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Murphy Was An Optimist Lyrics
Light that fuse, back up three steps and bite down on that bullet.
You've been doing this for way too long and it can't be fixed.
Don't worry it can't be fixed so pull up that chair and suck down that trouble.
Misery is the fuel that keeps this broken down, lifeless instrument running.
I'm sinking in cursory and i'm sinking headfirst.
Clear your dusty throat and taste that stiletto.
Can you taste that metal?
Don't worry it can't be fixed. Don't worry it can't be fixed so don't worry.
Light that fuse, back up three steps and sink without a trace.
Hold me down till i stop crying. I don't want to feel this anymore.
Hold you down cause you're not trying. I don't want to feel this anymore.
I don't want to kill you anymore. Is this what you were designed for?
Did you think that you had it coming? Hell follows with you.
You've been doing this for way too long and it can't be fixed.
Don't worry it can't be fixed so pull up that chair and suck down that trouble.
Misery is the fuel that keeps this broken down, lifeless instrument running.
I'm sinking in cursory and i'm sinking headfirst.
Clear your dusty throat and taste that stiletto.
Can you taste that metal?
Don't worry it can't be fixed. Don't worry it can't be fixed so don't worry.
Light that fuse, back up three steps and sink without a trace.
Hold me down till i stop crying. I don't want to feel this anymore.
Hold you down cause you're not trying. I don't want to feel this anymore.
I don't want to kill you anymore. Is this what you were designed for?
Did you think that you had it coming? Hell follows with you.
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You're all missing the basic idea of the song, not to be rude, I missed it at first too. "Murphy was an optimist" is a quote by O'Toole in Commentaries on Murphy's Law. I won't explain it all because it's complicated, but Murphy's Law states that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. And Murphy, the man, was an optimist because his law also refers to itself, meaning that Murphy's Law is false and not everything will go wrong. I don't agree at all with that response above about Murphy being a term for alcohol. But most of what was said, I think, is one side of the song's meaning. I'm just saying there's more to it.
@burncide Basically yeah, though not exactly "Murphy's law is false". Murphy says that "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong". O'Toole's commentary basically boils down to, "Oh, plenty more than just THAT will go wrong!" In other words, Murphy is correct, but incomplete, as he limited his viewpoint to only things that CAN go wrong. But things that can't possibly go wrong still do, all the time!
@burncide Basically yeah, though not exactly "Murphy's law is false". Murphy says that "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong". O'Toole's commentary basically boils down to, "Oh, plenty more than just THAT will go wrong!" In other words, Murphy is correct, but incomplete, as he limited his viewpoint to only things that CAN go wrong. But things that can't possibly go wrong still do, all the time!
I think this song might be about Cory and his addictions and problems. "I don't want to kill you anymore, is this what you were designed for?" leads me to believe that he's talking about doing drugs and slowly killing himself.
"Light that fuse, back up three steps and bite down on that bullet. You've been doing this for way too long and it can't be fixed. Don't worry it can't be fixed so pull up that chair and suck down that trouble. Misery is the fuel that keeps this broken down, lifeless instrument running."
-This section is talking about someone purposely destroying themselves out of misery (by substance abuse or whatever, it doesnt matter.) The person has been hurting themselves out of pain for a while now, and has accepted that theyre ruined as it is, and they cant be helped. So the more misery that comes from their life, the more they'll drown themselves in substance.
"Hold me down till i stop crying. I don't want to feel this anymore.Hold you down cause you're not trying. I don't want to feel this anymore. I don't want to kill you anymore. Is this what you were designed for? Did you think that you had it coming? Hell follows with you."
-I think in this passage, the singer could be talking to the substance itself. He wants the pain to be taken away by the drug, but is noticing its not a permanent solution to the hurt. So i think he decides that he doesnt want to hurt himself any more, and notices that all the substance is doing is bringing more pain.
your interpretation is the closest to correct out of these 4, but then again songs are also made to be interpreted in a subjective manner as well.
your interpretation is the closest to correct out of these 4, but then again songs are also made to be interpreted in a subjective manner as well.
"murphy" is code name for alcohol, so you can say, "is murphy coming to the party?" in front of people and they think you're talking about a person.
"murphy" is code name for alcohol, so you can say, "is murphy coming to the party?" in front of people and they think you're talking about a person.
hence: pull up that chair and "suck down" that trouble (referring to alcohol).
hence: pull up that chair and "suck down" that trouble (referring to alcohol).
when it says "i don't want to kill you anymore", i think the lyrics might be speaking of when you "kill" a bottle or in other words...
when it says "i don't want to kill you anymore", i think the lyrics might be speaking of when you "kill" a bottle or in other words finish the last drops.
the last verses are obviously his realization that while murphy (alcohol) IS an "optimist" and can subdue your pain for the moment, eventually "hell follows with murphy", meaning it can't bring about anything but more misery.
it could be interpreted as sin i guess... but if you read it and understand the terminology it's obvious that using alcohol as a crutch is what he is talking about, and how "murphy was an optimist" but only made more shit hit the fan.
i actually think when he says "I don't want to kill you anymore." he is talkign about sin. Because we learn that everyday jesus dies for us because of our sin and that we kill him everyday because of sin... and it makes sense when he finishes up the verse with is that what you were designed to do. so it fits.
so i think the whole song is about how he struggles with sinning everyday like every person does.... not about substance abuse
Clear your dusty throat and taste that stiletto. Can you taste that metal?
-This is brilliant word play here. I think Cory is using stiletto with two meanings together. He is referring to the alcoholic drink and the other a dagger ("can you taste that metal.") The drink goes with the theme of alcohol abuse. The dagger is referring to a coup de grace which means "blow of mercy". These particular daggers were used in the middle ages to finish off opponents who were sure to die. The alcohol is like a stiletto dagger attempting to put him out of his misery.
I was listen to this song and thinking about the title. I then it hit me, Murphys Law. So I agree with burncide.
Suck down on that sorrow? I think its "Sulk", which makes more sence.