THE OPTIMIST

GIVEN A LIE
GIVE IT SOME TRUTH
GIVEN A MAYBE
GIVE IT SOME PROOF

THIS BODY IS CLEANER AND ONE TO BEHOLD
MY TRUTH IS UNCOVERED UNTAINTED UNTOLD
HELLO TO THE PEOPLE I CONSIDERED OLD
OH THE OPTIMIST

TEACH ME TO FOLLOW
TEACH ME TO LEAD
TEACH ME TO STAND UP
AND HOW TO SUCCEED

AS LONG AS I’M UPRIGHT I’LLTRY TO PROLONG
THE NOTION THAT FUTURE EVENTS MUST GO ON
NO MATTER THE TURN OUT IS RIGHT OR IS WRONG

THEY TRUSTED YOU AND ALL THE THINGS YOU OFTEN MADE THEM DO
AND LOOK EVERYONE’S SMILING
TELLING ME I’VE GOT TO TRUST YOU TOO
DO NO WRONG CAUSE IF YOU DO YOU JUST WON’T LIVE AS LONG
AND LOOK EVERYONE’S CRYING
SOMEONE’S TELLING THEM TO JUST STOP TRYING

GIVEN SOME TRUTH
CALL IT A LIE
GIVEN SOME ACTION
ASK YOURSELF WHY

THIS BODY IS SLOW AND HAS SEEN IT’S BEST DAYS
MY TRUTH HAS UNCOVERED MY NEGATIVE WAYS
I’M ONE OF THE PEOPLE I STRUGGLED TO PRAISE
OH THE PESSIMIST

TEACH ME TO FOLLOW
BUT NEVER TO LEAD
TEACH ME TO STAY DOWN
AND NEVER SUCCEED

WHEN EVERYONE’S WATCHING IT’S HARD TO ADMIT
THE MOVEMENT OF SHADOWS THAT LEAD ME TO QUIT
I GRAPPLE WITH TIME BUT I CAN’T MAKE IT FIT

THEY TRUSTED YOU AND ALL THE THINGS YOU OFTEN MADE THEM DO
AND LOOK EVERYONE’S SMILING
TELLING ME I’VE GOT TO TRUST YOU TOO
DO NO WRONG CAUSE IF YOU DO YOU JUST WON’T LIVE AS LONG
AND LOOK EVERYONE’S SMILING
SOMEONE’S TELLING THEM TO JUST STOP TRYING