Ever since I had the original idea for an album in 2013, the song “The Optimist Speaks” was placed right down in the heart of the record. Like the opening track (“Rock Song”) it never really changed much through the years as a piano waltz in Bb, which alternates with a hard rock creed through lyrics of fantasy and some situations in reality.
Musically it has a long intro which I’ve preserved through the years and the only real update in the recording process was for the carnival like pre-lead section, which was totally suggested by Ron Simasek as he was coaching me on my drumming. Lyrically, it is much harder to define as several sub-motifs are embedded into the overall title and theme. Overall, this remains a hidden gem in the entire collection of songs that I’ve written.
Composed by Ric Albano between October 13, 2012 and July 3, 2022
From the album Another Rock to Roll by Ric Albano
Released November 9, 2022
Runtime: 5:35
Ric Albano – piano, acoustic & electric guitars, organ, bass, drums, percussion, vocals
Listen to the Song:
Lyrics
Faster and faster she strives to be the predominate savior of the village
She burned down her own castle, depriving me of my insatiable desire to pillage
To take what I want, to shatter detente
To chase after everything brought forth by anything gold
But deep in the night, I’ll search for light, ‘til I can see nothing but blue skies
The optimist speaks of traversing peaks and vantage points of endless blue sky
Lining her shield with indifference, so stoned and heartbroken from the strife
Cherishing the customs while scoffing at the trends
Has found her alone, so alone in her life
Do you know who I am? Can you repeat my plan?
Just to live for the pleasure of living another day
And deep in the core, there’s an unlocked door which opens to infinite blue sky
The perfect retreat from bearing defeat, now I can see nothing but blue skies above
The balance between good faith and self-betterment
Has crowded the halls of my thoughts
Can one ever be honored in the present tense
When a fortune and a throne he has not?
We scooped him up and we filled up his cup
And absorbed all the meaningless drivel he’d speak
We waited for years hoping that he’d wake up
But the boy has been absent for weeks and weeks and weeks
Words in the air, flying above your hair, words from the depths of despair
Words are like airplanes flying above the head
Never to be considered before you are dead
Believe me when I’m dead, listen to the words been said (in your head)
Believe me when I’m dead, listen to the words been said (in your head)
Believe me when I’m dead, listen to the words been said (in your head)
In your head
To my right there’s a garden brimming with hope
To my left there’s a vagabond, whispering somber songs,
Telling me there is no use in me trying to cope
Yet still I go on
© 2022 Ric Albano & Cygnus Wave Records. All Rights Reserved.
Track 4 of 13 from Another Rock to Roll by Ric Albano (2022)
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