Charlie Mars (born 1974) is an American singer-songwriter from Mississippi.… Read Full Bio ↴Charlie Mars (born 1974) is an American singer-songwriter from Mississippi. Mars has performed at Austin City Limits and South by Southwest. Mars was featured in Esquire Magazine's Songwriting Challenge.

Born in Laurel, Mississippi, Mars' family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, when he was a senior in high school. He was lead singer and guitarist in a band called Adley Madidafus in high school.

He released his eponymous album in 2004.

Try So Hard
Charlie Mars Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bless me father
I have sinned
And I will sin again
For the weight of this unholy ghost
I'm living in

I wish that I always swung open
When your walls came closing in

Tell me why we have to try so hard
To get things right

I been thinking
You been thinking
You want to hear some truth
Truth is
I'm so damn good at lying
Here with you 'cause

You always swing open
When my walls come closing in

Tell me why we have to try so hard
To get things right

You don't love me now
But you will love me when
I do something about

It's so hard to get

You won't ask me why we have to try so hard
To get things right

Overall Meaning

The opening line, "Bless me father, I have sinned," sets the tone for this introspective ballad. The singer acknowledges that they have committed sins, and will most likely do so again. The weight of their guilt is heavy, represented as an "unholy ghost" that they are living with. They wish they were always able to be there for their loved ones, but sometimes they struggle to open up when their walls are closing in.

The chorus poses a question that has likely been pondered by many people at some point in their lives: why do we have to try so hard to get things right? The singer and their partner have both been thinking about this, but the singer admits that they are good at lying, particularly to their loved one. Despite this, their partner always swings open their walls when the singer's walls are closing in, meaning they offer support and love when the singer needs it most.

The final verse adds more context to the situation. The singer's partner doesn't love them currently, but will love them when they "do something about it." This implies that there may be issues in the relationship that need to be addressed, possibly including the singer's tendency to struggle with being truthful with their partner. The song ends somewhat abruptly, with the singer bemoaning how hard it is to change and improve themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Bless me father
Request for blessing and forgiveness

I have sinned
Admission of wrongdoing

And I will sin again
Recognizing one's propensity for error

For the weight of this unholy ghost
Acknowledgement of personal struggles and guilt

I'm living in
The reality of living with personal struggles

I wish that I always swung open
Desire to be consistently welcoming and supportive

When your walls came closing in
During times of struggle and vulnerability for others

Tell me why we have to try so hard
Questioning the effort required for success

To get things right
Achievement or attainment of goals

I been thinking
Reflective and introspective mindset

You been thinking
Acknowledgement that others have thoughts and feelings too