Try Try Try

Song Meaning

Julian Cope's "Try Try Try" is a raw, almost primal scream from the depths of unrequited longing. The song, a deceptively simple repetition of the central theme, burrows deep into the listener's psyche, exposing the frustrating loop of obsessive thought. The repeated phrase "I can't get over you / Though I try, try, try, try" acts as a mantra, a desperate attempt to break free from an emotional stranglehold that only tightens with each iteration. The invocation of "mama" hints at a regression, a yearning for the unconditional love and comfort of childhood in the face of adult heartbreak. It speaks to the infantilizing effect of intense emotional pain, reducing the speaker to a state of helplessness. The lyrics hint at a power dynamic, a sense of being manipulated and controlled by the object of affection. The lines "You feel control / Untie my soul / And let me fly" suggest a desperate plea for release, a desire to escape the suffocating grip of this unyielding obsession. The speaker acknowledges their own lack of understanding ("You didn't see that I don't understand, mama"), further highlighting the irrationality and confusion that often accompany intense infatuation. They are caught in a cycle of seeking fulfillment ("To fill me up / With all that stuff") only to be left feeling empty and trapped. Ultimately, "Try Try Try" reveals the futility of forced emotional detachment. The final verse, with its accusation of hanging the speaker "up / Without a word or even let me down," underscores the cruelty of indifference. The "famous victory" will be "no victory" because the speaker's pain is a constant reminder of the other person's power. Cope masterfully captures the anguish of being unable to escape a powerful emotional connection, even when that connection is destructive and unreciprocated. The song's meaning lies in its relentless portrayal of this internal struggle, the endless cycle of trying and failing to move on.