Trouble Is A Friend – English Lyrics

• By: Lenka

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the playful, yet deep English of Lenka's "Trouble Is A Friend." This track is perfect for learning English slang and idioms related to misfortune (like 'hot water' and 'sucker for his charm'). Its deceptively upbeat Pop sound contrasts with the reflective lyrics, making it an excellent example of how to use simple, figurative language—personification—to discuss complex life experiences.

[English]

Trouble he will find you no matter where you go, oh oh

No matter if you're fast no matter if you're slow, oh oh

The eye of the storm or the cry in the mourn, oh oh

You're fine for a while but you start to lose control

He's there in the dark

He's there in my heart

He waits in the wings

He's gotta play a part

Trouble is a friend, yeah, trouble is a friend of mine

Oh

Trouble is a friend but trouble is a foe, oh oh

And no matter what I feed him he always seems to grow, oh oh

He sees what I see and he knows what I know, oh oh

So don't forget as you ease on down that road

He's there in the dark

He's there in my heart

He waits in the wings

He's gotta play a part

Trouble is a friend, yeah, trouble is a friend of mine

Oh, oh

So don't be alarmed if he takes you by the arm

I won't let him win but I'm a sucker for his charm

Trouble is a friend, yeah, trouble is a friend of mine

Oh

How I hate the way he makes me feel

And how I try to make him leave

I try, oh oh, I try

But he's there in the dark

He's there in my heart

He waits in the wings

He's gotta play a part

Trouble is a friend, yeah, trouble is a friend of mine

Oh oh

So don't be alarmed if he takes you by the arm

I won't let him win, but I'm a sucker for his charm

Trouble is a friend, yeah, trouble is a friend of mine

Oh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
trouble /ˈtrʌbəl/ B2	noun - a problem or difficulty verb - to bother or cause difficulty for someone
find /faɪnd/ A2	verb - to discover or locate something
matter /ˈmætər/ B2	noun - a subject or situation under consideration verb - to be important or significant
storm /stɔːrm/ B1	noun - a violent atmospheric disturbance with strong winds and rain
cry /kraɪ/ B1	verb - to shed tears, typically from sorrow or pain
mourn /mɔːrn/ B2	verb - to feel or express grief for someone who has died
lose /luːz/ A2	verb - to misplace something or fail to keep it
control /kənˈtroʊl/ B2	noun - the power to direct or regulate something
dark /dɑːrk/ A2	adjective - having little or no light; not bright
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; symbol of emotion
wait /weɪt/ A1	verb - to stay in place until something happens
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
foe /foʊ/ B2	noun - an enemy or opponent
grow /ɡroʊ/ A2	verb - to increase in size, number, or importance
forget /fərˈɡɛt/ A2	verb - to fail to remember
alarm /əˈlɑːrm/ B2	noun - a warning signal, often causing fear
charm /tʃɑːrm/ B2	noun - a pleasant quality that attracts or delights
hate /heɪt/ A2	verb - to feel intense dislike for something or someone

Key Grammar Structures

• Trouble he will find you no matter where you go, oh oh

  ➔ Future Simple with 'will'

  ➔ The phrase 'will find' indicates a future action without a specific plan, emphasizing inevitability.

• No matter if you're fast no matter if you're slow, oh oh

  ➔ Conditional clause with 'no matter if'

  ➔ 'No matter if' introduces a condition that does not affect the outcome, emphasizing universality.

• You're fine for a while but you start to lose control

  ➔ Contrastive conjunction 'but'

  ➔ The word 'but' contrasts the initial state of being fine with the subsequent loss of control.

• He's there in the dark, He's there in my heart

  ➔ Present Simple for habitual actions

  ➔ The use of 'He's' indicates a habitual or continuous presence in both contexts.

• Trouble is a friend, yeah, trouble is a friend of mine

  ➔ Emphasis with repetition

  ➔ The repetition of 'trouble is a friend' emphasizes the complex relationship with trouble.

• Oh, oh, I try, oh oh, I try

  ➔ Interjection for emotional expression

  ➔ The interjection 'oh' is used to express emotion or emphasis in the lyrics.

• So don't be alarmed if he takes you by the arm

  ➔ Conditional sentence Type 1

  ➔ The structure 'if... don't be alarmed' is a Type 1 conditional, indicating a likely situation.