<< 1. "I'll try" appears three times in the song, and I have come to
basically agree with those who say that those words are indicators of
immaturity. >>
Bob S...thanks SO much for these great posts of yours! Sorry for taking so
long to respond, but it's been a pretty crazy 48 hours!
Anyway, I would suggest that "I'll try" is more honest & mature than "I
promise" or "I will"...when we're teenagers or even getting married (the
first time), we naively make promises about being heads over heels in love
and will always be 100% dedicated to another person. Well, as life
progresses, we discover just how tough it is "to make and keep a friend" (and
I agree with Mark about the importance of being "friends" with a lover - not
always easy to do!)
As we all know, not all of those "I promise" and "I will" statements succeed.
Many fail. And through that process, sometimes a more mature comment is one
like:
"I'll try and keep myself open up to you"
Certainly not as great to hear as "I'll love you 'til the twelfth of never",
but more honest and accepting of the foibles of both parties. And not
*immature* at all, but rather suggestive of the fact that a successful
relationship takes as much WORK as it does LOVE.
All right, I've whipped this poor horse to death. Send him to the glue
factory!
Bob
NP: They Might Be Giants, "Working Undercover For The Man"
