Willing To Try

Song Meaning

Ari Hest's "Willing To Try" isn't just a gentle acoustic tune; it's a masterclass in emotional resilience, wrapped in deceptively simple language. The opening scene – sunlight breaking through clouds, a child in a park – establishes a motif of unexpected grace. This encounter becomes a catalyst for introspection, as the speaker grapples with the cyclical nature of life: "On again, off again / More hellos than goodbyes." It's a recognition that endings are merely doorways to new beginnings, a sentiment echoed in the repeated mantra of being "willing to try." The song meaning deepens as Hest introduces themes of aging and change. The line about "another generation" sneaking up suggests a confrontation with one's own mortality and the relentless march of time. This isn't presented as a source of dread, but rather as a necessary force that compels us to "rearrange the remnants of a former life." The willingness to try, then, becomes an active choice to adapt, to evolve, and to embrace the unknown. It's a rejection of stagnation, a refusal to be defined by the past. Ultimately, "Willing To Try" offers a path towards inner peace. The speaker acknowledges that struggles may return, "drift on back to me," but expresses an unwavering belief that "it'll be alright." This isn't naive optimism; it's a hard-earned conviction born from experience. The image of the child running back to her mother's arms reinforces the idea of finding solace in simple comforts and trusting in the fundamental goodness of the world. The concluding lines emphasize the importance of opening one's heart and allowing complications to unravel, suggesting that vulnerability and acceptance are key to navigating life's inevitable challenges. Ari Hest delivers a profound song, that promotes the idea that a willingness to try is more than a slogan; it's a survival strategy.