About the song
Janis Joplin’s Heartfelt Plea: Unveiling “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)”
Released in 1969 on Janis Joplin’s breakout album I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!, “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)” showcases the raw vulnerability and powerful vocals that Janis Joplin became known for. The song is a simple yet powerful plea for love and commitment.
A Yearning for Connection:
The lyrics paint a picture of a one-sided relationship where the narrator desperately desires reciprocation. Lines like “Try, try, try just a little bit harder / So I can love, love, love him, I tell myself” express a yearning for connection and a stronger bond.
Joplin’s Emotional Delivery:
Joplin’s vocals are the centerpiece of the song. She delivers the lyrics with a raw emotionality, conveying the heartache and frustration of unfulfilled love. Her powerful voice cracks with vulnerability at times, adding to the song’s authenticity and impact.
A Straightforward Arrangement:
The song’s arrangement is intentionally simple, allowing Joplin’s vocals to take center stage. A driving rhythm section with drums and bass provides the foundation, while subtle piano flourishes and backing vocals add subtle layers of texture. This simplicity keeps the focus on the emotional core of the song.
A Universal Longing:
Despite its specific theme, “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)” resonates with listeners because it taps into a universal longing for love and acceptance. Anyone who has experienced unrequited love or felt insecure in a relationship can connect with the song’s emotional core.
A Timeless Ballad:
“Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)” transcends its late-1960s origins to become a timeless ballad. Joplin’s powerful vocals and the song’s honest emotions continue to resonate with listeners today, securing its place as a classic in Janis Joplin’s influential career.
Video
Lyrics
“Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)”
Try, try, try just a little bit harder
So I can love, love, love him, I tell myself
Well, I’m gonna try yeah, just a little bit harder
So I won’t lose, lose, lose him to nobody else.
Hey! Well, I don’t care how long it’s gonna take you now,
But if it’s a dream I don’t want No I don’t really want it
If it’s a dream I don’t want nobody to wake me.Yeah, I’m gonna try yeah, just a little bit harder
So I can give, give, give, give him every bit of my soul.
Yeah, I’m gonna try yeah, just a little bit harder
So I can show, show, show him love with no control.
Hey! I’ve waited so long for someone so fine
I ain’t gonna lose my chance, no I don’t wanna lose it,
Ain’t gonna lose my chance to make you mine, all mine.
All right, get it! Yeah!Try yeah, try yeah, hey, hey, hey, try yeah,
Oh try whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
Oh anybody, oh anybody, oh anybody,
Try oh yeah (just a little bit harder)
Whoa I gotta try some more,
I said try yeah, aw I said try,
I said try try try try try try,
Oh try oh yeah, try oh yeah!Hey hey, I gotta talk to my man now,
You know I, I gotta feel for my man now,
I said I, I gotta work for my man now,
You know I, I gotta hurt for my man now,
I think-a every day for my man now,
You know it, every way for my man now.
I say try, try yeah, oh try yeah,
Hey hey hey, try yeah-hey, oh, try…