Eric Jeffrey Hales

Eric Jeffrey Hales - Try (CCM)

Eric Jeffrey Hales’ “Try” is a poignant song that will undoubtedly resonate with anyone who has struggled to overcome adversity. The song is an ode to heroic women who have been through unimaginable hardship, yet still manage to find the strength to try. With its raw and emotional lyrics and haunting melody, “Try” is a song that will move you to tears and inspire you to keep going, no matter what life throws your way.

The song’s opening verse sets the scene in a frozen room with florescent lights, where a young boy is sprawled out on the ice, his dreams of playing in the NHL melting away as all his friends play well. The boy is clearly struggling, but he refuses to give up. With jaw clenched tight and stick in hand, he holds back tears and starts to stand, looking at his mom and letting out a sigh. “Don’t know if I can but I’m gonna try,” he says, embodying the spirit of resilience that runs throughout the song.

As the song progresses, we hear the story of a woman who has lived in the shadows of older men who gave her meth since she was ten. Despite her past trauma, she refuses to be defined by her experiences. She shares her story with a group of people in a crowded room with broken lights, her dreams of being the greatest mom taken away once the cops got called. She cries as she speaks, but she ends her story with the same refrain as the boy on the ice: “Don’t know if I can but I’m gonna try.”

The song’s bridge provides a moment of reflection, with Hales singing, “I’ll try to learn what I don’t know, and find the hope I lost long ago. Some walls and mountains can’t be climbed, but I’ll never know until I try.” It’s a reminder that no matter how difficult things may seem, there is always hope, and we should never give up on trying to overcome our struggles.

The final verse tells the story of a woman who has survived daily abuse for eighteen years and used drugs to cope. But with help, she was able to build a new life for herself and her children. She sees her oldest two children every year or so, and today she gets to enjoy being at the rink with her little boy, who just got up from the ice because his mom has been teaching him to try.

“Try” is a song that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments, we have the strength to keep going. Eric Jeffrey Hales’ haunting melody and emotive lyrics perfectly capture the rawness and beauty of the human experience. If you’re looking for a song that will inspire you to keep pushing forward, even when things seem impossible, then “Try” is a must-listen. It’s a song that will touch your heart and leave you feeling empowered and hopeful. So, take a few minutes out of your day, listen to “Try,” and let its message of hope and resilience inspire you to keep trying, no matter what life throws your way.