I'm Tryin'

Album: Chrome (2001)
Charted: 44
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song makes a philosophical statement, that all we can be is all we can be, but we keep on trying to succeed. Sometimes people make mistakes, but we always try our best to succeed. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Landon - Winchester, OH
  • This song was penned by singer-songwriter Jeffrey Steele, along with Chris Wallin and Anthony Smith. Steele told The Boot the story behind the song: "That morning Chris, Anthony and I got together to write, I had these words floating around in the back of my mind. I didn't even think it was a song. I was just kind of walking around that whole day singing, 'all I can do, is all I can do, and I keep on tryin' …' It was very Beatles-ish, for lack of a better term. I'm a big Beatles fan. We were asked to write a song for the Sammy Kershaw and Lorrie Morgan duet album [I Finally Found Someone]. I hate when I get forced to write something for a certain project, because it's hard to be real. We spent the whole day forcing these words together, and we wrote this song ['3 Seconds']. After we finished the song, a couple of guys from the publishing company came in and wanted Chris, Anthony and I to go to this party. I said, 'Man, I'd love to go, but I have this thing I want to play for these guys to see if they're interested in staying late and writing it.' Other than those few lines, I had the part about 'this getting up early pulling double shifts, gonna make an old man of me long before I ever get rich …' I pulled out my guitar and sang it for Chris and Anthony. Chris looked at me, and his eyes were bugged out! [laughs] He says, 'Man, I love that!' He immediately just spit out the second line about 'it's been two years since we've finalized, and I still ain't used to saying ex-wife, but I'm tryin'.' We worked on the song until well after midnight. The guys came back from the party, and they said, 'Oh my God, that's great! You got to get that on tape!' So it just kind of went from there. It was incredible! It was one of those things where you really felt like you weren't being creative. We'd spent the day forcing these words together working on this song, and then all of a sudden we were in the middle of this incredible song."

Comments: 1

  • Daniel from Winchester, OhWow I stumbled upon this by accident Landon, I didn't even know you made this one..
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.