Try to Remember

Song Meaning

The lyrics to "Try to Remember" immediately immerse the listener in a gentle plea for recollection. It's a wistful invitation to revisit a past where "life was so tender." The speaker urges a return to a time of nascent love and hopeful dreams. This opening sets a deeply nostalgic and intimate tone. A central tension emerges from the contrast between the present "Deep in December" and the cherished memories of past warmth. The speaker yearns for the "fire of September" that made things "mellow," suggesting a significant shift from a vibrant, passionate past to a colder, later point in time. This juxtaposition highlights a longing to recapture or at least hold onto the emotional heat of earlier days. The craft shines in evocative imagery like "love was an ember about to billow," painting a picture of love not as a roaring flame, but as a quiet, potent warmth on the verge of expansion. Coupled with "dreams were kept beside your pillow," these phrases suggest a deeply personal, intimate past filled with quiet hope and potential. The gentle, almost whispered quality of these images makes the remembered past feel incredibly precious. The repeated refrain "And follow" transforms mere remembrance into an active call. It's not just about looking back, but about letting those tender memories guide or inspire present actions, perhaps even rekindling that past feeling. The lyrics effectively tap into a universal human desire to connect with the purity and promise of earlier experiences, making the act of remembering a source of comfort and gentle direction.