"Trouble Every Day" is a song by The Mothers of Invention, written by Frank Zappa in 1965 and released on their 1966 debut album Freak Out!. The song was inspired by Zappa’s reaction to watching news coverage of the Watts Riots in Los Angeles. Originally labeled "Trouble Comin’ Every Day" and sometimes known as "The Watts Riot Song," it stands out for its explicit social commentary and blues-based musical style123.
Background and Inspiration
Zappa wrote the song while staying at 1819 Bellevue Avenue, Echo Park, Los Angeles, the home of a methamphetamine chemist known as "Wild Bill the Mannequin-Fucker." The lyrics were directly influenced by the racial violence, social injustice, and sensationalist journalism Zappa witnessed during the riots12. He later explained, "'Trouble Every Day' is how I feel about racial unrest in general and the Watts situation in particular. It was written during the Watts riot as it developed"3.
Lyrics and Themes
The song’s lyrics are unusually direct for the era, explicitly addressing issues such as:
- Racial violence and unrest: Zappa recounts scenes of rioting, police action, and the burning of local businesses, highlighting the racial tensions and discrimination underlying the events13.
- Social injustice: The song critiques the broader patterns of discrimination, noting "black and white discrimination" and the escalation of violence across the nation3.
- Sensationalist media: Zappa takes aim at television news for its exploitative, spectacle-driven coverage, with lines like "Take your TV tube and eat it" and references to newsmen racing to cover violent incidents for higher ratings34.
The lyrics are explicit, not implicit, and were considered inflammatory at the time for "spelling it out" about race riots and media complicity5. The song even references a real incident where a woman driver was machine-gunned during the riots, which Zappa learned about from TV news53.
Musical Style
Musically, "Trouble Every Day" is rooted in blues, featuring multiple guitar tracks and harmonica, which set it apart from the more experimental rock of the rest of Freak Out!14. Producer Tom Wilson signed the band to Verve Records after hearing only this song, believing them to be a "white blues band"12.
Legacy and Alternate Versions
The song became a staple in Zappa’s live performances, with later versions—such as "More Trouble Every Day" on Roxy & Elsewhere (1974)—performed at a faster tempo and featuring prominent horn arrangements1.
Key Facts Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Writer | Frank Zappa |
| Album | Freak Out! (1966) |
| Inspiration | Watts Riots, Los Angeles, 1965 |
| Themes | Racial violence, social injustice, sensationalist media |
| Musical Style | Blues-based, guitar and harmonica-driven |
| Notable Versions | Original (1966), "More Trouble Every Day" (1974, live) |
| Legacy | Early example of explicit protest rock, influential for social commentary in music |
Summary
"Trouble Every Day" is a groundbreaking protest song that addresses racial violence, social injustice, and media sensationalism with rare directness for its time. Written during the Watts Riots, it remains one of Frank Zappa’s most politically charged and musically distinctive works, blending blues with biting social critique1234.
