Ya Got Trouble
Encyclopedia
"Ya Got Trouble" is a song by Meredith Willson
from the 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man
, and its 1962 filmed version The Music Man. It is one of the most popular and recognizable songs in the musical, and Robert Preston
's performance in the film is admired. Willson considered eliminating a long piece of dialogue from his draft of The Music Man about the serious trouble facing River City parents. Willson realized it sounded like a lyric and transformed it into "Ya Got Trouble".
to fund his idea for a boys' marching band instead of a pool hall. The stubborn citizens are reluctant to do this, and the song is his description of what could happen should the citizens choose the pool hall.
covered the song for Capitol Records. Though Freberg often directly parodied songs (or "kidded" them, in his phrase) his recording of Ya Got Trouble was a straightforward recording of the song, arranged and conducted by his longtime collaborator Billy May
. Freberg wrote that the subtle parody in the recording lay in the fact that it was recorded in an empty concert hall, as were many Broadway soundtrack albums, with the characteristic echo of such large empty space.
Meredith Willson
Robert Meredith Willson was an American composer, songwriter, conductor and playwright, best known for writing the book, music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical The Music Man...
from the 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
, and its 1962 filmed version The Music Man. It is one of the most popular and recognizable songs in the musical, and Robert Preston
Robert Preston
Robert Preston may refer to:*Robert Preston , American actor*Robert Preston *Robert E. Preston , Director of the U.S. Mint 1893-98*Robert K...
's performance in the film is admired. Willson considered eliminating a long piece of dialogue from his draft of The Music Man about the serious trouble facing River City parents. Willson realized it sounded like a lyric and transformed it into "Ya Got Trouble".
Content
A smooth-talking, yet corrupt traveling salesman takes up the false occupation of a instrument dealer and tries to convince the citizens of River City, IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
to fund his idea for a boys' marching band instead of a pool hall. The stubborn citizens are reluctant to do this, and the song is his description of what could happen should the citizens choose the pool hall.
Title variations
The song is sometimes listed as "(Ya Got) Trouble". The original broadway cast album lists the song title as "Trouble", both on the record jacket and label. "You Got Trouble" is a common misspelling of the song title.Notable covers
American humorist, satirist, and advertising innovator Stan FrebergStan Freberg
Stanley Victor "Stan" Freberg is an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer, and advertising creative director whose career began in 1944...
covered the song for Capitol Records. Though Freberg often directly parodied songs (or "kidded" them, in his phrase) his recording of Ya Got Trouble was a straightforward recording of the song, arranged and conducted by his longtime collaborator Billy May
Billy May
William E. "Billy" May was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music, for The Green Hornet , Batman , and Naked City and collaborated on films, such as Pennies from Heaven , and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return among...
. Freberg wrote that the subtle parody in the recording lay in the fact that it was recorded in an empty concert hall, as were many Broadway soundtrack albums, with the characteristic echo of such large empty space.