Adam “Shmeeans” Smi… Read Full Bio ↴Lettuce is an American funk band formed in 1992.
Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff: guitar
Erick “Jesus” Coomes: bass
Ryan Zoidis: alto, baritone and tenor sax, Korg X-911
Eric “Benny” Bloom: trumpet, horns
Nigel Hall: vocals, Hammond B-3, Rhodes, clavinet, keyboards
Adam Deitch: drums, percussion
Don't Be Afraid to Try Featuring Alecia Chakour
Lettuce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't let nobody tell you how to live your life
They′ll turn you around before you see the light
Tell me how they're gonna know what you're supposed to do
If they never walked a mile in your shoe
Stay off that mountain, if you′ll never get high
Don′t be afraid to try
Just a little boy from a country town
When he singing songs that'll put him down
He told him don′t you cross that county? line
So he sings what is mine is mine
Singing about the highway, just waiting for your ride
Stay off that mountain, if you ever want get high
Don't be afraid to try
Singing about the highway just waiting for a ride
Staying off the mountain
You know you′ll never get high
So go here, be here water
Ready to rise, don't be afraid to try
Oh no, no, don′t be
I said no, no, no, no
You should be in the water
How'd you feel in the water
Don't you be no, don′t you be
Oh no, oh no
Oh no, no, no, no don′t you be
The song "Don't Be Afraid to Try" by Lettuce featuring Alecia Chakour encourages listeners to be themselves and not let others dictate their lives. The first stanza warns against allowing others to dictate your life, cautioning that if they have not walked in your shoes, they don't know what you should do. The chorus urges listeners not to be afraid to try new things, to take risks and try things that might make them uncomfortable or afraid.
The second stanza tells the story of a boy from a rural town who wants to sing but is told not to cross the county line because that's where the city and success are. The boy decides to sing his own way and writes songs about his own experience, singing about the highway and waiting for a ride, embodying the idea of not being afraid to try.
Overall, the song's message is one of empowerment and permission to be oneself rather than conforming to societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't let nobody tell you how to live your life
Don't allow anyone to dictate how you should live your life.
They'll turn you around before you see the light
Others may confuse or discourage you before you can find your own path.
Tell me how they're gonna know what you're supposed to do
Challenges the notion that others can know what is best for you.
If they never walked a mile in your shoe
One cannot understand another's experience until they have gone through it themselves.
Stay off that mountain, if you'll never get high
Don't pursue something that you are not truly interested in or passionate about.
Just a little boy from a country town
Introduces a character, a young boy from a rural area.
When he singing songs that'll put him down
Despite singing about his own experiences, others may still criticize or belittle him.
He told him don't you cross that county line
Warning to not venture too far from what is familiar or safe.
So he sings what is mine is mine
Expressing a desire to claim ownership over his own experiences and choices.
Singing about the highway, just waiting for your ride
Looking forward to new experiences and opportunities on the horizon.
Stay off that mountain, if you ever want get high
Reinforcing the message to not pursue things that do not truly interest you.
Singing about the highway just waiting for a ride
Reinforcing the excitement for possibilities and new experiences.
Staying off the mountain
Avoiding things that are not right for you.
You know you'll never get high
Recognizing that pursuing things that do not truly interest you will not be fulfilling.
So go here, be here water
Encouraging to be present and immerse oneself in the current moment.
Ready to rise, don't be afraid to try
Be open to new experiences and opportunities without fear.
Oh no, no, don't be
Encouraging to overcome fear and embrace possibilities.
I said no, no, no, no
Reinforcing the message to not be afraid and take chances.
You should be in the water
Advocating for being present in the moment and embracing new experiences.
How'd you feel in the water
Asking to reflect on how it feels to take risks and embrace new experiences.
Don't you be no, don't you be
Reinforcing the message to not be fearful or hesitant.
Oh no, oh no
Encouraging to overcome fear and embrace possibilities.
Oh no, no, no, no, don't you be
Final message to not be afraid and take chances.
Contributed by Penelope D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.