What is “Good Trouble” about?
"Good Trouble" is a self-portrait of a restless kid who grew into a restless man, told through small rebellions: sneaking out to swim on a school night, driving his daddy's truck too early, getting fired from the feed store for singing and kicked out of the choir for singing too loud. The chorus insists he never breaks anything "that ain't already bent." It opens The Last Porch Light as track one and was also released on its own as a single.
Good Trouble lyrics
Mama always said I had a talent for the wrong side of the line
Not the dangerous kind just the kind that wastes her time
Like sneaking out the window on a school night just to swim
Or driving daddy's truck before he ever let me in
I never meant no harm I just couldn't sit still
Born with a motor running and an iron will
Some folks play it safe and stay inside the fence
But I was built for climbing and I never looked back since
Good trouble, that's the only kind I know
Good trouble, everywhere I go
I ain't breaking nothing that ain't already bent
I ain't stealing nothing just borrowing the moment
Light a match and watch it glow
Good trouble, that's the only kind I know
Got fired from the feed store for singing on the job
Got kicked out of the church choir for singing way too loud
Kissed the sheriff's daughter underneath the water tower
She said you're gonna get us caught I said that's half the power
Life's too short for quiet and too long for sitting down
Might as well make noise in every single town
Some folks count their blessings kneeling by the bed
I count mine while running with the wind against my head
Good trouble, that's the only kind I know
Good trouble, everywhere I go
I ain't breaking nothing that ain't already bent
I ain't stealing nothing just borrowing the moment
Light a match and watch it glow
Good trouble, that's the only kind I know
Oh they can write me up and they can shut me down
They can put my name on every wall in town
But you can't cage a song and you can't tame a fire
And you can't stop a man who never learned to tire
No you can't, no you can't
Good trouble, that's the only kind I know
Good trouble, everywhere I go
I ain't breaking nothing that ain't already bent
Every rule I ever broke I'd break again
Light a match and watch it glow
Good trouble
Good trouble
That's the only kind I know
Yeah, that's the only kind I know