The Story and Meaning Behind “One More Try,” George Michael’s Soulful Torch Song Smash

George Michael‘s solo debut album Faith was the gift that kept on giving when it was released in 1987. Not only did the album produce a spate of hit singles, but also each new hit that arrived from it seemed to show off another side of Michael’s musical personality.

“One More Try,” which became Michael’s third U.S. No. 1 hit from the record, focused on Michael’s ability to tear into a slow, soulful torch song. It epitomized how rapidly he’d developed as a writer and performer in just a few years since he hit the scene, and it also turned out to be a song that meant a great deal to him personally.

Faith Rewarded

It’s kind of amazing to consider the rapid ascent George Michael enjoyed in the ’80s. Only five years elapsed between his first singles with Wham! and the definitive statement of purpose that was Faith, his first solo record.

In that brief span, he went from the somewhat primitive, rhythm-heavy early Wham! songs to being nothing less than a pop maestro. Remember that in addition to writing all the songs on Faith, he also produced the record and played all the instruments. Few other pop stars of the era carried that much of a load.

When it came to the singles he released from Faith, Michael clearly wanted to give the public a taste of all the variety he had to offer. First there was “I Want Your Sex,” which seemed an effort to show he was leaving behind any vestiges of his teen idol image. “Faith” was effortless rockabilly, while “Father Figure” showed off a seductive side. Luckily, the album had such a deep bench that there was still another gem in “One More Try” waiting to be unleashed.

“Try” and Succeed

“One More Try” gave Michael a chance to show off his emotive, soulful side, both as a singer and songwriter. He wrote the song about the emotions he was feeling as he entered a new relationship while still stung from the end of his previous one. In a 1987 interview, Michael explained how the song came out quickly, and how proud he was of the finished product:

“I think this is the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s certainly my best vocal. I actually wrote the whole thing from start to finish in eight hours. We recorded it the same day. What happened was I was working on another song which was going disastrously then this just came out.”

Despite a decidedly slow pace and a running time just shy of six minutes, “One More Try” extended the incredible hot streak Michael was enjoying. It was his third straight U.S. No. 1 single off the album, proving he could release just about any style of song and have it strike gold.

Behind the Lyrics of “One More Try”

Michael addresses his new lover in “One More Try” as Teacher, suggesting the narrator is still a bit of a novice in the ways of love, albeit a cautious one: There are things that I don’t want to learn. He wants this new person to be committal, one way or the other, about this new relationship: So if you love me / Say you love me / But if you don’t just let me go.

In the verses, he goes back to relive this affair from its beginnings, suggesting he was drawn into it somewhat blindly: I didn’t see the danger / Now I feel the heat. He dreads the worst-case scenario: Because there ain’t no joy / For an uptown boy / Whose teacher has told him goodbye.

Yet for all his reticence, he decides in the waning moments of the song that taking the chance is better than the lonely alternative: I‘m so cold inside / Maybe just one more try. “One More Try” both solidified George Michael’s standing as the pop star of the moment and, with its qualities of musical soulfulness and lyrical openness, strengthened his case as an artist for the ages.

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