Troubled Times

Album: Revolution Radio (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by the November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks. Billie Joe Armstrong is friends with guitarist Eden Galindo, guitarist for Eagles Of Death Metal, who played at Paris club Bataclan where 95 of their fans were shot dead by terrorists. The Green Day frontman told Q magazine:

    "I don't think anything like terrorism hit home right in our backyard the way it did that night. At first, I wrote it and thought 'I don't know if I want this on the album.' It's really heavy to write about and I didn't want it to be trite or maudlin.

    But then Orlando happened, I thought 'Well, it makes perfect sense to put it on the record.'"
  • The song's music video shows Billie Joe Armstrong with headphones, spliced with news footage of the clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12, 2017. Political leaders like Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and former President George Bush also feature in the montage.

    Prior to the video's release, Armstrong spoke out about the incident in Charlottesville.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."