Although blinded by eye cancer at the tender age of one, Jeff picked up his first guitar when he was three years-old and defied the odds and became a gifted and successful artist. He developed his own unique style of playing the guitar while it lay flat on his lap. Jeff quickly became a local guitar legend in his own right with his virtuosity. The group played around small Toronto-area clubs for a few years before eventually signing with BMG Canada and Arista Records for the rest of the world, and releasing their debut album See The Light in 1988, which featured the top charting hits "Angel Eyes" and "See The Light".
The Jeff Healey Band played and recorded Blues/Blues Rock-infused music along with many original-flavored covers. The band officially released five studio albums and one live recording including the sophomore Hell To Pay (1990), Feel This (1992), Cover To Cover (1995), Get Me Some (2000), and Live At Montreux 1999 (2005). There have also been some recent unofficial compilation releases without the consent of the artists.
Jeff and his band also performed a cameo role in the Patrick Swayze movie "Roadhouse" and they are featured in its official soundtrack.
The group split up in the late 2000, but Jeff continued performing as a solo artist and would later front Jeff Healey & The Jazz Wizards playing trumpet. He died on March 2, 2008 after a long battle with lung cancer, and is survived by his wife, Cristie, and two children.
I Tried
The Jeff Healey Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe we only needed time
We couldn't make it last forever
But I tried
I tried
Maybe I gave my heart too easy
Maybe your heart was never mine
Yes, I tried
You know I tried
Who knows where the love goes
When the loves gone
You just hold on
And you hold it all inside, yeah
I tried to give you love
It was not enough
It was not enough to keep you satisfied
Maybe I couldn't make you love me
But I tried
You know I tried
I tried to just give you love
It was not enough
It was not enough to keep you satisfied
I couldn't keep you in my life
And so I'll have to let you go now
Guess now I got to say good-bye
I'll learn to live my life without you
I don't know how
But I'll try
Yes, I'll try
Oh, guess we couldn't make it baby
After all this time we just couldn't get it right
But I tried
Yes, I tried
The lyrics to The Jeff Healey Band's song "I Tried" express themes of trying to save a relationship that ultimately failed. The song is a reflection on a past relationship, and the singer acknowledges that he may not have loved his partner well enough, but he still tried. The song is infused with feelings of heartbreak and resignation, as the singer comes to terms with the reality that his love was not enough.
The first verse begins with the admission that the singer could have loved his partner better, but they just needed more time. The second verse suggests that maybe the singer gave his heart too easily, while his partner perhaps never reciprocated his feelings. However, the singer tried his best to make their partner happy, and this is reflected in the chorus, where he repeats that he tried to give her love, even though it wasn't enough.
Throughout the song, the singer grapples with the idea of letting go of a relationship that didn't work out. He acknowledges that he couldn't make his partner love him and that their love has gone, but he still holds on to the hope that he can move forward and live without her. Despite the heartbreak, the song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer stating that he will try to move on even though he doesn't know how.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I could have loved you better
The singer acknowledges the possibility that their love for the other person may not have been as good as it could have been.
Maybe we only needed time
The singer suggests that they and the other person may have needed more time together to make their relationship work.
We couldn't make it last forever
The singer acknowledges that their relationship with the other person was not meant to last forever.
But I tried
The artist asserts that they did everything they could to make their relationship with the other person work.
Maybe I gave my heart too easy
The artist suggests that they may have given their heart to the other person too quickly, without fully considering the possible consequences.
Maybe your heart was never mine
The singer acknowledges the possibility that the other person may never have truly loved them.
I did my best to make you happy
The singer asserts that they did everything they could to make the other person happy, despite any difficulties they may have encountered.
Yes, I tried
The artist reasserts that they did everything they could to make their relationship work.
You know I tried
The artist reminds the other person that they did everything they could to make their relationship work.
Who knows where the love goes
The artist questions what happens to love when a relationship ends.
When the loves gone
The singer acknowledges that their love for the other person has ended.
You just hold on
The artist suggests that holding onto past love and memories can be difficult.
And you hold it all inside, yeah
The singer suggests that it can be painful to keep love and emotions bottled up inside oneself.
I tried to give you love
The singer reminds the other person that they constantly tried to give them love.
It was not enough
The singer acknowledges that the love they gave was not enough to keep their relationship with the other person intact.
It was not enough to keep you satisfied
The artist acknowledges that their love was not enough to satisfy the other person's needs in their relationship.
Maybe I couldn't make you love me
The artist acknowledges the possibility that they may not have been able to make the other person truly love them.
But I tried
The singer reasserts that they did everything they could to make their relationship with the other person work.
I tried to just give you love
The singer reminds the other person that they tried to give them love, without expecting anything in return.
I couldn't keep you in my life
The artist acknowledges that they were unable to keep the other person in their life and their relationship together.
And so I'll have to let you go now
The artist accepts that they have to let the other person go and move on from their relationship.
Guess now I got to say good-bye
The artist acknowledges that they have to say goodbye to the other person, despite any pain or difficulty associated with doing so.
I'll learn to live my life without you
The singer accepts that they have to learn how to live their life without the other person, which may be a difficult and painful process.
I don't know how
The artist acknowledges that they are uncertain about how to go about learning to live their life without the other person.
But I'll try
The singer asserts that they will make an effort to move forward and learn to live their life without the other person.
Oh, guess we couldn't make it baby
The singer acknowledges that they and the other person were unable to make their relationship work, despite their efforts.
After all this time we just couldn't get it right
The singer acknowledges that, despite the amount of time they spent together, they were unable to make their relationship work.
But I tried
The artist reasserts that they did everything they could to make their relationship work.
Yes, I tried
The song ends with the artist once again asserting that they did everything they could to make their relationship work, despite its eventual failure.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Realsongs
Written by: Diane Eve Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Blank Snafu
Incredible. What an heartfelt song. An all-time favorite. 👍👍
Arturo Del Fabbro
Yes , i totally agree . I love this one , I have also the original CD , released in 2000. It a very good record .
JT Last
he's so amazing.....he got his dues from the greats...they all knew his talent....but the general public had no idea....he should have been the biggest star ever....seeing a live show in 2007 was the ultimate.....to see him live is an honour and wow....I still tell people he's the most amazing live show I've ever seen !!!
shawn votour
Jeff was an inspiration not only with his music but with his strength and will to live! He suffered with Cancer most of his life...It took his sight a long time ago and he carried on...until finally it took his life...it did not stop him from living it to the fullest though! R.I.P.
steven batty
Been a big fan of Jeff and the band for years. Rips the heart right out of you that he's gone. Thankfully he's left us beautiful songs such as this. RIP
straitouttahell
Life stole so much from this guy... His talent was the only thing that could never be ripped off him. RIP Jeff.
TruckinGoat
somehow Jeff went under the radar for so many years, yet he was one of the greatest writers to ever have been put on this earth!
WatchgirLII
We discovered Jeff 2 years ago , so sad to found out hes no longer with us! He could play the guitar so good , life is just not fair!
Johnny K
Can't believe this guy is no longer with us. : ( I'm still catching up with Healey's musical output. Just bought the "Get Me Some" CD a couple weeks ago. Been listening to it non-stop. : ) I love the songs Holding On, The Damage Is Done, Which One, I Should Have Told You, I Tried, & a host of others. I highly recommend heading over to Amazon and picking it up.
Pamela Jackson
RIP Jeff Healey.. my favorite musician of all time