The group had several hit singles in the early 1970s, including the socially conscious single "Message From A Black Man" in 1970 on A&I International, "Please Make The Love Go Away" also in 1970 but on Stang Records, and their biggest success "I’ll Erase Away Your Pain" in 1971. They performed with fellow Stang Records artists The Moments for the hit single "Girls" in 1974.
The Whatnauts' music has been sampled by numerous artists including their hit "I'll Erase Away Your Pain" in Kanye West's "Late" (2005); "Why Cant People Be Colors Too?" from 1974 sampled in "Oh My God" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Busta Rhymes (1993); and "Help Is on the Way" from 1981 in both "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" by De La Soul (1991), "Act Like You Know" by Fat Larry's Band (1982), "Sex With You" by Heavy D & the Boyz (1994), "Greatest Day" by Beverley Knight (1998) and "Ain't Leavin Without You" by Jaheim (2010).
One of the most consistent R&B aggregations of the '70s, the Moments enjoyed a string of major hits throughout the decade. The Hackensack, NJ, trio introduced themselves and the Stang label with "Not on the Outside" in 1968, and topped the R&B charts in 1970 with the gold-plated "Love on a Two-Way Street," produced by Sylvia Robinson (one half of Mickey & Sylvia). Other major soul smashes by the Moments included "If I Didn't Care" and "All I Have" in 1970, "Sexy Mama" in 1973, and another number one R&B item, "Look at Me (I'm in Love)," in 1975. Members Harry Ray, Al Goodman, and William Brown changed their billing to Ray, Goodman & Brown in 1978 and topped the soul lists the next year with the slickly harmonized "Special Lady" on Polydor. The renamed trio remained potent soul hitmakers through the '80s. ~ Bill Dahl, Rovi
Try Me
The Whatnauts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How it really, really feels
When someone really, really, really loves you
Ooh. Aah
Someone has gone and hurt you deeply
And now you say, you're thru with love
(Say you're thru with love)
Your love I'll prove I'm worthy of
Oh please
Try me, and I'll show you
How it really, really feels
When someone really, really, really loves you
Oh try me baby and I'll show you
How it really, really feels when someone really loves you
Ooh gee you're crying
I'll come a dry those tears from your eyes
Stop feeling sorry for yourself
Oh can't you see
I'm just as lonely
Let's put our heartaches on the shelf
Ooh please
(Oh if only you would)
Try me,
Try me baby
And I'll show you,
And I'll show you
How it really, really feels
When someone really, really really loves you
Oh try me baby and I'll show you
How it really, really feels when someone really loves you
Try me, Try me,
Ooh gee, you're smiling
Now I bet you're gonna
Try me,
Ooh baby don't you know I wanna
Show you
How it really really feels when, really, really loves you
Now I bet you're gonna
Try me,
Ooh baby don't you know I wanna
Show you
How it really really feels when, really, really loves you
(Fade)
The Whatnauts' song "Try Me (And I'll Show You)" is a plea to a person who has been hurt and has given up on love to give love another chance. The singer of the song is confident that they could be the one to show the person how it really feels when someone "really, really, really loves you." The verses paint a picture of someone who is heartbroken and has lost faith in love. However, the chorus is a compelling invitation to try again, to give love another chance. The repetition of "try me" highlights the urgency and sincerity of the singer's offer.
The song's bridge tackles the singer's own loneliness and hurt, creating a sense of kinship with the person they are addressing. The lines, "Let's put our heartaches on the shelf/Ooh please" communicate that both are in the same boat, and that the singer is willing to show the person how to navigate the choppy waters of love.
The melody of the song is captivating, and the Whatnauts' harmonies are on point, lending the song an upbeat and optimistic vibe that makes it hard not to want to give love another chance.
Line by Line Meaning
Try me, and I'll show you
I am confident that if you give me a chance, I can prove to you that I am capable of making you feel truly loved.
How it really, really feels
I can show you what it truly means to feel loved in a way that you have not yet experienced.
When someone really, really, really loves you
I want to demonstrate to you the immense depth of love that I have to offer, and that you deserve to receive.
Someone has gone and hurt you deeply
I understand that you have been hurt in the past by someone who claimed to love you, and I empathize with the pain that you have been caused.
And now you say, you're thru with love
I know that you feel disillusioned and have decided to give up on love entirely.
But I bet you never been loved completely
I believe that no one has ever really loved you in the way that you deserve and that I am capable of.
Your love I'll prove I'm worthy of
It is my intention to demonstrate that I am worthy of your love and capable of fulfilling your emotional needs.
Ooh gee you're crying
I can see that you are experiencing a great deal of emotional pain and that it is causing you to cry.
I'll come a dry those tears from your eyes
I want to be there for you during this difficult time and provide emotional support and comfort.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself
I want to encourage you to move past your hurt and believe in the possibility of love again.
Oh can't you see
I want you to recognize that I am sincere and genuinely care about you.
I'm just as lonely
I understand what it feels like to be alone and am searching for someone to share my life with.
Let's put our heartaches on the shelf
I want us to come together and leave our past hurts behind us in order to move forward as a couple.
Ooh please
I am asking you to let down your guard and give me the chance to love you fully.
Writer(s): George Kerr
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.