Vonda Shepard was born in New York but her family relocated to California when she was fairly young. She played piano from an early age. Her father is Richmond Shepard, a mime and improv actor. Vonda has three sisters: Rosetta, Luana, and Brianna. Her mother left the family when Vonda was ten, and her father raised the four girls by himself.
After performing as a backing singer for many years she was eventually given her own recording contract. Shepard's first chart appearance was in 1987 when she recorded a duet with Dan Hill entitled 'Can't We Try'. She released her first self-titled album in 1989 with little fanfare. The album did yield one chart single, Don't Cry Ilene, a mid-tempo, piano-driven jazz-RnB flavored song dealing with the break-up of a relationship between a black woman and a white man, arising from adult peer pressure. The track is sung from the perspective of the woman's white female friend, who harbors a desire to have the man for herself, but keeps her distance out of respect for her friend. The song peaked at 17 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart and stayed on the charts for 12 weeks.
After her third album, Shepard was signed up to appear on Ally McBeal after being spotted by the show's creator David E Kelley. While on the show she recorded two full soundtrack albums and was featured on two other Ally McBeal compilations. The songs Shepard recorded for Ally McBeal soundtrack albums were mainly covers of old songs with lyrics that paralleled what was happening in the title character's life onscreen. Since appearing in the show, Shepard has released two more studio albums and a live album.
Shepard is married to music producer Mitchell Froom and they had their first child, Jack Froom, on 15 April 2006.
Can't We Try
Vonda Shepard Lyrics
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And your eyes have lost their shine
You whisper something softly I'm not meant to hear
Baby, tell me what's on your mind
I don't care what people say
About the two of us from different worlds
I love you so much that it hurts inside
Please listen to me, girl
Can't we try just a little bit harder?
Can't we give just a little bit more?
Can't we try to understand
That it's love we're fighting for?
Can't we try just a little more passion?
Can't we try just a little less pride?
Love you so much baby
That it tears me up inside
I hear you on the telephone with God knows who
Spilling out your heart for free
Everyone needs someone they can talk to
Girl, that someone should be me
So many times, I tried to tell you
You just turned away
How did I know?
My life is changing so fast now
Leaves me lonely and afraid
Don't be afraid, no
Can't we try just a little bit harder?
Can't we give just a little bit more?
Can't we try to understand
That it's love we're fighting for?
Can't we try just a little more passion?
Can't we try just a little less pride?
Love you so much baby
That it tears me up inside
Don't let our love fade away
Don't let our love fade away
No matter what people say
No matter, no matter what they say
I need you more and more each day
Don't let our love fade away
No matter what people say
No matter, no matter what they say
Can't we try just a little bit harder?
Can't we give just a little bit more?
Can't we try just a little bit harder?
Can't we give just a little bit more?
Can't we try just a little more passion?
Can't we try just a little less pride?
Love you so much baby
That it tears me up inside
Can't we give a little bit, little bit?
Just a little bit harder
Can we give wow wow wow wow
Can't we try
Can't we give a little bit more
Can't we try, baby
Can't we give wow
We could try just a little bit harder
Can we give a little bit more
(Can't we try just a little bit)
The lyrics to Vonda Shepard's song "Can't We Try" depict a plea for a troubled relationship to be salvaged through greater effort and understanding. The singer sees their partner's demeanor change, as if they have become distant and lost their spark. The singer longs to know what is bothering their partner and implores them to open up. Despite the societal judgments about their differences, the singer's love for their partner is so intense that it pains them. They desperately want their partner to listen and understand the depth of their love.
In the second verse, the singer realizes that their partner seeks solace in confiding with someone else, someone who should ideally be the singer themselves. The singer acknowledges that they have tried to express this feeling to their partner in the past, but their words were dismissed. The rapid changes happening in their life make them feel lonely and scared, but the singer reassures their partner not to be afraid.
The chorus repeats the plea for both partners to try harder, give more, and strive to understand that it is love they are fighting for. The reference to "just a little bit more passion" suggests that the singer desires a deeper emotional connection. They also express the need for their love not to fade away, despite what others may say. The song concludes with a final appeal for both partners to put in the effort needed to save the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I see your face cloud over like a little girl's
I notice that your face becomes sad and lost, just like that of a young girl.
And your eyes have lost their shine
Your eyes have lost their brightness and sparkle.
You whisper something softly I'm not meant to hear
You softly speak words that you don't think I should hear, as if keeping it a secret.
Baby, tell me what's on your mind
Sweetheart, please share with me what you're thinking and feeling.
I don't care what people say
I don't pay attention to the opinions and comments of others.
About the two of us from different worlds
Regarding the fact that we come from different backgrounds and lifestyles.
I love you so much that it hurts inside
My love for you is so intense that it pains me emotionally.
Are you listening?
Are you truly paying attention to what I'm saying and feeling?
Please listen to me, girl
I implore you, girl, to truly hear and understand me.
Can't we try just a little bit harder?
Can we make a stronger effort and give more to make this work?
Can't we give just a little bit more?
Can't we contribute a little more effort and dedication?
Can't we try to understand that it's love we're fighting for?
Can't we make an effort to comprehend that we're struggling for the sake of our love?
Can't we try just a little more passion?
Can't we infuse our relationship with more intensity and enthusiasm?
Can't we try just a little less pride?
Can't we put aside our egos and be more humble?
Love you so much baby that it tears me up inside
My love for you, baby, is so overpowering that it causes me emotional distress.
I hear you on the telephone with God knows who
I listen to you on the phone, unsure of who you're talking to.
Spilling out your heart for free
Pouring out your deepest feelings without hesitation or reservation.
Everyone needs someone they can talk to
Everyone requires a person they can confide in and share their thoughts with.
Girl, that someone should be me
My dear, I should be the one you choose to confide in and open up to.
So many times, I tried to tell you
Numerous times, I attempted to express myself to you.
You just turned away
But you simply ignored and avoided me.
How did I know?
How could I have possibly known?
My life is changing so fast now
My life is undergoing rapid and significant changes.
Leaves me lonely and afraid
These changes leave me feeling isolated and filled with fear.
Don't be afraid, no
Please don't let fear consume you, no.
Don't let our love fade away
Don't allow our love to gradually disappear.
No matter what people say
Regardless of what others may say or think.
No matter, no matter what they say
It doesn't matter at all what their opinions are.
I need you more and more each day
Every day, my need for you becomes stronger and more intense.
Can't we try just a little bit harder?
Can we put in a bit more effort and determination?
Can't we give just a little bit more?
Can't we offer a little more of ourselves and our love?
Can't we try just a little more passion?
Can't we inject a bit more fervor and excitement into our relationship?
Can't we try just a little less pride?
Can't we let go of some of our pride and be more humble?
Love you so much baby that it tears me up inside
My love for you, baby, is so overwhelming that it causes me inner turmoil.
Don't let our love fade away
Don't allow our love to gradually dissipate.
No matter what people say
Regardless of the opinions and comments of others.
No matter, no matter what they say
Their opinions hold no significance whatsoever.
Can't we try just a little bit harder?
Can't we make a stronger effort and give more to make this work?
Can't we give just a little bit more?
Can't we contribute a little more effort and dedication?
Can't we try just a little bit harder?
Can't we make a stronger effort and give more to make this work?
Can't we give just a little bit more?
Can't we contribute a little more effort and dedication?
Can't we try just a little more passion?
Can't we infuse our relationship with more intensity and enthusiasm?
Can't we try just a little less pride?
Can't we put aside our egos and be more humble?
Love you so much baby that it tears me up inside
My love for you, baby, is so overpowering that it causes me emotional distress.
Can't we give a little bit, little bit?
Can't we contribute even a small amount, a small amount?
Just a little bit harder
Just exert a little more effort and determination.
Can we give a little bit more
Can we contribute a little more effort and dedication?
Can't we try, baby
Can't we make a sincere effort, baby?
Can't we give wow
Can't we offer more, exceed expectations?
We could try just a little bit harder
We have the capacity to make a stronger effort and give more.
Can we give a little bit more
Can we contribute a little more effort and dedication?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bev Hill, Daniel Grafton Hill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BethPaige
It's been YEARS since I heard this. I was an '80s teen and loved this song.
Came on the radio just now, and I KNEW EVERY WORD. :) Thanks, Dan and Vonda.
@billymullins6468
One of the greatest love songs ever
@scotthinman2759
Still one of the best duets of all time. Why can’t we still have music like this!!!🩷
@alanmoskowitz4147
Because it would put marriage therapists out of business so songs like Small Town or Old Time Rock and Roll proliferate the airwaves.
@natalieshandor8311
Agreed so many people I know say the same. This song is sooo beautiful favorite.thank for your comment your million percent right.
@scottwise5560
No one these can make music like this. We come from a generation who enjoyed our music.
@cchevy936
Because we have Millennials whose parents did everything for them, so they can't do for themselves now, so they copy everything. ugh.
@Paul-un2tr
This is Joe's song to Jill....
@richlitton7862
One of the best duets ever. Dan and Vonda could sure sing!
@jasonjohnson3424
The honesty in the lyrics and the timing of the duet is mesmerizing, haunting, and full of emotion. Can't we try...to make more music like this? Amazing.