1
Put me in a special school 'cause I am such a fool
And I don't need a single book to teach me how to read
Who needs stupid books? They are for petty crooks
And I will learn by studying the lessons in my dreams
So turn off the TV, 'cause that's what others see
And movies are as bad as eating chocolate ice cream
They only sicken me, don't let me play football
I'll sack the quarterback and jack the brother of the ball
I'm a troublemaker, never been a faker
Doing things my own way and never giving up
I'm a troublemaker, not a double-taker
I don't have the patience to keep it on the up
I picked up a guitar, what does this signify?
I'm going to play some heavy metal riffs and you will die
You wanted arts and crafts? How's this for arts and crafts?
Wa-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na, that's right
I'm growing out my hair, I'm moving out to Cherokee
I'm going to be a rock star and you are gonna bear with me
Because I can't work a job like any other slob
Punching in and punching out and sucking up to Bob
Marrying a beeyotch, having seven keeyods
Giving up and growing old and hoping there's a God
I'm a troublemaker, never been a faker
Doing things my own way and never giving up
I'm a troublemaker, not a double-taker
I don't have the patience to keep it on the up
I'm gonna be a star and people will crane necks
To get a glimpse of me and see if I am having sex
And studying my moves, they try to understand
Why I am so unlike the singers in the other bands
I'm such a mystery as anyone can see
There isn't anybody else exactly quite like me
And when it's party time, like 1999
I'll party by myself because I'm such a special guy
I'm a troublemaker, never been a faker
Doing things my own way and never giving up
I'm a troublemaker, not a double-taker
I don't have the patience to keep it on the up
Keep it on the up, I'm a troublemaker
Keep it on the up, I'm a troublemaker
Keep it on the up, I'm a troublemaker
Keep it on the up, I'm a troublemaker, never giving up
And I don't need a single book to teach me how to read
Who needs stupid books? They are for petty crooks
And I will learn by studying the lessons in my dreams
So turn off the TV, 'cause that's what others see
And movies are as bad as eating chocolate ice cream
They only sicken me, don't let me play football
I'll sack the quarterback and jack the brother of the ball
I'm a troublemaker, never been a faker
Doing things my own way and never giving up
I'm a troublemaker, not a double-taker
I don't have the patience to keep it on the up
I picked up a guitar, what does this signify?
I'm going to play some heavy metal riffs and you will die
You wanted arts and crafts? How's this for arts and crafts?
Wa-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na, that's right
I'm growing out my hair, I'm moving out to Cherokee
I'm going to be a rock star and you are gonna bear with me
Because I can't work a job like any other slob
Punching in and punching out and sucking up to Bob
Marrying a beeyotch, having seven keeyods
Giving up and growing old and hoping there's a God
I'm a troublemaker, never been a faker
Doing things my own way and never giving up
I'm a troublemaker, not a double-taker
I don't have the patience to keep it on the up
I'm gonna be a star and people will crane necks
To get a glimpse of me and see if I am having sex
And studying my moves, they try to understand
Why I am so unlike the singers in the other bands
I'm such a mystery as anyone can see
There isn't anybody else exactly quite like me
And when it's party time, like 1999
I'll party by myself because I'm such a special guy
I'm a troublemaker, never been a faker
Doing things my own way and never giving up
I'm a troublemaker, not a double-taker
I don't have the patience to keep it on the up
Keep it on the up, I'm a troublemaker
Keep it on the up, I'm a troublemaker
Keep it on the up, I'm a troublemaker
Keep it on the up, I'm a troublemaker, never giving up
Lyrics submitted by whybother737
Troublemaker Lyrics as written by Rivers Cuomo
Lyrics © E O Smith Music
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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For those who aren't too familiar with Rivers' history, there are a bunch of subtle and not so subtle references in this song: 1) "don't let me play football" - probably a loose reference to the fact that Rivers had a busted leg as a child and couldn't play sports. instead he took up music, hence the second verse. 2) "moving out to Cherokee" - refers to Cherokee Ave. in Hollywood where Rivers first started writing and recording with Zoom/Avante Garde 3) "people will crane necks to get a glimpse of me and see if i am having sex" - probably refers to the whole media hooplah about his vow of celibacy from 2002-2005. 4) "when it's party time like 1999, I'll party by myself" - seems like a lame rhyme, but it most likely is a subtle reference to when Rivers became a hermit, painted his walls black and sought to perfect the art of songwriting in 1999 before The Green Album.
there's probably more. but the point is - there's a lot more here than what meets the eye