As the first taste of 18, The Optimists (along with some accompanying lyrics) sets the stage for tales of a summer long ago.
While that introduction makes me sound ancient, these three things are about summer 2001. The Optimists itself is a part of the upcoming group 18 while the others were originally planned for a different summer project. (You can read all about it on the 18 lyrics page.)
When It Comes To You is something that’s been kicking around for about 10 years or so. It was initially written around the Hard Fought Defeat/For Those Left Behind era (links open in new tab) and considered for Love TerrorsLove Terrors (link opens in new tab) until that idea was scrapped. I picked it up again for Diurnal (link opens in new tab,) but it just never fit anywhere. The lyrics are honestly among my favourites so it’s nice to get a finished version out there. With Summer’s Fading, I actually wrote something completely different while working on Flashbulbs And Futures (link opens in new tab.) That version was revisited for the previously mentioned summer project that got scrapped but didn’t really go anywhere. It wasn’t until a few days ago that the title inspired something completely new and void of the original lyrics. So in a weird way, the last thing that was written for this era is one of the first you’re reading.
Anyway, that’s about it. Happy reading!
Lyrics Content
01. The Optimists
03. Summer’s Fading
The Optimists
Grabbed yourself a coffee
We’ll hang out at the bookstore
You’ve played the ballerina
Now everybody thinks that you’re a whore
I know it doesn’t sound nice
They’ve sharpened each word to stab you in time but
What’s the point in playing with knives? Let’s do what we want
We can be the optimists
We can spend our time out in the sun
Give into this consequence
We can ride this wave until it’s gone
Until it’s gone
Get yourself a sweater
We’ll stare into this bonfire
You’ve played the perfect hostess
While everybody thinks that we’ve conspired
I know it doesn’t make sense
Swearing their lies have the best of intent but
Choices made aren’t accidents, let ’em say what they want
We can be the optimists
We can spend our time out in the sun
Give into this consequence
We can ride this wave until it’s gone
Everybody’s got something to claim
No one really knows what can’t be viewed
Cut up into pieces, counting each weakness misconstrued
I’ll keep on talking slow and straight
I think it’s time to bid them all adieu
So we can be the optimists
We can spend our time out in the sun
Give into this consequence
We can ride this wave until it’s gone
We can be the optimists
We can spend our lives the way we want
Shedding any consequence
We can ride this wave until it’s gone
Until it’s gone
We’ll find our setting sun
There’s nowhere left to run
When It Comes To You
When it comes to you
I think about your raccoon eyes
In a crowded room
This feeling caught me by surprise
It wasn’t what I thought
Though gravity can’t be ignored
While laying on the grass
Beneath the midnight’s starry floor
Bringing me to ruin, did I leave too soon?
Did I want to stay? Does it even matter anyway?
Don’t know where to go, do I think too slow?
When it comes to you, when it comes to you, when it comes to you
When it comes to this
I think of how it all went down
We never even kissed
Before you left this dreamless town
It’s better so they say
To find yourself in love and lose
But no one understands
It isn’t in our hands to choose
Bringing me to ruin, did I leave too soon?
Did I want to stay? Does it really matter anyway?
Don’t know where to go, do I think too slow?
When it comes to you, when it comes to you, when it comes to you
I don’t know what I did to deserve your tenuous grace
This life can be so lonely, thanks for the company
Comfort me without excuse
Moving past what we’ve confused
Rising up from this abuse
No stray thoughts will dare intrude
Finding places left to start
Over feet, head under heart
From the second you depart
Counting down to be disarmed
Summer’s Fading
Summer’s fading all around us
But every season has to change
So if the falling leaves confound you now
Remember they’ll grow back again
Shorter days are soon to follow
Burning fast as our end draws near
While this time we shared might seem hollowed out
Remember I’ll always be here
Remember I’ll always be here
When the sun won’t come out and your path isn’t clear
Remember I’ll always be here