Keep on Trying
Strawbs Lyrics


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Cousins-Cronk

When that ray of sunshine's overdue, you've got to keep on trying
When the thunder rolls, though the storm is through, you've got to keep on trying
Lightning never ever strikes the same place twice
I've taken many chances in the middle of the ice.

When the dice are down on a losing streak, you've got to keep on trying
When your mind is willing but your heart is weak, you've got to keep on trying
I never had it easy and I never will
The sun is always shining on the far side of the hill.

Oh, oh, oh, oh
(If you feel like crying, don't give up)
(Keep on trying, swallow your pride)
(And come back into my life).

When lady luck's got nothing new, you've got to keep on trying
When you're feeling melancholy blue, you've got to keep on trying
I didn't want to be the one to take the blame
I always played to win but it's a solitary game.

Oh, oh, oh, oh
(When you feel like crying, don't give up)
(Keep on trying, swallow your pride)
(And come back into my life).

If you feel like crying, don't give up
Keep on trying, swallow your pride
And come back into my life.

When you feel like crying, don't give up




Keep on trying, swallow your pride
And come back.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Strawbs's song Keep on Trying encourage listeners to persevere through difficult times, even when success seems elusive. The repeated refrain of "If you feel like crying, don't give up/Keep on trying, swallow your pride/And come back into my life" offers a mantra of resilience and hope. The verses provide examples of different hardships one might face, such as bad luck, a losing streak, or feeling sad, and acknowledge the struggle that can accompany these experiences. However, rather than wallowing in despair, the song urges the listener to keep going, to keep striving for improvement and to maintain the belief that the sun will eventually shine again.


The lyrics also draw attention to the idea that success is not a guarantee and that taking risks comes with the possibility of failure. The line "I've taken many chances in the middle of the ice" suggests that the singer has put themselves in tricky situations and that the outcome was uncertain. However, this acknowledgement of risk-taking is tempered by the theme of persistence - even when things don't go as planned, one can still learn from the experience and keep trying.


Line by Line Meaning

When that ray of sunshine's overdue, you've got to keep on trying
If you've been waiting for something good to happen for a long time and it hasn't come yet, don't give up hope and keep trying.


When the thunder rolls, though the storm is through, you've got to keep on trying
Even if you've faced a difficult situation and it's over now, don't let your guard down and keep trying to move forward.


Lightning never ever strikes the same place twice
Unfortunate events or accidents are usually rare and uncommon, so don't be afraid to take risks and try again.


I've taken many chances in the middle of the ice.
I've taken many risks or made bold moves even in situations where it was difficult or dangerous to do so.


When the dice are down on a losing streak, you've got to keep on trying
Even if you're experiencing a string of bad luck or failures, don't give up and keep trying to turn things around.


When your mind is willing but your heart is weak, you've got to keep on trying
Even if you're struggling emotionally and feel like giving up, don't let your negative feelings get the best of you and keep trying.


I never had it easy and I never will
I've faced many difficulties in my life and I know that it won't get any easier, but I won't let that stop me from trying to achieve my goals.


The sun is always shining on the far side of the hill.
Even if things seem dark and gloomy now, there's always a brighter future waiting for you if you persevere and keep trying.


If you feel like crying, don't give up
If you're feeling emotional or upset, don't let it stop you from trying to make things better for yourself.


Keep on trying, swallow your pride
Keep trying to achieve your goals, even if it means admitting your mistakes, learning from them and moving on.


And come back into my life.
And don't forget to reach out to the people who care about you and can support you on your journey.




Contributed by Dominic K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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