Their first release in 1985 was a seven-inch single named "Crazy Game", with the B-side "Everybody's Waiting (for Someone to Come Home)". That same year, the Indigo Girls released a six-track Extended play album named "Indigo Girls", and in 1987 released their first full-length album, Strange Fire, recorded at John Keane Studio in Athens, Georgia, and including "Crazy Game". With this release, they secured the services of Russell Carter, who remains their manager to the present; they had first approached him when the EP album was released, but he told them their songs were "immature" and they were not likely to get a record deal.
They were signed to Epic Records in 1989 and won the Grammy for best contemporary folk album later that year (for their self titled release) Some of their hit songs include "Galileo," "Closer to Fine," and "Shame on You."
Aside from being musicians, Ray and Saliers are activists, constantly supporting causes like gun control, women's rights, Native American rights, environmental protection, the abolition of the death penalty, and as lesbians themselves, LGBT rights. They constantly devote their time and money to such causes, often playing benefit concerts.
Ray and Saliers both have side projects. Ray owns and founded Daemon Records, an independent label based in Decatur. She also has a career as a solo artist, and has released two albums thus far. Saliers is the part owner of Watershed, a restaurant and wine bar in Decatur.
Together, the Indigo Girls are constantly touring. Their new album, Poseidon and the Bitter Bug, was released March 24, 2009.
Tried To Be True
Indigo Girls Lyrics
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Little storms destroy you.
Here is the fame they promised to give you,
Taking the place of my hand now.
Did you try to be true?
What separates me from you?
Did you borrow the soul
The soul that you sell now?
What does your conscience tell you?
Where are the demons
Of your desire?
Why does my love destroy you?
I said I tried to be true,
What separates me from you.
I said I tried, tried to be true
What separates me from you.
What separates me from you now?
So where is the fame,
Where is the fortune?
Where is the world that denies you?
Who is to blame,
When my heart finally forfeits
To a road that will only misguide you?
Did we try to be true?
What separates me from you?
Did we try, try to be true?
What separates me from you
I bought my love a hunger
More precious than a stone.
All these fatal flowers,
Did I misguide you?
(Where is the world that denies you)
(Tried to be true)
The lyrics of the song "Tried to be True" by Indigo Girls delve into the concept of truthfulness and its absence. The first two lines of the song, "From baby to best with no second test, Little storms destroy you" seem to suggest that even the best of us can crumble in the face of seemingly small storms, perhaps referring to situations or circumstances that test our integrity. The next stanza talks about the fame and promises that come with success, which can and have replaced a hand that would have helped.
As the song continues, the chorus asks the question, "Did you try to be true?" questioning the actions of someone who has borrowed and sold their soul. The singer then wonders about the demons that fuel this desire, and how their love only seems to destroy the other person.
The song switches perspectives in the second half of the song, where the singer talks about their own experiences with truth and love. They bought their love a hunger more precious than stone, and wonder if they might have misguidedin the process. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, asking the question of whether or not both parties tried to be true to each other.
Overall, the song seems to be about relationships, both personal and professional, and how difficult it can be to remain true to ourselves and each other amidst success and failure.
Line by Line Meaning
From baby to best with no second test,
Little storms destroy you.
From infancy to success without needing to prove oneself, but small troubles can shatter everything.
Here is the fame they promised to give you,
Taking the place of my hand now.
Here is the recognition they assured to provide, but now it has replaced me in your life.
Did you try to be true?
What separates me from you?
What separates me from you now?
Have you always been truthful? What is the difference between us? What is the difference between us now?
Did you borrow the soul
The soul that you sell now?
What does your conscience tell you?
Where are the demons
Of your desire?
Why does my love destroy you?
Did you obtain a soul that you have sold now? What does your inner voice say? Where are the demons that control your desire? Why does my love weaken you?
I said I tried to be true,
What separates me from you.
I said I tried, tried to be true
What separates me from you.
What separates me from you now?
I tried to remain genuine, but what makes me different from you? I made efforts, but what sets us apart? What sets us apart now?
So where is the fame,
Where is the fortune?
Where is the world that denies you?
Who is to blame,
When my heart finally forfeits
To a road that will only misguide you?
Where is the promised recognition and financial success? Where is the society that rejects you? Who should be accountable when my heart finally abandons you to a path that will only mislead you?
Did we try to be true?
What separates me from you?
Did we try, try to be true?
What separates me from you
Did we both make an effort to be real? What is the difference between us? Did we both make an effort to remain truthful? What sets us apart?
I bought my love a hunger
More precious than a stone.
All these fatal flowers,
Did I misguide you?
(Where is the world that denies you)
(Tried to be true)
I gifted my affection a burning desire more valuable than a gemstone. All these dangerous flowers, have I misguided you? (Where is the society that rejects you?) (I made an effort to remain genuine)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY, EMILY ANN SALIERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind