An Ode to Heartbreak and the Echoes of the Past
The simple, painful confession of a man “Tryin’ to Get You” to understand his love.
There are certain songs that, no matter how many years pass, still have the power to transport you back to a specific moment in time. They don’t just evoke a memory; they are the memory itself, a faded photograph in an old album that, when you look at it, floods your senses with the feeling of that long-gone day. For many, Roy Orbison’s hauntingly beautiful track, “Tryin’ to Get You,” is one of those songs. It’s a testament to a time when a simple, raw emotion could be captured in a melody and a few profound words, leaving a mark on your soul.
Originally released as the B-side to “Ooby Dooby” in 1956, “Tryin’ to Get You” was a part of Roy Orbison’s early rockabilly catalog on the Sun Records label. While “Ooby Dooby” was the rock ‘n’ roll a-side that got the attention, charting at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100, it was the flip side that hinted at the profound, dramatic balladry that would become Orbison’s trademark. It was a quieter, more reflective piece, a precursor to the soaring, operatic tragedies like “Crying” and “Only the Lonely” that would define his legacy. This song, in its stripped-down form, is a perfect example of the vulnerability that made Orbison a master of the tear-jerker.
The genius of Roy Orbison wasn’t just in his stunning, three-octave voice; it was in his ability to convey a deep, personal pain that felt universal. “Tryin’ to Get You” is the perfect encapsulation of this. The song is a quiet plea, a desperate attempt to bridge an emotional chasm between two people. The lyrics are simple, almost conversational, yet they carry the weight of a heavy heart. He’s not just “trying to get you” back; he’s “tryin’ to get you” to understand the depth of his feelings, to see the world from his side of the heartbreak. It’s the quiet frustration of a man who has poured his soul out, only to be met with a silent indifference. It’s an anthem for anyone who has ever felt like their love was a one-way street, a constant effort with no reciprocation.
The song’s story is one of unfulfilled longing and the poignant ache of a love that can’t quite be grasped. It’s the moment after a fight, the quiet drive home, the sleepless night spent replaying every word and every look, wondering where it all went wrong. Orbison’s voice, with its characteristic tremor and power, delivers these emotions with an authenticity that is both heartbreaking and comforting. He makes you feel less alone in your own private moments of sorrow. It’s the kind of song you would listen to with a cup of coffee on a rainy Sunday morning, letting the melody wash over you, knowing that someone, somewhere, understood exactly what you were feeling.
The song, though not a major chart hit in its initial release, has since gained a cult following and is revered by fans and music historians alike. It’s featured on various compilations, including the comprehensive box set The Legendary Roy Orbison Boxset, and serves as a crucial piece of the puzzle that is Roy Orbison’s artistic evolution. It’s a reminder that even in his earliest days, before the lavish string arrangements and epic crescendos of his Monument Records era, the core of his genius was already there: the power of a lonely voice singing a sad song, “tryin’ to get you” to feel every word.