundtrack of the film, '' Thumbsucker''. * Texas Country singer
Bruce Robison Bruce Ben Robison (born June 11, 1966) is an American Texas country music singer-songwriter. Bruce and his brother, fellow singer-songwriter Charlie Robison, grew up in Bandera, Texas, near San Antonio. His self-titled debut album was released ...
covers the song on his album ''Long Way Home from Anywhere''. * Marissa Nadler covers the song on her album "COVERS VOLUME I". *
Father John Misty Joshua Michael Tillman (born May 3, 1981), better known by his stage name Father John Misty, is an American musician. He is known for his satirical lyrics and eccentric performance style. Tillman began his career in Seattle in the early 2000s. O ...
recorded a cover of the song in 2012 for the documentary, "Once I Was: The
Hal Ashby William Hal Ashby (September 2, 1929 – December 27, 1988) was an Cinema of the United States, American film Film director, director and Film editing, editor. His work exemplified the countercultural attitude of the era. He directed wide-rangi ...
Story." It appears on his EP
Anthem +3 An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to short s ...
. * Bluegrass band Barnstar! released a cover on their album ''Sit Down! Get Up! Get Out!'' * A cover of the song that was falsely credited to
Oasis In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environmentLimeWire LimeWire was a free peer-to-peer file sharing client for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris. Created by Mark Gorton in 2000, it was most prominently a tool used for the download and distribution of pirated materials, particularly pirated m ...
in 2001, but the real artist is unknown. This is an example of
Lostwave Lostwave is a term for music with little to no information available about their origins, including song titles, names of associated musicians, and recording and release dates. Lostwave songs have been the subject of online crowdsourced efforts to ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trouble (Cat Stevens Song) 1970 songs Cat Stevens songs Songs about suicide Songs written by Cat Stevens Song recordings produced by Paul Samwell-Smith