“I Try” was the second single from On How Life Is, and peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard charts. The song is about reliance on a lover, and the inability to let go of them, even if they have expressed disinterest.
The music video featured Gray wandering through New York, going about her daily...
[Verse 1]
Games, changes and fears
When will they go from here?
When will they stop?
I believe that fate has brought us here
And we should be together, babe
But we're not
[Pre-Chorus]
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
And I'll keep my cool, but I'm feigning
[Chorus]
I try to say goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
[Verse 2]
I may appear to be free
But I'm just a prisoner of your love
And I may seem alright and smile when you leave
But my smiles are just a front
Just a front, hey!
[Pre-Chorus]
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
And I'll keep my cool, but I'm feigning
[Chorus]
I try to say goodbye and I choke (Yeah)
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
Goodbye and I choke (Yeah!)
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
[Bridge]
Here is my confession
May I be your possession?
Boy, I need your touch
Your love, kisses, and such
With all my might, I try
But this I can't deny
Deny
[Pre-Chorus]
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
(But I'm dreaming of you, babe)
I'll keep my cool, but I'm feigning
[Chorus]
I try to say goodbye and I choke (Yeah)
I try to walk away and I stumble (Oh)
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
Goodbye and I choke (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I try to walk away and I stumble (Hey, yeah, yeah!)
Though I try to hide it, it's clear (Sick of love)
My world crumbles when you are not near (Love, your love, kisses ends)
Goodbye and I choke (Goodbye and I choke, yeah)
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
[Outro]
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
I Try was written by Jeremy Ruzumna & David Wilder & Jinsoo Lim & Macy Gray.
I Try was produced by Andrew Slater.