Meaning of "Think About Your Troubles" by Harry Nilsson

"Think About Your Troubles" is a song that encourages introspection and reflection during challenging times. The imagery in the lyrics guides the listener through a series of visualizations to aid in this process. The breakfast table serves as a symbol of a peaceful and contemplative setting, where one can fully focus on their troubles. Pouring a cup of tea and thinking about the bubbles represents taking seemingly insignificant moments to pause and gain perspective.

The suggestion to take teardrops and throw them into the riverside symbolizes releasing one's emotions and allowing them to flow away with the current. By visualizing the tears being carried to the ocean and consumed by fish, the song suggests that burdens and emotional hardships are not permanent and can be transformed or dispersed through the natural cycle of life. The decomposing whale and the return of its basic elements to the ocean further emphasize the notion of impermanence, highlighting that troubles, just like the body, will eventually return to their elemental state.

The song's overall message seems to be that troubles are an inherent part of life but are not indomitable or insurmountable. The ocean and nature, representing a larger cosmic order, possess the ability to renew and restore equilibrium. The salty water that comes from the faucet, reminiscent of teardrops, serves as a reminder that even the most challenging times can be processed and filtered, ultimately leading to a sense of clarity and rejuvenation.