I’ll Try (2020)

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a speaker asserting a fragile independence, claiming maturity while simultaneously suppressing vulnerability. A repeated "I'm fine" feels less like a statement of fact and more like a desperate mantra. This sets a tone of internal conflict and forced composure. This initial guardedness quickly gives way to a deep cynicism, as the speaker dismisses "childish stories" and declares "no such thing as faith / And trust / And pixie dust." This rejection of wonder clashes sharply with an implied external perspective, as the chorus reveals a struggle to "see where you see." The core tension lies in the speaker's jaded worldview battling against an unseen, more hopeful one. The most striking craft element is the dramatic reversal of belief. What was once "no such thing as faith / And trust / And pixie dust" transforms into "The world is made of faith / And trust / And pixie dust" by the final verse. This isn't a gentle shift but a complete ideological flip, suggesting a profound, perhaps sudden, realization or acceptance. The journey from rejecting "childish stories" to embracing "precious stories" underscores this transformation. These lyrics are effective because they chart a relatable emotional arc from weary disillusionment to hard-won hope. The repeated "I try" evolves from a desperate effort to believe into a determined commitment, culminating in the aspirational "I'll try / To fly." This transformation feels earned, not simply given, making the final embrace of belief and the ability to "can see where you see" resonate as a powerful, personal triumph over cynicism and fear.