The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I remember him, he was very young
No one spoke like him, he was someone
And I carried on, like I couldn't stop
All of it for us, baby
And you, you got in my way
Stood between me and my friends
It was my sin, it was my shame
You were unconscious to the pain I was in
[Chorus]
I hear there's trouble in shangri-la
I run through the grass
I run over the stones
Down to the sea
Show me the way back, honey
I hear there's trouble in shangri-la
I run through the grass
I run over the stones
Show me the way back... to the sea
With honor be it spoken
To understand this light that we carry
And let it light your way
Of course, you know, I generally take it
Well, I make accommodations for you
And consider this...
Well, you used to be my love
I make excuses for you
[Chorus]
You can consume all the beauty in the room, baby
I know you can, I've seen you do it
And it brings up the wind
And it rises around you in pillars of color
But the promise has been broken
As you walk through the shadow of death
You try to see no evil
But you are so heartbroken
You say, dear god, make it stop!
Before the dawn of separation
Brings up the wind
Rises around you
I hear there's trouble in shangri-la
In pillars of color
Trouble in shangri-la
I make accommodations for you
I guess we don't believe
Things could go that far
We all believe in people...
That we think believe in god
Somewhere in the night...
Someone feels the pain
The ones who walk away
Try to love again...
[Chorus]
No one spoke like him, he was someone
And I carried on, like I couldn't stop
All of it for us, baby
And you, you got in my way
Stood between me and my friends
It was my sin, it was my shame
You were unconscious to the pain I was in
[Chorus]
I hear there's trouble in shangri-la
I run through the grass
I run over the stones
Down to the sea
Show me the way back, honey
I hear there's trouble in shangri-la
I run through the grass
I run over the stones
Show me the way back... to the sea
With honor be it spoken
To understand this light that we carry
And let it light your way
Of course, you know, I generally take it
Well, I make accommodations for you
And consider this...
Well, you used to be my love
I make excuses for you
[Chorus]
You can consume all the beauty in the room, baby
I know you can, I've seen you do it
And it brings up the wind
And it rises around you in pillars of color
But the promise has been broken
As you walk through the shadow of death
You try to see no evil
But you are so heartbroken
You say, dear god, make it stop!
Before the dawn of separation
Brings up the wind
Rises around you
I hear there's trouble in shangri-la
In pillars of color
Trouble in shangri-la
I make accommodations for you
I guess we don't believe
Things could go that far
We all believe in people...
That we think believe in god
Somewhere in the night...
Someone feels the pain
The ones who walk away
Try to love again...
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by I won't walk away
Trouble in Shangri-La Lyrics as written by Stevie Nicks
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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With Trouble in Shangri-La, I really felt that I was making a step away from the past. The box set really was all about the past, and the Fleetwood Mac reunion was all about the Rumours songs. I really felt a necessity to go into the future. Because when you're in a great old band that still exists, you can always live on that ... you can always be that. Or you can go ahead and do your own thing along with doing that. ~Stevie Nicks, vh1.com Interview, April 14, 2001
I've never thought about where I fit in pop culture. If I did, I'd get paranoid, and then I'd be afraid, and I don't do well with fear. I have to believe people will like this record, because it is my heart and soul, everything I've wanted to say over the last 10 years. ~Stevie Nicks, Entertainment Weekly, March 16,2001
The title song is written ~ Trouble in Shangri-La. It's like Bella Donna; it's a definite concept album. It's about achieving Shangri-La and not being able to handle it. ~Stevie Nicks, Rolling Stone, May 14, 1998
[On TISL] It's a rock and roll record. But there are some quieter things. ~Stevie Nicks, The Arizona Republic, Sept. 21, 2000
If you're in show business or sports and you're famous, there is a price that comes along with it. You get to have Shangri-La, but people just go crazy. So it's not so wonderful as everybody thinks sometimes. [The title song, tinged with the suggestion of a Himalayan chant, was written] in the last few months of the O.J. and Nicole trial. It wasn't really about them, it was just about how people make it to the top of their field and can't seem to handle it. ~Stevie Nicks, Scottsdale Life, July/August 2000
The theme of this record is 'Trouble in Shangri-La': To achieve Shangri-La and then not be able to handle it. So that is the element of Paradise, slips away. ~Stevie Nicks, Ask Stevie, Nicksfix.com, 2000
I remember asking my dear friend Tom Petty to work with me on some songs. I wasn't feeling my best; I was unsure about a lot of things. He said, 'No. You're a premier songwriter. You don't need anyone to help you with your songs. Do it yourself.' It was the jolt I needed. ~Stevie Nicks, Billboard Magazine, February 2001
In many ways, this album brings me full circle. There are a couple of songs I've been holding on to since that era, waiting for the right context to bring them out. Also, there was an accumulation of time and life experiences~and songs~reminiscent of that period. ~Stevie Nicks, Billboard Magazine, February 2001