Try Again
Blank & Jones with Keane Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I fell asleep on a late night train
I missed my stop and I went round again
Why would I want to see you now?
To fix it up, make it up somehow
Baby I′ll try again, try again
Baby I die every night, every time
What I was isn't what I am
I′d change back but I don't know if I can

Still I'll try, try again, try again
Baby I die every night, every time
But I was made the way I am
I′m not a stone; I′m just a man
Lay down your arms and I will lay down mine
Rip back the time that we've been wasting
God I wish you could see me now
You′d pick me up and you'd sort me out

Still I′ll try, try again, try again
Baby I die every night, every time

Overall Meaning

"Try Again" by Blank & Jones with Keane is a song that explores the theme of regret and a desire for second chances. The song begins with the singer talking about missing his stop on a late-night train and going around again, suggesting a sense of aimlessness or a willingness to keep going despite being lost. The chorus of "baby I'll try again, try again" expresses the singer's desire to fix things up and make things right. The lyrics "what I was isn't what I am, I'd change back but I don't know if I can" speak to the idea of wanting to go back in time and change things, but realizing that it's not always possible.

The second verse acknowledges the complexity of the situation, as the singer says "But I was made the way I am, I'm not a stone; I'm just a man." This line speaks to the idea that although we may have regrets and wish we could change things, ultimately we are who we are and must accept ourselves. The final lines "Lay down your arms and I will lay down mine, Rip back the time that we've been wasting, God I wish you could see me now, You'd pick me up and you'd sort me out" express a desire for reconciliation and a hope for forgiveness.

Overall, "Try Again" is a powerful expression of the human desire for redemption and the hope for a second chance. The lyrics are thoughtful and introspective, and the melody adds to the emotional impact of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

I fell asleep on a late night train
I was emotionally exhausted and overwhelmed, so I distracted myself by taking a train ride late at night. However, I became so lost in my thoughts that I missed my stop and ended up going round again.

Why would I want to see you now?
After all that has happened between us, I can't help but wonder what the point of seeing you now would be. What could we possibly say or do to make things right?

To fix it up, make it up somehow
Despite my doubts, there is still a part of me that wants to try and fix things between us. I am willing to put in the effort to make things right, however I am unsure of how to do so.

Baby I'll try again, try again
Despite my past failures, I am determined to keep trying. I refuse to give up on us and will keep making an effort to fix what is broken.

Baby I die every night, every time
The pain of our past and the uncertainty of our future is overwhelming. It feels like a part of me dies every night and I am haunted by the thought of losing you for good.

What I was isn’t what I am
I am not the same person I was when we first met. I have grown and changed, for better or for worse. It's hard to reconcile who I am now with who I used to be in the context of our relationship.

I'd change back but I don't know if I can
In hindsight, I recognize that I have made mistakes and behaved poorly in our relationship. However, it is hard to regain what was lost or return to my old self. It's not as simple as just fixing my mistakes.

But I was made the way I am
I am aware that I have flaws, but ultimately, they are a part of who I am. I cannot change who I fundamentally am as a person.

I'm not a stone, I'm just a man
I am not invincible to the pain and stress of our relationship. I have my own vulnerabilities and emotions, and I am doing the best I can as a human being.

Lay down your arms and I will lay down mine
I am tired of fighting and arguing with you. If you are willing to stop being defensive and confrontational, I will do the same. Our relationship can't survive if we keep fighting like this.

Rip back the time that we’ve been wasting
I regret all the time we've spent fighting and pushing each other away. If I could, I would go back and change everything that has led us to this point in our relationship.

God I wish you could see me now
I've grown and changed so much since we first met, and I wish you could see the progress I've made. I want you to know that I am constantly working on myself and striving to be the best I can be.

You'd pick me up and you'd sort me out
I still believe that you have the power to help me through the difficult times. I trust that you can help me sort out my feelings and find a way to move forward with our relationship.

Writer(s): Tim Rice-oxley, Tom Chaplin, Richard Highes

Contributed by Christian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS