I Tried
Matt Costa Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Rats they run across the field, crows rest in the tree
Barking madly at each other
Standing from the rooftop I scream "Won't you bark for me?"
As you turn your back and fly away

Caught on the fence you've left behind
Dive into an empty pool, I've tried
Oh I've tried
Oh I tried writing with nothing in return

When the wind freed me from the roots that tied me down
Now I need them back for comforting
Carvings that we left in branches scarred up on this tree
Lingering are thoughts you left with me

Calling the phone that you ignore
Slowly walking backwards from your door
Oh I've tried
Now we are done fighting, it's time that you return

Candle lit small light inside your window that I see
Hoping that the light still shines for me
Standing on the curbside I scream "Please come back!"
As you turn your back and fly away

Groundhogs digging with their claws
Burying their loves with dirty paws




Oh I've tried
There's no igniting, my head is in the dirt

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Matt Costa's song "I Tried" provide a complex and introspective look at loss and longing for someone who has left without reciprocating the feelings. The opening verse creates a vivid and melancholic picture of the singer who is trying to reach out to creatures like rats and crows just to have some company. The singer stands on a rooftop and pleads with the animals to "bark for" him but they turn their backs and fly away, leaving him alone.


The second verse further intensifies the sense of loneliness as the singer plunges into an empty pool after being caught on the fence. The use of the phrase "I've tried" after each verse represents the singer's desperate attempts to cope with the loss but in vain. The lines "Now I need them back for comforting, Carvings that we left in branches scarred up on this tree, Lingering are thoughts you left with me" reveal how memories of the departed one haunt the singer and he seeks comfort in them.


The chorus is a poignant plea of the singer begging the ignored person to return. The final verse draws a stark comparison between the singer's plight and that of the groundhogs burying their loved ones with dirty paws. The song ends on a heartbreaking note with the singer admitting that his head is buried in the dirt, implying that he is unable to move on.


Line by Line Meaning

Rats they run across the field, crows rest in the tree
Nature around me is indifferent to my troubles and continues on with its daily routine.


Barking madly at each other
Even the animals sense the tension and conflict in my situation.


Standing from the rooftop I scream "Won't you bark for me?"
I feel like I'm shouting into the void and begging for someone or something to acknowledge my pain.


As you turn your back and fly away
The person I'm addressing is unwilling to listen to my pleas and chooses to distance themselves from me.


Caught on the fence you've left behind
I feel trapped between holding onto the past and trying to move forward.


Dive into an empty pool, I've tried
I've attempted to escape my problems in reckless and self-destructive ways.


Oh I've tried
I've made multiple attempts to resolve the situation.


Oh I tried writing with nothing in return
I expressed my feelings in written form hoping for a response, but received none.


When the wind freed me from the roots that tied me down
At some point, I felt liberated and unburdened by my struggles.


Now I need them back for comforting
However, I've come to realize that I depended on those struggles for a sense of purpose and direction in life.


Carvings that we left in branches scarred up on this tree
The memories of the intimate moments I shared with someone are etched into my mind and continue to haunt me.


Lingering are thoughts you left with me
I'm unable to forget about the person who has caused me so much pain.


Calling the phone that you ignore
I've attempted to reach out to the person, but they have refused to respond to my calls.


Slowly walking backwards from your door
I've tried confronting the person face-to-face, but they've retreated and avoided me.


Now we are done fighting, it's time that you return
I'm ready to let go of any animosity and move forward, but only if the person is willing to do so as well.


Candle lit small light inside your window that I see
I continue to hold on to hope that the person still cares and might return to me.


Hoping that the light still shines for me
I cling to the possibility that our relationship isn't completely over and there's a chance for reconciliation.


Standing on the curbside I scream "Please come back!"
I'm begging for the person to give me another chance and come back into my life.


Groundhogs digging with their claws
Nature continues to march on with or without me, as animals continue on with their daily chores.


Burying their loves with dirty paws
Even animals experience heartbreak and loss, and must learn to move forward despite the challenges.


There's no igniting, my head is in the dirt
Despite my efforts, I'm unable to move on from the pain and continue to dwell on what went wrong.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MATTHEW ALBERT COSTA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@calaveza

the best

@kevindaniel7153

I guess im the only one who keeps enjoying this, love u matt

@fisherman2359

still listening 2015

@NicolasCurcio5295

ah i totally forgot about this song.

@666thehazard

That little bit of hair sticking up is so funny haha.

More Versions