Tesla's music fit well with the blasting sounds of their 80s hair metal and glam rock contemporaries. Yet it was more bluesy and lyrics dealt with other themes than just the usual, girls, alcohol and violence. But what set them even more apart from their contemporaries was their t-shirt and jeans image, a 'street' look reminiscent of the Ramones (and other 70s punk groups) that was in strong contrast of the leather, spandex, and flashy-make type look of the time.
The band's early lifespan as City Kidd brought them considerable frustration, with them failing to break into the musical mainstream while also competing with another band with the same name. Their mutation into Tesla provided a clear shot at success. 'Mechanical Resonance', their debut that the boys released in 1986, became a commercial smash while also receiving significant critical praise. That album was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 5, 1989.
In total, the group has released six studio albums with original music, the latest of them being 2008's 'Forever More'. They have also created a a double-disc covers album, titled 'Real To Reel', as well as a number of compilations and live albums. Their sound has focused on a particularly melodic and accessible kind of hard rock with strong shades of classic heavy metal as well.
Tesla's popular 1990 remake of Signs, originally recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band (who also inspired the album which the remake came from, Five Man Acoustical Jam), is probably the most mainstream of Tesla's hits. However, many fans remember fondly Tesla's other hits such as Gettin' Better, Modern Day Cowboy, Little Suzi, Edison's Medicine and Love Song.
The band derived their name, certain album and song names (e.g. The Great Radio Controversy, Mechanical Resonance, etc), and some song content from events relating to Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer born in the 19th century in Smiljan, Austria-Hungary, modern day Croatia.
Try So Hard
Tesla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a drop in the rain, like a snowflake in the sun
Fallin' out of the sky on everyone
You and me, everybody, everyone, everybody you see
We traveled so long, seemed like forever
Never mattered just as long as we're together
I've traveled alone, you know it gets so, oh, oh no
Like a drop in the rain, like a snowflake in the sun
Fallin' out of the sky on everyone
You and me, everybody, everyone, everybody you see
You know I've said it before
You're the only one that could make me feel better
I'm lonely, out here on my own
[Chorus]
Try so hard, I try so hard to believe
Try so hard, do you believe in me
Try so hard, you know I try so hard, try some more, feelin' is believin'
[Chorus]
Now I've traveled so far, but not forever
Doesn't matter cause I know we'll be together
I'm singin' this song till I see you again
[Chorus: x2]
Try so hard, yes seein' is believin'
Try so hard, but feelin' is believin'
Try so hard, seein' is believin', feelin' is believin'
Try so hard, again
Try so hard, seein', seein' and feelin' is believin'
Try to hard, yeah, I try so hard, try to believe in you
The song "Try So Hard" by Tesla expresses the idea of being hopeful and persistent in achieving a goal or dream. The first verse uses a metaphor of time, resembling a drop in the rain or a snowflake in the sun, to show how fleeting life is. This sense of brevity pervades throughout the song, creating a feeling of urgency in trying to make something happen, while also recognizing that things may not always work out. The lyrics emphasize the importance of companionship and support, as the singer mentions the people he has traveled with, and also acknowledges the loneliness of being by himself.
The chorus chants "Try so hard," which serves both as a self-motivation to not give up on the journey, but also as a plea to the people who matter to believe in him. These conflicting emotions converge in the final lines of the song, where the singer sings that "seeing and feeling is believing," which seems to imply that he needs more than just blind faith in achieving what he wants.
Overall, the song is a hopeful expression of perseverance through the good and bad times, reminding the listener that it's not just about the end goal but also the journey and the people who accompany us along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh time, when it goes on and on and on again
Time is a continuous entity that repeats without end.
Like a drop in the rain, like a snowflake in the sun
Time is similar to the fleeting nature of natural events that are impermanent.
Fallin' out of the sky on everyone
Time affects everyone equally and without bias.
You and me, everybody, everyone, everybody you see
Time is all-encompassing and affects everyone, including me and you.
We traveled so long, seemed like forever
We have been through a lot and it feels like it has been an eternity.
Never mattered just as long as we're together
As long as we are together, that's all that matters; time is irrelevant in comparison.
I've traveled alone, you know it gets so, oh, oh no
However, when I am alone, it can be a difficult and lonely experience.
The next time, and it goes on and on and over again
Time will continue to repeat itself indefinitely, without pause or change.
You know I've said it before
I have expressed this sentiment previously.
You're the only one that could make me feel better
You have the power to make me feel happier and more content in life.
I'm lonely, out here on my own
Without you, I feel lonely and isolated in this world.
Try so hard, I try so hard to believe
I am putting in effort to believe in myself and our relationship.
Try so hard, do you believe in me
I am asking if you believe in me and our relationship.
Try so hard, you know I try so hard, try some more, feelin' is believin'
I am constantly trying and making an effort to believe in our relationship, and that belief is reinforced when I feel a connection with you.
Now I've traveled so far, but not forever
I have come a long way, but I know that this journey is not over yet.
Doesn't matter cause I know we'll be together
It doesn't matter how long this journey takes, because in the end we will be together.
I'm singin' this song till I see you again
I will keep singing this song until the day comes when I see you again.
Try so hard, yes seein' is believin'
I keep trying to believe because seeing is believing.
Try so hard, but feelin' is believin'
I know that I am trying my best to believe, but it is only when I feel things that I am truly able to believe it.
Try so hard, seein' is believin', feelin' is believin'
Believing can come from both seeing and feeling the reality of our relationship.
Try so hard, again
I will keep trying to believe in us.
Try so hard, seein', seein' and feelin' is believin'
I am aware that feeling and seeing are the two things I need to believe.
Try to hard, yeah, I try so hard, try to believe in you
I will keep trying to believe in you and the love that we share.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christopher N. Savage
on Getting' Better
A shame that you can't see the original video, but this tune has the passion and power to lift you up and brighten your day!!!!!