This
song comes from Don McLean’s pre-“American Pie” album, “Tapestry”. It has been
covered by the likes of Elvis, Helen Reddy , and Perry Como, who rode it all
the way to number 29 in 1973.
It
takes me back to the spring of 1975, when Accutronics would hire local kids
just out of high school or home from college. There were many cute girls among
them and I was smitten by Annie U., a very cute girl just out of high school (I
was 19).
I
actually made a mix tape to give her, because I was so shy and couldn’t talk to
her (except as her supervisor). The first song on it was “If We Try” by Don
McLean. It comes from his first post-”American Pie” album, “Don McLean”, that
came out in 1972.
When
I see you on the street, I lose my concentration,
Just
the thought that we might meet, creates anticipation,
Won’t
you look my way once before you go
and my eyes will
say what you ought to know,
Well I’ve been thinking
about you day and night…
and I don’t know
if it’ll work out right
But somehow I
think that it just might…if we try.
I then
owned a Honda CL350 motorcycle and I knew that Annie lived along my way home,
so I arranged to have my bike “run out of gas” on Route 14 and I stood by the
side of the road and waited for her to see me and stop, which she did!!!
We made
a little small talk and I got the tape ready, when I asked her if she’d like to
go see “Tommy”. She replied that she already had a boyfriend .......and the tape was stashed back into
my pocket. She continued on her way and I switched over to my reserve tank,
started up the bike, and drove home broken-hearted.
I ended
up seeing “Tommy” with my friend, Bob W. (see #22- We’re Not Gonna Take it”).
Flash
forward about 30 years when Lynn and I went to see Don McLean at Elgin
Community College. He did a great show, did “And I Love You So,” but no “If We
Try.”
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