--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Troubled times do call for troubled…" description: "\"Troubled times do call for troubled songs, songs that unsettle our souls and our spirits unapologetically.\" — Tavis Smiley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/tavis-smiley-7372_music_troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-song_1585382.jpg" --- # Troubled times do call for troubled songs, songs that… ![“Troubled times do call for troubled songs, songs that unsettle our souls and our spirits unapologetically.” quote by Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/tavis-smiley-7372_music_troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-song_1585382.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/tavis-smiley-7372_music_troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-song_1585382.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/tavis-smiley-7372_music_troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-song_1585382.jpg) > “Troubled times do call for troubled songs, songs that unsettle our souls and our spirits unapologetically.” [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In difficult periods, art that mirrors turmoil can be unsettling but honest. **In simple terms:** Hard times inspire raw, honest songs. Key Takeaway Embrace honest expression during hardship. Themes hardship art authenticity Mood somber provocative Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - protest movements - personal crises - creative writing - music therapy Key Concepts cultural reflection emotional honesty Questions to Reflect On - Can unsettling art heal or hurt? - When is it appropriate to share raw emotions? A Different Perspective Such songs may deepen despair for some listeners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Troubled times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troubled-times/) ## Related quotes > [When times are troubled, SMILE. When disaster threatens, LAUGH. When asked your age, LIE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-times-are-troubled-smile-when-disaster-threatens-laugh-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The war in Iraq is a rare opportunity to move toward an historic period of cooperation. Out of these troubled times a new world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-war-in-iraq-is-a-rare-opportunity-to-move-toward-an-historic/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Anyen Rinpoche is a compassionate embodiment of wisdom. The skillful teachings in The Tibetan Yoga of Breath will be a source of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garchen-rinpoche/anyen-rinpoche-is-a-compassionate-embodiment-of-wisdom-the-skillful/) [Garchen Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garchen-rinpoche/) > [But I think its the generation gap which is speaking because he wants his father to change but he can not do that himself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/but-i-think-its-the-generation-gap-which-is-speaking-because-he-wants/) Mak\_786 > [I am grateful to have found food. It has helped me understand and find a path out of those troubled times and move forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jock-zonfrillo/i-am-grateful-to-have-found-food-it-has-helped-me-understand-and-find/) [Jock Zonfrillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jock-zonfrillo/) > [Now in these troubled times, even more than ever, we need an affirmation that there is goodness and beauty in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-benson/now-in-these-troubled-times-even-more-than-ever-we-need-an/) [Bob Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-benson/) > [Persistent calling upon the name of the Lord breaks through every stronghold of the devil, for nothing is impossible with God. For Christians in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/persistent-calling-upon-the-name-of-the-lord-breaks-through-every/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [I wish to explore the beauty of everyday environments; in troubled times it is especially important to be aware of beauty and wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barton/i-wish-to-explore-the-beauty-of-everyday-environments-in-troubled/) Elizabeth Barton > [In troubled times the last thing you want to do is to stick your money into a film. It's such a gamble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-carlyle/in-troubled-times-the-last-thing-you-want-to-do-is-to-stick-your/) [Robert Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-carlyle/) > [I turned atheist in the '90s when India went through troubled times - communal riots, bomb blasts... Mumbai, where I live, was badly affected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/i-turned-atheist-in-the-90s-when-india-went-through-troubled-times/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [“Allow your heart to have faith no matter what. It's what will give you strength in troubled times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-rhodes/allow-your-heart-to-have-faith-no-matter-what-it-s-what-will-give-you/) [Morgan Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-rhodes/) > [Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective- a new world order-can emerge... We are now in sight of a United Nations that performs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/out-of-these-troubled-times-our-fifth-objective-a-new-world-order-can/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Sar Salamat, to Pagdi hazaar. English : If your head is intact, you can have a thousand turbans. Meaning : In troubled times, save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diwakar-dutt/sar-salamat-to-pagdi-hazaar-english-if-your-head-is-intact-you-can/) [Diwakar Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diwakar-dutt/) > [When the Savior Himself was born, there were troubled times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/when-the-savior-himself-was-born-there-were-troubled-times/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [We stand today at a unique and extraordinary moment. The crisis in the Persian Gulf , as grave as it is, also offers a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/we-stand-today-at-a-unique-and-extraordinary-moment-the-crisis-in-the/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) ## More by Tavis Smiley > [I think the issue of women's choice is essential for a woman being able to have their lives - if they cannot control their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-think-the-issue-of-women-s-choice-is-essential-for-a-woman-being/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Leonard Pitts, Jr. is the most insightful and inspiring columnist of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/leonard-pitts-jr-is-the-most-insightful-and-inspiring-columnist-of/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I believe there is nothing we endure in life that you can't recover from. Failure is not fatal. Everyone has the capacity to fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-believe-there-is-nothing-we-endure-in-life-that-you-can-t-recover/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Why don't we scale up those things that do work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/why-don-t-we-scale-up-those-things-that-do-work/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I think when I stop fighting, I die in a sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-think-when-i-stop-fighting-i-die-in-a-sense/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [The storm came. Lives were washed away. Ancient pains resurfaced. Now it is time for a sea of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/the-storm-came-lives-were-washed-away-ancient-pains-resurfaced-now-it/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [ \[John Carlos\] has spent much of his life since that time as a dedicated human rights advocate and public speaker, and he is out… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/john-carlos-has-spent-much-of-his-life-since-that-time-as-a-dedicated/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I love the fight. I don't - it's not a negative, it's a positive, and I love the challenge. There's that little part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-love-the-fight-i-don-t-it-s-not-a-negative-it-s-a-positive-and-i/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [This administration and these folk who run Washington are no more interested in our welfare and our well being than the man on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/this-administration-and-these-folk-who-run-washington-are-no-more/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I'm talking about France and Germany and Italy and Spain - new friend Germany - and I love that story, how they lead the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/i-m-talking-about-france-and-germany-and-italy-and-spain-new-friend/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Sometimes even your friends don't understand your calling, your purpose, your vocation. But you have to stand in your truth anyway, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/sometimes-even-your-friends-don-t-understand-your-calling-your/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Fear, fear, breeds hopelessness. When you're afraid, you don't know what to believe in, you don't know what to hold on to. You're struggling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/fear-fear-breeds-hopelessness-when-you-re-afraid-you-don-t-know-what/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [Capitalism is like a child: if you want the child to grow up free and productive, somebody's got to look over the shoulder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/capitalism-is-like-a-child-if-you-want-the-child-to-grow-up-free-and/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [The data is going to indicate sadly that when the Obama administration is over, black people will have lost ground in every single leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/the-data-is-going-to-indicate-sadly-that-when-the-obama/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [John Carlos provided the world with one of the most iconic images of the 1960s with his Black Power salute after a medal-winning performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/john-carlos-provided-the-world-with-one-of-the-most-iconic-images-of/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) [Explore all 91 Tavis Smiley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) Hubert Laws > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Troubled times do call for troubled songs, songs that unsettle our souls and our spirits unapologetically.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tavis Smiley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-songs-songs-that-unsettle-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-songs-songs-that-unsettle-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/tavis-smiley-7372_music_troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-song_1585382.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/tavis-smiley-7372_music_troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-song_1585382.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/tavis-smiley-7372_music_troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-song_1585382.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Troubled times do call for troubled songs, songs that unsettle our souls and our spirits unapologetically.” — Tavis Smiley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tavis Smiley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Troubled times do call for troubled...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-songs-songs-that-unsettle-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/troubled-times-do-call-for-troubled-songs-songs-that-unsettle-our/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```