Trouble

The song Trouble is built on a piano foundation that feels very intimate and personal. It's a sound that envelops you, and if you pay attention, you'll notice that the repetition of the word "trouble" in the lyrics underscores that feeling of introspection and perhaps regret. The instrumentation is quite simple, with a kick drum that is barely perceptible and fades when the guitars come in. It was recorded in 4/4, at a tempo of about 70 beats per minute, and Chris Martin's voice moves in a range from an F sharp in the third octave to an A in the fourth, reaching high notes with falsetto.

The idea behind Trouble stemmed from Chris Martin's own experiences. He himself said that the lyrics are about how one can act wrongly towards someone they care about deeply, something he felt he was doing with some members of the band. It's as if the song were a moment of reflection, a call to leave certain attitudes behind. The recording of this piece, which is part of the debut album Parachutes, had its details. It was recorded four times until they found the version that convinced them. The process included recording the rhythm section first, then Guy Berryman's bass, and finally Jonny Buckland's guitar. For the piano, they used two microphones, one with a brighter sound and another fuller one, opting for the latter for the final mix. The mix was done in New York by Michael Brauer, and the initial version did not meet expectations, so it had to be revised.