Song Meaning
This track opens with a sharp critique, suggesting the subject's "education" comes from crossword puzzles. The narrator's advice is blunt: "Educate yourself, read more!" The insistent repetition of "Book, book, book, book!" hammers home this point, contrasting the perceived shallowness of the subject's knowledge with the narrator's call for deeper engagement.
The central tension revolves around the subject's actions, identified as "what qualifies you." The narrator urges restraint, implying that whatever the subject is doing is inherently negative or self-incriminating. This leads directly to the repeated refrain, labeling the subject, Miklós, as "Trouble and bluff."
The most striking element is the stark contrast between the passive, superficial act of solving crosswords and the active, potentially destructive behavior implied by "trouble and bluff." The lyrics don't elaborate on the specific nature of the trouble or the bluff, but the accusation is clear and delivered with a dismissive tone.
What makes these lyrics effective is their directness and the potent, albeit brief, characterization. The accusation of being "Trouble and bluff" lands hard because it's immediately preceded by a critique of intellectual laziness and a call for self-control, painting a picture of someone whose actions are as flimsy as their supposed knowledge.