this is me trying

Mood

Production Style

Background

Produced by Aaron Dessner, 'this is me trying' is one of folklore's most quietly devastating tracks. Taylor has said the song was inspired by thinking about people who struggle with mental health and addiction — the daily, unglamorous work of just showing up when everything in you wants to disappear.

Meaning & Interpretation

The song is about the gap between effort and result — trying your hardest and still falling short, showing up to the party nobody invited you to, pouring drinks just to apologize for existing. The 'trying' of the title is not triumphant but exhausted: this is all I have, and I know it's not enough, but I'm here. The song validates the effort itself, even when the outcome is still failure.

Personal Connection

The track became an anthem for people struggling with depression, anxiety, and the feeling of never being enough — Taylor giving voice to the specific heroism of not giving up even when you have every reason to.