I Tried To Tell Myself
Al Green Lyrics

I tried to tell myself, I tried to tell myself
The singer attempted to convince themselves of something.

That you would be back
The singer believed and hoped that their loved one would return to them.

(You would be back)
Reiteration of the singer's belief that their loved one would return to them.

Oh, though you said you would
Despite their loved one saying they would return, the artist was unsure if they actually would.

I only wish you could
The artist wished that their loved one would fulfill their promise of returning.

I know I'm trying to be someone
The singer is attempting to be strong and stoic despite their emotional turmoil.

Say I tried to tell myself, I tried to tell myself
Again, the singer attempted to convince themselves of something.

You got to ride
The artist urges their loved one to keep moving forward, to keep living their life.

(You got to ride)
Reiteration of the artist's urging for their loved one to keep living their life.

Oh, I tried to tell myself, I tried
Once again, the artist tried to convince themselves of something.

I really tired to sleep at night
The singer is having trouble sleeping at night due to their emotional turmoil.

(Sleep at night)
Reiteration of the artist's sleeping troubles.

Before the break of day
Refers to the time right before morning.

Turning another page into life's mystery
The singer feels like they are moving forward in their life, but are uncertain of what will happen next.

And the light of day
Refers to daylight or morning.

I can now hear you say
The artist hears their loved one's voice in their memories or imagination.

I then take this trip
The artist is ready to embark on a journey.

With me to eternity
The singer wants their loved one to be with them forever, either in life or death.

Oh, I tried to tell myself, I tried to tell myself
Once again, the singer tried to convince themselves of something.

You need a friend
The artist believes that their loved one needs emotional support and companionship.

(You need a friend)
Reiteration of the artist's belief that their loved one needs emotional support.

Oh and as soon as I wake up
The artist wakes up with hope or optimism.

The sun begin to shine, I start to rain
The singer's emotional state is suddenly shifted when they think of their loved one.

(Start to rain)
The artist becomes emotional, possibly crying, when they think of their loved one.

I see you finally made it
The singer sees that their loved one has arrived or has made progress in life.

All the time you waited
The singer acknowledges that their loved one has had to wait for something.

I, I could be with you
The singer wants to be by their loved one's side.

Now I wanna be with you, oh yeah
The artist has a sudden desire to be with their loved one.

I tried to tell myself
Once again, the artist tried to convince themselves of something.

I don't wanna ever leave you
The singer never wants to be separated from their loved one.

I never want you to ever leave me all alone
The singer does not want to feel lonely or abandoned by their loved one.

I tried to tell myself
Once again, the artist tried to convince themselves of something.

I never want you to ever leave me away
The artist never wants to be separated from their loved one.

I tried to tell myself
Once again, the artist tried to convince themselves of something.

I don't want you to ever leave me all alone
The singer does not want to feel lonely or abandoned by their loved one.