Martina McBride released her honky tonk-flavored debut album The Time Has Come in 1992. Her first big hit was the single "My Baby Loves Me" from her more pop-oriented second album, 1993's The Way That I Am. She became even more visible in 1994 with the crossover success of her anti-domestic violence anthem "Independence Day", also from this album.
In 1995 McBride released the album Wild Angels; "Safe in the Arms of Love" and the title track were country hits, later being her first #1 hit. Her 1997 album Evolution sold over two million units, and included an adult contemporary crossover hit in "Valentine" as well as four number one or number two country hits. The album Emotion came out in 1999; "I Love You" was a big hit in both country and adult contemporary circles. So was the socially conscious "Love's the Only House", a trend that would continue with 2003's "This One's for the Girls", which would become the theme song for the 2005 NCAA Women's Basketball championship tournament. [1] This was followed by the hit singles "How Far" (written by fellow country singer Jamie O'Neal) and "God's Will".
The Long Distance Lullaby Songfacts states that Eleven was Martina's first album for Republic Nashville, ending a 20 year association with RCA. Label head Scott Borchetta encouraged her to write more songs for the record than she had on any of her previous 10 albums, and she ended up co-writing six of the 11 tracks. Eleven was released October 11, 2011.
As of 2005 McBride is generally recognized as one of the top female singers in popular music; with her strong and pure soprano voice she has been labelled "the Céline Dion of country music." Also in 2005 she released a 18-track CD of classic country music standards, which landed at #1 on the Billboard Country Album Chart in its opening week and received much critical acclaim for its authenticity towards traditional country.
She is a four-time Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year winner (a record she holds with Reba McEntire), three-time Academy of Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year winner and a Grammy Award winner. This left-hander performed The Star-Spangled Banner at Game 3 of the 2004 World Series.
"Independence Day" is used as the introductory music for Sean Hannity's popular talk radio show. McBride has appeared at benefit events organized by Hannity, but has declined to take an active political stance. [2] McBride has performed free for fans, such as in a July 3, 2004 show in Owensboro, Kentucky to celebrate the grand opening of the new Independence Bank headquarters.
Recently she helped out contestants on the Canadian version of "American Idol". The winner worked on a song with McBride as well as went on tour with her across Canada.
Martina has sold over 13 million albums in USA alone.
I'm Trying
Martina McBride Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He said yes you are,
Cause you wouldn't bring it up if you weren't.
And if I'd told you I'd been walking
Out in the dark night thinking
Would you take as truth this alcoholic's word?
Oh I can't change, what's done is done,
But I can tell you this
And I need you to hold on too,
While this part of me is dying
Though I haven't kicked the demons that haunt me,
I'm trying, I'm trying.
She sat down on the floor and said I wish that I was stronger
Right now I feel as fragile as glass.
And I want to believe you,
Believe what's held you has freed you,
And I hate these doubts that keep on comin' back.
My parents think I'm crazy for hangin' on this long,
But there's nothing I want more for us
Than to prove to them they're wrong.
And I don't want to be afraid,
I don't wanna think you're lying,
And though I haven't found the faith that I need,
I'm trying. I'm trying.
He asks do you want me to leave?
Cause if you do you know I will,
But she says, much to his disbelief,
No, I love you still.
Oh, I love you still.
He said I don't know why I've been the fool,
But I can tell you this,
Not a day goes by that I don't curse myself and all my sins.
Then he dropped down to his knees,
By now they both were crying,
He said, I haven't been the man I want to be,
But I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm trying, I'm trying.
The song “I’m Trying” by Martina McBride is a heart-wrenching dialogue between two people – a man and a woman – who are trying to salvage a strained relationship. The opening of the song presents a confrontation between the man and the woman, where they are discussing his alcoholism and the trust issues that have arisen in their relationship. The woman expresses her doubts and fears, while the man admits his faults and his desperate need for forgiveness. He acknowledges that he has made mistakes and is ashamed of them but begs for another chance to make amends.
The second verse finds the woman struggling with her own insecurities and doubts about the relationship. She expresses her vulnerability and pain but also her determination to hold on and fight for their love. The chorus ties the song together with a haunting refrain that emphasizes the shared desire of both parties to make things work even though they are aware of the daunting adversities they might face. The emotional climax of the song happens when the man drops down to his knees and admits that he hasn’t been the man he wants to be, but he’s trying his best to do better.
Overall, the song “I’m Trying” narrates a nuanced dialogue of the efforts of two people to repair a broken relationship. The song speaks volumes about the struggles and complexities that come with growing emotionally and mentally, and how it requires honest work, determination, and empathy from both parties.
Line by Line Meaning
She said I'm not pointing fingers,
She denied any accusations of blaming him for their problems.
He said yes you are,
He believed that she was, in fact, pointing fingers.
Cause you wouldn't bring it up if you weren't.
He thought that if she didn't blame him, then she wouldn't have brought up the issue in the first place.
And if I'd told you I'd been walking
He wondered what her reaction would be if he admitted to going out alone at night.
Out in the dark night thinking
He admitted to going out alone at night to think.
Would you take as truth this alcoholic's word?
He questioned whether she would believe him, given that he has a drinking problem.
Oh I can't change, what's done is done,
He accepted that he couldn't undo what he had done in the past.
But I can tell you this
He wanted to express something to her.
Not a day goes by that I don't curse myself and all my sins
He regretted his past mistakes and thought of them daily.
And I need you to hold on too,
He depended on her to support him during his recovery.
While this part of me is dying
He believed that a part of him needed to die in order to overcome his addiction.
Though I haven't kicked the demons that haunt me,
He was struggling to defeat his personal demons, which have been haunting him.
I'm trying, I'm trying.
He was trying his hardest to overcome his problems.
She sat down on the floor and said I wish that I was stronger
She confessed that she wished she had more strength to get through their situation.
Right now I feel as fragile as glass.
She felt vulnerable and scared.
And I want to believe you,
She wanted to trust him fully.
Believe what's held you has freed you,
She hoped that what helped him recover also helped him become a better person.
And I hate these doubts that keep on comin' back.
She was frustrated that her doubts about their relationship kept resurfacing.
My parents think I'm crazy for hangin' on this long,
Her parents were not supportive of her staying in the relationship for so long.
But there's nothing I want more for us
She wanted their relationship to work out.
Than to prove to them they're wrong.
She wanted to prove to her parents that they are mistaken about their relationship.
And I don't want to be afraid,
She didn't want to feel scared and unsure about their future together.
I don't wanna think you're lying,
She didn't want to doubt his honesty or sincerity.
And though I haven't found the faith that I need,
She hadn't found the conviction or assurance she needed to fully trust him.
I'm trying. I'm trying.
She was trying to have faith in him and their relationship.
He asks do you want me to leave?
He asked if she wanted him to leave their relationship.
Cause if you do you know I will,
He was willing to leave if she wanted him to.
But she says, much to his disbelief,
To his surprise, she didn't want him to leave.
No, I love you still.
She still loved him despite their problems.
He said I don't know why I've been the fool,
He admitted to being foolish and making mistakes.
But I can tell you this,
He wanted to express something to her.
Not a day goes by that I don't curse myself and all my sins.
He regretted his past mistakes and thought of them daily.
Then he dropped down to his knees,
He fell to his knees, possibly overcome with emotion.
By now they both were crying,
They were both crying at this point.
He said, I haven't been the man I want to be,
He didn't feel he was living up to his own expectations.
But I'm trying. I'm trying. I'm trying, I'm trying.
He was trying his hardest to become a better man and save their relationship.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DARRELL SCOTT, TIA SILLERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind