It was during his first year of college, that Matthew began playing guitar and writing songs. By Matthew's senior year, he was playing at every venue imaginable, from Fraternity houses to churches, and youth groups.
He signed an exclusive songwriting deal only a week after graduating and making the move to Nashville. His songs have been recorded by various artists including Rachel Lampa's most recent single, "Savior Song," which was Matthew's first top-5 song as a writer. Some other highlights were having songs placed on the platinum selling WoW 2002 project and also having his song, "Heart of Every Man recorded for the World Youth Day 2000 official soundtrack.
Matthew continued pursuing his dream of singing his own songs. Matthew had the opportunity to travel to universities across the country, and quickly began building up a steady following. With the help of Word Music and Extreme Writers Group, Matthew recorded an independent CD called, "Sellout," which caught the attention of Universal South Records.
Since signing with Universal South, He has released several albums, starting with "Happy" in 2003, "History" in 2005, and "Something to Say" in 2007; along with the re-release of Sellout in 2006. The Forgiveness Songfacts reports that West's fifth album, "Into the Light," is scheduled to be released on September 25, 2012.
Tryin’
Matthew West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now i'm seeing it a little bit clearer
I spent my last day tryin
I spent my last day tryin
Everybody going out of their way
Trying to change who i am and hey
I spent my last day tryin
I dont want to fit in
So much for measuring up
The truth is sinking in
Who i am is good enough
No more tryin
No more tryin
Tryin to be
Anybody other then me
Cause I'm no copy
I'm no replay
I'm one of a kind
And starting now
I'm done tryin
Tryin oh oh what oh tryin
Tryin oh oh what oh tryin
I want to buy the world
A great big trash can
Get all the beauty magazine that i can through them in
And set them on fire
What
Yah I'm gonna set them on fire
Cause every page is a lie their tellin
And every face is a promise their sellin
Those things got one less buyer
I'm not gonna walk that wire
I dont want to fit in
So much for measuring up
The truth is sinking in
Who i am is good enough
Who you are is good enough
No more tryin
No more tryin
Tryin to be
Anybody other then me
Cause I'm no copy
I'm no replay
I'm one of a kind
And starting now
I'm done tryin
More then just the outside
Love looks at the heart
You and me will make by
The hands that made the stars
And tonight thats what we are
Come on lets light light
Light it up
Gonna light light light it up
Gonna light light light it up oh
You and me
Gonna light light light it up
Cause who i am is good enough
Who you are is good enough
No more tryin
No more tryin
Tryin to be
Anybody other then me
Cause I'm no copy
I'm no replay
I'm one of a kind
No more tryin
No more tryin
Tryin to be
Anybody other then me
Cause I'm no copy
I'm no replay
I'm one of a kind
And starting now
I'm done tryin
Tryin oh oh what oh tryin
Tryin oh oh what oh tryin
The song "Tryin'" by Matthew West is an uplifting and empowering track that encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and stop trying to fit into society's unrealistic expectations. The first verse discusses the singer's past struggles with self-image and self-acceptance. He used to hate what he saw in the mirror, but now he sees himself more clearly. The chorus reinforces the message of self-love and acceptance, stating that the singer doesn't want to fit in or measure up because who he is, is good enough.
The second verse is a commentary on the unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by the media. The singer wants to set fire to all the beauty magazines and their lies because every face is a promise they're selling, and he's not buying it anymore. He won't walk the wire and try to be someone he's not to fit into society's mold. The bridge further emphasizes the value of inner beauty and love that looks at the heart, and the final chorus reiterates the singer's message of self-love and acceptance, encouraging listeners that who they are is good enough.
Overall, "Tryin'" is a powerful and relatable song that encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and love themselves for who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Use to hate what i saw in the mirror
I used to despise my appearance and what I saw when I looked at myself in the mirror.
Now i'm seeing it a little bit clearer
Now, I have an improved perception of my reflection and who I am as a person.
I spent my last day tryin
I spent my last day trying to be someone I am not.
Everybody going out of their way
Everyone is making an effort to change who I am, even though that is not what I want.
Trying to change who i am and hey
People are attempting to alter my personality and identity.
I dont want to fit in
I refuse to conform to societal standards and expectations.
So much for measuring up
I have ceased trying to meet other people's expectations and standards.
The truth is sinking in
I have come to the realization that I need to be true to myself and not try to be someone else.
Who i am is good enough
I am content with who I am as an individual and do not need to change to please others.
No more tryin
I am done attempting to be someone I am not.
Tryin to be
I will no longer try to emulate or imitate another person.
Anybody other then me
I will only be myself and not attempt to be someone else.
Cause I'm no copy
I am unique and will not copy or mimic another person.
I'm no replay
I will not repeat or replicate another person's actions or behavior.
I'm one of a kind
I am an individual, unlike anyone else, and that is something I am proud of.
I want to buy the world
I would like to purchase the world, or at least a significant portion of it.
A great big trash can
A very large garbage can.
Get all the beauty magazine that i can through them in
I will collect every beauty magazine I can find and throw them all away in the trash can.
And set them on fire
I will light the trash can, and all of the magazines inside, on fire.
Every page is a lie their tellin
The content of every page in the beauty magazines is a falsehood and not to be trusted.
And every face is a promise their sellin
The images of people's faces in the magazines are being marketed with the promise of physical perfection.
Those things got one less buyer
I will no longer purchase or contribute to the demand for beauty magazines.
More then just the outside
Love is more than just appearances and outward beauty.
Love looks at the heart
Real love comes from looking past outer appearances and into the inner qualities of a person.
You and me will make by
You and I will survive together.
The hands that made the stars
Refers to the Creator God who made the stars in the sky.
And tonight that's what we are
We are two individuals who are connected by love in the eyes of God, the Creator of the universe.
Come on lets light light
Let's ignite, shine, and reveal our true selves.
Gonna light light light it up
I am going to shine brightly and be true to who I am.
You and me
We, as individuals, are important and valuable.
Cause who i am is good enough
I am enough just the way I am and do not need to change.
No more tryin
I am finished attempting to be someone else.
Contributed by Peyton M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.