02. Ya Got Trouble - Robert Preston (The Music Man 1962 Film Soundtrack)

From the original 1962 film soundtrack.

[raymondshutt]

I played Harold Hill in high school, thirty (um, er. cough) years ago.
When I researched the part I came across a quote from Prince Bob.
He said "If you ever do this role, on your death bed, you will be able to recite flawlessly Trouble in River City!"
As I near the end of my life, and prepare to go on to my own River City, I realize how right he was.  It's still there.  Thank you, Mr. Preston, for a lifetime of wonderful memories!

[klepto]

Applause to anyone who can sing this song perfectly.

[johnbidochka]

I know I consider anyone who uses the word SWELL as a scourge of the community.

[jongardyn]

This is the grandfather of modern rap. No doubt about it.

[kristenhanisch]

Volunteered sign language interpreting at a church Broadway Night Once–this is one of the songs I performed. Not easy, lol!

[michaelross]

Lyrics are Shakespearean in that there isn't a tongue-twister in the entire song. It just rolls off your tongue, like pearls. Fun song to learn and perform.

[tynakatroberts]

Oh we’ve got trouble

Right here in river city

With a capital T that rhymes with C that stands for COVID!

[okjoe]

Robert Preston does a fantastic job with this. Just try reading the lyrics out loud without stumbling all over it.

[christinesmith]

I absolutely love Robert Preston and don't know anyone who could replace him in Music Man!

[nightcoresubliminals]

I love the way he says "devil's tool" at 3:36. I hope my school performs Music Man at some point, I'd love to play Henry Hill.

[camillatreviso]

[HAROLD]
Friend, either you're closing your eyes
To a situation you do not wish to acknowledge
Or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated
By the presence of a pool table in your community
Well, ya got trouble, my friend, right here
I say, trouble right here in River City
Why sure I'm a billiard player
Certainly mighty proud I say
I'm always mighty proud to say it
I consider that the hours I spend
With a cue in my hand are golden
Help you cultivate horse sense
And a cool head and a keen eye
J'ever take and try to find
An iron-clad leave for yourself
From a three-rail billiard shot?
But just as I say
It takes judgment, brains, and maturity to score
In a balkline game
I say that any boob can take
And shove a ball in a pocket
And I call that sloth
The first big step on the road
To the depths of deg-ra-day--
I say, first, medicinal wine from a teaspoon
Then beer from a bottle!
An' the next thing ya know
Your son is playin' for money
In a pinch-back suit
And list'nin to some big out-a-town jasper
Hearin' him tell about horse-race gamblin'
Not a wholesome trottin' race, no!
But a race where they set down right on the horse!
Like to see some stuck-up jockey boy
Settin' on Dan Patch? Make your blood boil?
Well, I should say
Now, friends, lemme tell you what I mean
Ya got one, two, three, four, five, six pockets in a table
Pockets that mark the diff'rence
Between a gentlemen and a bum
With a capital "B, "
And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!
And all week long your River City
Youth'll be fritterin' away
I say your young men'll be fritterin'!
Fritterin' away their noontime, suppertime, choretime too!
Get the ball in the pocket
Never mind gettin' dandelions pulled
Or the screen door patched or the beefsteak pounded
Never mind pumpin' any water
'Til your parents are caught with the cistern empty
On a Saturday night and that's trouble
Yes you got lots and lots of trouble
I'm thinkin' of the kids in the knickerbockers
Shirt-tail young ones, peekin' in the pool
Hall window after school, ya got trouble, folks!
Right here in River City
Trouble with a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!


Now, I know all you folks are the right kind of parents
I'm gonna be perfectly frank
Would ya like to know what kinda conversation goes
On while they're loafin' around that Hall?
They be tryin' out Bevo, tryin' out cubebs
Tryin' out Tailor Mades like cigarette fiends!
And braggin' all about
How they're gonna cover up a tell-tale breath with Sen-Sen
One fine night, they leave the pool hall
Headin' for the dance at the Arm'ry!
Libertine men and Scarlet women!
And Rag-time, shameless music
That'll grab your son, your daughter
With the arms of a jungle animal instinct!
Mass-staria!
Friends, the idle brain is the devil's playground!
Trouble!

[PEOPLE]
Oh, we got trouble

[HAROLD]
Right here in River City!

[PEOPLE]
Right here in River City!

[HAROLD]
With a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P"
And that stands for pool

[PEOPLE]
That stands for pool!

[HAROLD]
We've surely got trouble!

[PEOPLE]
We've surely got trouble!

[HAROLD]
Right here in River City

[PEOPLE]
Right here!

[HAROLD]
Gotta figure out a way
To keep the young ones moral after school!

[PEOPLE]
Trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble...
[HAROLD]
Mothers of River City!
Heed that warning before it's too late!
Watch for the tell-tale signs of corruption!
The moment your son leaves the house
Does he re-buckle his knickerbockers below the knee?
Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger?
A dime novel hidden in the corn crib?
Is he starting to memorize jokes from Cap'n Billy's Whiz Bang?
Are certain words creeping into his conversation?
Words like, like "swell"?

[PEOPLE]
Trouble, trouble, trouble!

[HAROLD]
Aha! And "so's your old man"?

[PEOPLE]
Trouble, trouble, trouble!

[HAROLD]
Well, if so my friends
Ya got trouble

[PEOPLE]
Oh, we got trouble

[HAROLD]
Right here in River City!

[PEOPLE]
Right here in River City!

[HAROLD]
With a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P"
And that stands for pool!

[PEOPLE]
That stands for pool!

[HAROLD]
We've surely got trouble!

[PEOPLE]
We've surely got trouble!

[HAROLD]
Right here in River City!

[PEOPLE]
Right here!

[HAROLD]
Remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock and the Golden Rule!
Oh, we got trouble
We're in terrible, terrible trouble
That game with the fifteen numbered balls is a devil's tool!

[PEOPLE]
Devil's tool!

[HAROLD]
Oh yes we got trouble, trouble, trouble!

[PEOPLE]
Oh yes we got trouble here! We've got big, big trouble!

[HAROLD]
With a "T"!

[PEOPLE]
With a capital "T"!

[HAROLD]
Gotta rhyme it with "P"!

[PEOPLE]
Gotta rhyme with "P"!

[HAROLD]
And that stands for pool!

[PEOPLE]
That stands for pool!

[HAROLD]
Remember my friends, listen to me, because I pass this way but once!

[zekeram]

Wow, this guy's got a smooth taste to his voice! He's got a really specil talent for swaying people's opinions! What a big shot!

[dkrjnk]

I recommend the book "But He Doesn't Know the Territory" about the struggle to write and get this classic into production.

[Sirynx]

I absolutely loved the first time I watch the film. I'm not a huge fan of musicals but Robert Preston's performance just captivated me to continue to watch. I was pleasantly surprised when he played a similar role of a con-man called Centauri in his last film "The Last Starfighter." The role was written as a tribute to Harold Hill. Who else to play that lovable con-man than the man who made the role famous.

[HannahUK]

This is one of my Dad's favourite musicals and he bet me I couldn't learn all the words to it as I have a knack of getting songs down word for word. So the following week when I did it word for word complete with associated actions he was shocked/amazed. It is a fantastic song and it provided us with a great moment. He still asks me to do it all the time :)

[courtneyderouen]

How did I forget this?! Love this so much from my childhood ❤️ so thankful for entertainment like this while I grew up.

[benjoplin]

I am now reading "But he doesn't know the territory!" The book by Meredith Wilson about creating this fantastic show. A fun book. A wonderful musical. Great movie. This song rocks. :)

[lizlemon]

Not me listening to this on the verge of tears because Broadway is still dark and Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster were getting ready to slay this show

[allisonpeschek]

Am I not the only one who was singing/saying all of the words to this? xD I freaking love this play.

[gamercj]

2021: Fortnite is corrupting the youth!
1962: Billiards is corrupting the youth?