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Burning With Optimism's Flames Lyrics

Never seen her glowing
all that bright she's throwing
like some aurora
from her head it's growing
reaching to the ground and all around
like a Navajo blanket

Never heard her singing
now she's gently ringing
like copper wind chimes
what on earth is bringing up this stream
the cat who got the cream is licking her lips
and smiling like her Cheshire cousin
She claims she's found a way to make her own light
all you do is smile, you banish the night

She says she's burning with optimism's flames, away away
she says she's burning up all her guilts and shames, away away
she says she's burning with optimism's flames, away away
she says she's burning up

Now you see I'm smiling
back to juvenile'ing
I learnt her lesson
in like flint and styling
all the world is neatly curled around my littlest finger

I can't stop this grinning
so assume I'm winning
threw pessimism
in the air it's spinning
crashing to the floor and nevermore
will it lure me away with sweets
and shiny things just like a magpie

Now every bird and bee just fuel the fire for me
now every closing door just fans the flames some more

(Now I'm thinking okay)
(I'm turning night into day)
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Cover art for Burning With Optimism's Flames lyrics by XTC

For godsakes pour some water on that poor girl!

Cover art for Burning With Optimism's Flames lyrics by XTC

As great as this song is, it can't live up to its brilliant title. Nothing could.

I always thought that title was borrowed from GK Chesterton's "The Optimism of Byron". But I was wrong; apparently Andy came up with it himself.

And actually, the girl in this song is almost the opposite of Byron. He tried to hide his optimism in cynicism, but it burned so bright that he couldn't contain it. She hides her desperation in optimism, and she's burning from the outside rather than the inside.

Cover art for Burning With Optimism's Flames lyrics by XTC

I think is about a guy taking advantage of a girl's attemp to escape manic depresive disorder by having optimistic thoughts. Pretty dark when he says " you banish the night" cuz you can assume he realize it isnt right.

 
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