Try
Janis Joplin/Janis Joplin & The Full Tilt Boogie Band Lyrics

This is a song called Try
Introducing the song titled Try

(Just a Little Bit Harder)
Subtitle indicating a little more effort is required

You know you'd better baby and you know you got to
Encouraging the listener to make more effort and stating the importance of it

Try, try, try just a little bit harder
Repeating the call to action

So I can love, love, love him, I tell myself
Motivating oneself to love the person more

Well, I'm gonna try, just a little bit harder
Reiterating the resolution to try harder

So I can't give, give, give, give him to nobody else.
Making sure that the person will remain loyal to them alone

Well, I've been waiting for such a long time
Implying that wait time has been long and increasing the urgency to try harder

I ain't gonna lose myself
Refusing to lose oneself in the pursuit to win the person over

(No, I ain't gonna lose it)
Emphasizing on retaining control in the situation

To make him mine, all mine.
Objective is to make the person completely theirs/possessive feelings

Yeah, I'm gonna try yeah, just a little bit harder
Continuously trying harder is repeated as it's the central theme of the song

So I can give, give, give, give him every bit of my soul. (Hey!)
Expressing the depth of love and commitment by offering their whole soul to the person

So I won't lose, lose, lose him to nobody, no.
Stating the negative implication of losing the person to someone else

Oh! Well, I don't care how long it's gonna take me
Gives an impression of dogged and persistent determination to win the person over

But if it's a dream I don't want
Rejecting the idea that the pursuit of the person is a mere fantasy

No, I don't really want it
Going beyond the surface level of desire and deeply expressing that it is a genuine need

If it's a dream I don't want
Re-emphasizing on the significance of the person in their life

Nobody to wake me.
The listener doesn't want anyone to shake them out of their pursuit of the person

Hey, you better not do it! Yeah!
Threatening anyone who wants to disrupt their attempt

Try yeah, try oh yeah, hey, hey!
Reinforcing the importance of trying desperately

Oh daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy
Use of 'daddy' may suggest a romantic or single parent relationship

Well, every time I reach out I said baby
'Baby' suggests a romantic interest and highlights the act of trying harder

I know, know, know I got to try some more.
Acknowledging the intensity of the situation and the need to pick up the pace of pursuit

I said I got to put my arms around you
Physical contact to display love and deep connection

I said, I said I got to hold my demand.
Assertiveness on what the listener demands in love and relationships

I said I got to make you understand
Need to communicate and ensure that their point reaches the person

Whoa baby, I said I gotta bring you round
Willing to make sacrifices and go to any extent to convince the person to be with them

Bring you round to the insight of me.
Wanting the person to understand them better and see their true worth

I said try, try, yeah, try, try, try, try.
Frequent repetition of 'try' depicts their resolve

Whoa try, oh yeah, try oh yeah, hey hey!
Adding rhythm and enthusiasm to their efforts

I gotta talk to my man now,
Implying a deeper level of relationship between the two

You know, I gotta work for my man now,
Commits herself to work hard for the person and show love and affection through actions

I said, I gotta feel for my man now,
Emphasizing the emotional side of relationship is important and commitment to work towards it

You know I, I gotta work for my man now,
Parallel emphasis on working for the person

I think-a every day for my man now,
The person remains a constant thought everyday

I think-a every day for my man now,
Repeating the same thought pattern accentuates narrow focus on the person

You know it, every way for my baby now.
Acknowledging that love is a full-time commitment

Oh, try, oh yeah, oh try yeah,
Repetition of 'try yeah' with adjectives preceding it to express greater determination

Try yeah, try yeah, hey, hey,
Reinforcing the importance of trying harder in a rhythmic manner to make it a memorable message

Try, oh yeah, try ah yeah,
Repeating the same central message but using different expressions, to emphasize its importance

Try just a little bit Harder.
Final message and culmination of the song is to try harder