In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she made a return to the stage and, although bald from chemotherapy, performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song "Piece of My Heart". Etheridge's performance was widely lauded, with India.Arie writing "I Am Not My Hair" about Etheridge. Later that year, Etheridge released her first compilation album, Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled. The album was a huge success, peaking at #14 on the Billboard 200, and going Gold immediately. Her latest release is 4th Street Feeling.
Etheridge is known for her mixture of "confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals." She has also been an iconic gay and lesbian activist since her public coming out in January 1993.
Try
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I can love, love, love you, I tell myself
I'm gonna try just a little bit harder
So I won't lose, lose, lose you to nobody else yeah
Well, I don't care how long it's gonna take
But if it's a dream I don't want, no I don't really want it
If it's a dream I don't want nobody to wake me
So I can give, give, give you every bit of my soul
Yeah, I'm gonna try yeah just a little bit harder
So I can show, show, show you love with no control
I've waited so long for someone so fine
I ain't gonna lose my chance, no I don't wanna lose it
Ain't gonna lose my chance to make you mine yeah
Try yeah, try yeah, try yeah, try yeah
Try baby just a little bit harder
Oh oh oh oh baby
Try yeah just a little bit
Gonna try for my baby yeah
Gonna try for my baby yeah
Try try just a little bit
Gonna try gonna try gonna try
I'm gonna try yeah
Try yeah
I'm gonna try yeah
Try yeah
I, I oh oh yeah
Just gonna try baby
In Melissa Etheridge's song "Try," the singer is trying to win the heart of someone she loves deeply. She feels that she needs to try harder to show her love and commitment. The repetition of the phrase "try, try, try just a little bit harder" emphasizes the importance of putting in effort and not giving up. The singer fears losing her loved one to someone else and is willing to do anything to prove her worthiness.
The line "I've waited so long for someone so fine" suggests that the singer has been longing for this person for a while. The phrase "love with no control" implies that the singer's love is all-consuming and intense. The singer is determined to make this person hers and will not let her chance slip away. The line "If it's a dream I don't want nobody to wake me" emphasizes the singer's desire to make this love a reality and not just a fantasy.
Overall, "Try" is a powerful love song that expresses the intensity and passion of the singer's feelings. It encourages listeners to put in effort and fight for the ones they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Try, try, try just a little bit harder
I need to put in more effort in this relationship.
So I can love, love, love you, I tell myself
I convince myself to try harder so that I can love you completely.
I'm gonna try just a little bit harder
I recognize I need to put more effort into this relationship.
So I won't lose, lose, lose you to nobody else yeah
I don't want to lose you to anyone else, so I will try harder.
Well, I don't care how long it's gonna take
I'm willing to invest whatever time it takes to make this work.
But if it's a dream I don't want, no I don't really want it
If this relationship isn't going to work, then I don't want to waste my time.
If it's a dream I don't want nobody to wake me
If this relationship is going well, I am content to keep dreaming.
I'm gonna try yeah just a little bit harder
I will commit to putting in more effort for this relationship.
So I can give, give, give you every bit of my soul
I want to be able to give you all of myself in this relationship.
Yeah, I'm gonna try yeah just a little bit harder
I am ready to try even harder for the sake of our relationship.
So I can show, show, show you love with no control
I want to show you love without holding back.
I've waited so long for someone so fine
I have been looking for someone like you for a long time.
I ain't gonna lose my chance, no I don't wanna lose it
I refuse to let this opportunity slip away.
Ain't gonna lose my chance to make you mine yeah
I am determined to make you mine and not lose you.
Try yeah, try yeah, try yeah, try yeah
I need to keep trying if I want this relationship to work.
Try baby just a little bit harder
I'm asking my partner to try harder with me.
Oh oh oh oh baby
I am expressing my love for my partner.
Try yeah just a little bit
I need my partner to meet me halfway in this relationship.
Gonna try for my baby yeah
I am determined to do whatever it takes for this relationship to work.
Gonna try for my baby yeah
I care deeply and want to commit to making this work.
Try try just a little bit
Trying harder in this relationship is worth it to me.
Gonna try gonna try gonna try
I am fully committed to making this relationship work.
I'm gonna try yeah
I am committed to putting in effort for this relationship.
Try yeah
Trying harder is necessary for this relationship to work.
I, I oh oh yeah
My love for my partner is deep and enduring.
Just gonna try baby
I am asking my partner to try with me for our relationship.
Contributed by Cameron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marta Minder
Still rockin' and we can tell you are not only a superb artist, but still enjoying the performances as much as we do. Luv ya.
rasaan2011
Givin it up to Melissa Eheridge for still making awesome sauce music, & putting a bright spot in my 2020 with her performances from home!!🤗❤
Nikki Klerks
This woman was one of the reasons I felt things at age 11.. 19 years later she still makes me feel the same ;) god this woman is beautiful inside and out <3
Megan Perry
I concur! Great music to have in your back pocket for every life situation growing up and learning how to process emotions. I have known every word and note to the debut album since 1987, when I was 5. I’d record Melissa-esque songs I made up on my duel cassette deck.
Penny Tolbert
I just saw her 60th birthday concert in LA!
Penny Tolbert
The only straight couple there and we danced out asses off!!! I have been in love with her music since I was 12! That’s 36 years!!!!
A.J Mic
I heard a prerelease of her debut album at a Hi Fi store in Katonah N.Y a week before public release , I was hooked and had to have it , that week wait was hell , I went to that store everyday on my way home from work to listen until I could own it myself , I have over 3000 albums in my collection including everything ME I can get my grubby fingers on .
Joan Schansberg
I agree!!!
FabFemmeTV
This is amazing 🌈
Janey Clifford
Rockin’ tune ❤️❤️❤️🎸🎸🎸🔥🔥🔥