This is a series of posts about the music I play while writing. This time we’re up to Try To Remember. This is a song about nostalgia and was originally written for the 1960 play The Fantasticks. The song’s lyrics were written by American lyricist Tom Jones while Harvey Schmidt composed the music. The folk singing group, The Brothers Four recorded this song as part of their 1965 album, Try to Remember. The album reached 76th on the Billboard chart.
The Brothers Four are most remembered for their 1960 hit, Greenfields and being part of the folk music scene in the 1960’s. I’ve always liked the group and their mellow and yet rich blend of voices. They never became as big as other groups of their time. While they are a great performance group, they aren’t know for writing their own songs. They declined in popularity by the end of the 60’s as musical tastes changed to more rock and roll. Still, they’ve been a group ever since and still tour. Members of the group have changed a bit over the years, but their sound hasn’t.
Here’s a version of Try to Remember that they recorded sometime around 2012 and they posted to YouTube:
I like this version and like that it’s sung by older guys. It makes the nostalgia feel stronger than when sung by someone in their 20s. Nostalgia is the feeling this song creates and as I age, I find that I do more thinking about the past and find the lyrics of this song to be real feelings for me these days. I do recall listening to the song as a teen. I liked it then because of the pacing of the melody and the deep richness of their voices. It’s a melody that lulls you into reflection — into a space where you slow down and think about things that used to be.
It’s also a perfectly structured poem. Look at the verses and you’ll see a clear ABAB rhyming pattern as in:
Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow
Try to remember the kind of September
When love was an ember about to billow
The structure of the poem gives us these rhyming couplets with a strong dose of repetition. It makes the lyrics easy to remember and easy to internalize. The metaphors are clear and don’t take much effort to understand. The symbology borders on simplistic but the over all arch of the song/poem builds a strong warm nostalgic feeling. It gets me thinking of what used to be.
It gets me into a story telling frame of mind and that why this song is on my music to write by play list.
Andrew's View of the Week 
Sweet. Well done, chaps.
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Thanks.
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Hey Andrew, stumbled upon your post and couldn’t resist chiming in! “Try To Remember” is such a classic, isn’t it? Your reflections on its nostalgic vibe and The Brothers Four’s legacy are spot on. It’s like you’re unraveling stories behind the melodies. Can’t wait to see what other musical gems you uncover! 🎶
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It’s a great song. I’ll be talking about more soon.
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Longtime lover of ‘The Fantasticks’ and its beautiful score here. Thanks, Andrew!
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You’re welcome!
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It’s been a long, long time since I’ve heard this one, Andrew. I’m guessing I’m familiar with it from someone else’s version, maybe Andy Williams. I do remember plunking it out on the piano back then because it was an easy tune. Interesting, I listened to “Greenfields” and have no recollection of that hit. I also listened to a few bars of “Try to Remember” from 1965. The Brothers Four sound remarkably similar to their voices from over fifty years ago.
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It’s impressive how they’ve maintained the quality of their voices. The recording I posted only had 2 of the original brothers, but still they have a way of holding on. I forgot to mention the Andy Williams version – it was a big hit for him too. I do find it interesting that in the 60’s “Greenfields” was their best know song, but today, I’d be willing to bet that they’re better know for “Try to Remember.”
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Wow, I haven’t listened to this for so long. I like it, but it’s a bit melancholy.
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It is and that sets a tone in my head just right for writing.
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Even when I was a whole lot younger, I always liked that song. Now, it seems even more special and I truly enjoyed that Brothers Four version you shared.
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I do like this newer version they recorded, even though it’s not that much different than their orginal.
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Oh, that was just lovely! I saw them perform live about 40 years ago and they were wonderful. You’re right, though, Andrew, that Try to Remember is even more beautiful and powerful when sung by those at an age when that song probably resonates deeply (as it does for me 40 year later). Thanks for sharing this.
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It’s the kind of song that ages well.
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I remember the track “Try to Remember” but not the album, which may not have been on sale in England.
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I’m not sure if Brothers Four had many sales in England. Their songs that hit the pop charts likely made it over, but I’d doubt they sold albums.
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Those were great songs, and singers.
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I like their music.
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Yet again Andrew ~ you made my day….
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🙂
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