The evening began as a positive swaret
And my abode was 4-2-0 G.
But little did I know that in the very next apartment
There'd be trouble on the brew for me!
Ubiquitous I wish I could be
Because the clock cuts short my own day!

One hundred things to do before I rest my sore ass
Upon the cushion that supports my array!
Can this be?
Trouble!
So if I may, slip you a tip.
You'd best stay away from 4-2-1.
Trouble!

So get high the green way.
So get by the green way, yes!
I knocked upon their door
In hopes of bidding them their welcome
And instead I was caught by an eye.
His pupil was wide open

Kinda like a liquor barn at 3:00.
It was indoubadoubly dose derived.
It was then that they took me
And shined their light between my eyes.

He said "What are ya new?
Why are you here? What's the catch?
Why not explain in clear? Why you're peaking around?"
I wish I could've just kept to my own.

My hospitality has been too well spent and I've paid my rent!
I should've kept my thoughts, on who might've been inside
So that my mind could sit and delude my pride!
I beg my common sense to keep my
Neighbor out away from my front door

Until I find a way
To hide myself from those in 4-2-1, one
..one away from the good one.


Lyrics submitted by Idan

Trouble in 421 Lyrics as written by Brandon Boyd Alex Katunich

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Trouble In 421 song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    great song...obviously about smoking pot

    incubus421on April 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    great song...obviously about smoking pot

    incubus421on April 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    shit, son, i wished i lived in 4 2 0 G.

    missblisson May 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's probably about how his old neighbours were law abiding citizens and were against Brandon smoking weed. So he had to keep his weed smoking a secret from those in apartment 421. lol

    Harry Manbackon August 21, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    just realized...its about him moving into a new apartment and him talking to his new neighbors in apartment 421 and they became nosey after him talking with him so now he has to hide his smoking of pot...its about him wishing he never tried to know his neighbors

    MistaTwistaon April 19, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    what you all say makes lots of sence. i alway thought it was him trying harder drugs then smoking weed. getting high of of 4:21 rather the 4:20. "so get high the green way" is saying just smoke the ganja. dont do crack, its bad for you!

    [Hilikus421]

    Spazmeaton May 03, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song shows brandon boyds aptitude for writing good lyrics at an early age.(he uses many big words)

    Alien8on July 06, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    oh dear oh dear (its not just about using big words - how old are you) theres so much more than that!

    youre all slightly off with the interpretation.

    The ancient myan calander finishes at 2012 of 4-21 at 10:24am - i.e. the predicted end of the world- why would they stop it there unless they knew something we dont, or at least believed they did! (im hoping they were right-this world is a god-awful mess)

    Brandon shows interest in this theory in a couple of other songs - certain shade of green (gona stand around till 2012 ad)

    brandon is in 420g - hes in the room next door to those who have committed themselves to death - he knows hes gonna die so he and his organic institution are just gonna enjoy the natural halucanogens that nature has provided for our use (get high) note how room 421 (the end of the world) is full of judgement. so many things to do before i die - read the song again! -fuck it lets get stoned...

    please stop dismissing him as a stupid stoner / 2high to know how to make sense, just cos u dont get him. please see my hilikus post!

    Hilikmion October 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    actually i could be wrong! shock horror - check out some of these links particularly the first one

    caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/50/chapters/15/subchapters/iv/sections/section_421.html

    is are those in 421 informants etc who do the secret spying deeds of 'the man' and those we have elected above us to decide what we can and cant do- im not a US citizen - does 421 protect FBI etc?

    Hilikmion October 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    no youre right i was wrong - 420 = 4:20 pot smoking time, 421 is somewhere where either something else is being taken (something chemical) or something where nothing is being taken

    -420 comes up in take me 2 ur leader

    damn im such a dumass

    Hilikmion October 12, 2004   Link

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