A Girl In Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)

Written as a female response to the Michael Jackson song "Billy Jean."

This song is...the bread of life. It really is that good.

"A girl in trouble" is an outdated euphemism for an unwed woman that is pregnant. Pregnancy lasts nine months, of course, so it's not forever. Here the singer is describing an unwed pregnant mother who has decided to stop feeling the shame society is imposing on her (at the time this was released, there was a stigma to being an unwed mother that is greater than it is now.) and get on with her life.

the song is actually about having an abortion. it'd been fully legal for about 11 years by 1984 when the song came out. a girl in trouble is a 'temporary' thing. having the baby isn't temporary. it's a sadly truthful look at the issue. they did an excellent job with the song. interestingly, the name of the band is Romeo Void, lead singer is a woman named Iyall. if a girl has a 'romeo void' (no man by her side), of course she's likely to abort. also interesting with the gun/target imagery in the video. statistics show that a leading cause of death for pregnant women is homicide (in some cities it is THE leading cause of death). Iyall also has an interview at below link, but I cut/pasted some of it here, and put my qu's/thoughts below.. goldenageofmusicvideo.com/debora-iyall-of-romeo-void-talks-about-videos-advice-for-adele-her-new-album-and-the-link-between-michael-jackson-and-a-girl-in-trouble-is-a-temporary-thing/ Iyall: 'so I decided that I’m going to tell the girl that a girl in trouble is a temporary thing. Like the song says, there’s a way to walk that says “Stay away,” and a time to go around the long way. (ok my question Iyall - so 'stay away'=abortion and 'long way'=go thru long 9 month pregnancy, become a mother, deciding whether to keep or give up baby for adoption'..? I appreciate the poetic lyrics, but she should've just come out and explained it in the interview.) Iyall (cont'd): 'Certainly I’ve earned my scars in my life. ..you have to live through this. The trouble passed, and she’s not shut down or f*ed up, she’s gotten over whatever it was.' (ok me again - 'whatever IT was..'? the IT is reflected in the water scene, its the abortion procedure.. she comes out of it.. seemingly unscathed, and walks away, keeps looking back, like, yea, that's over with. and now i'm walking away. she's talking about a girl in TROUBLE is a temporary thing. it's not complex. it's about having an abortion. the end.)