About the song
Alan Jackson, the undisputed king of traditional country music, has a knack for delivering songs that resonate deeply with audiences. His 1996 hit, “I’ll Try,” is a prime example of his ability to craft heartfelt and relatable ballads.
Released as the second single from his 1995 compilation album, “The Greatest Hits Collection,” “I’ll Try” quickly climbed the charts, reaching the top spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless appeal and Jackson’s powerful vocals.
The song’s genesis is rooted in Jackson’s desire to pen a positive love song that was both honest and realistic. As he told Billboard magazine, “Everybody kept telling me, ‘You need to come out with a positive love song.’ I’ve had a lot of sad ballads, but I have a hard time writing those [positive love songs] because there’s a tendency to get real sappy with them so they’re not real.” Jackson sought to create a love song that was grounded in reality, acknowledging the challenges and imperfections that are inherent in any relationship.
In “I’ll Try,” Jackson delivers a heartfelt promise of unwavering love and commitment. The narrator acknowledges the difficulties they and their partner face, but they vow to persevere and try their best to make the relationship work. The line “We both know too well it’s not easy together” captures the essence of the song’s message: love is a journey filled with ups and downs, but it’s worth fighting for.
The song’s critical reception was overwhelmingly positive. Deborah Evans Price of Billboard magazine praised its honesty and realism, stating, “How refreshing—an honest love song. Instead of promising the moon and stars, Jackson has penned a song that simply says, ‘I’m not perfect, just another man/But I will give you all that I am/And I’ll try to love only you/And I’ll try my best to be true/Oh darlin’ I’ll try.’ What more could a woman want? Honesty is the best policy, and this realistic look at love is destined to be a hit with country music lovers everywhere.”
“I’ll Try” remains a beloved classic in the country music canon. Its enduring popularity is a testament to Jackson’s songwriting prowess and the song’s timeless message of love, commitment, and perseverance.
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Lyrics
Here we are talking about forever
Both know damn well it’s not easy together
We’ve both felt love
We’ve both felt pain
I’ll take the sunshine over the rain
And I’ll try to love only you
And I’ll try my best to be true
Oh darling I’ll try
So I’m not scared
It’s worth a chance to me
Take my hand let’s face eternity
Well I can’t tell you I’ll never change
But I can swear that in every way
And I’ll try to love only you
And I’ll try my best to be true
Oh darling I’ll try
I’m not perfect
Just another man
But I will give you all that I am
I’ll try.
To be true to you I’ll try
I’ll try
To always love you I’ll try