Keep On Tryin'
by Poco

Album: Head Over Heels (1975)
Charted: 50
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Poco was packed with talented songwriters and vocalists. This one was written by their bass player, Timothy B. Schmit, who also sang lead with Paul Cotton, Rusty Young and George Grantham on harmony. Schmit, who joined the Eagles two years later, said in his Songfacts interview: "I must have been going through something likely with a relationship, to where it gave me pause to think about a lot of things. I do remember that song was written fairly quickly, which is unlike me, and I really like that. I wish that would happen more often. It's a song about hope."
  • This song finds Schmit separated from his loved one, but there is no desperation or yearning, just optimism. Even though he admits that alcohol is an issue ("I've been drinkin' now, just a little too much"), he still seems sure that they will reconnect. He's certainly going to keep trying.
  • In Spanish, the word "poco" means small, and in musical notation it means to a slight degree. But neither of these definitions have anything to do with the band name. They were using different names for different gigs while they tried to find one that stuck, and one night when they played the Troubadour in Los Angeles, they played as Pogo, the name of a comic strip their manager liked. A rep from Epic Records was in a audience and showed interest in the band, so they were stuck with that name because it was the one the label recognized. Just one problem: Walt Kelly, who drew the Pogo comic strip, found out and threatened to sue them, so the band made a slight adjustment to Poco and stuck with that.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?