She continues to be involved in the influential Glasgow based label Chemikal Underground. A second solo album, The Law of Large Numbers, was released by the label on March 1, 2010. Her third solo album, In Search of Harperfield, was released on January 29, 2016.
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The Optimist
Emma Pollock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Given the maybe, give it some proof
This body is cleaner, I'm one to behold
My truth is uncovered, untainted, untold
Hello to the people I considered old
Oh, the optimist
Teach me to stand up and how to succeed
As long as I'm upright I'll try 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
Give some action, ask yourself why
This body is slow and has seen its best days
My truth has uncovered my negative ways
I'm one of the people I struggle to praise
Oh, the pessimist
Teach me 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
The song "The Optimist" by Emma Pollock is meditative on human decision-making, and the consequences that come with the choices made. Pollock, throughout the song, flips back and forth between optimism and pessimism, as she tries to navigate the struggles of life ("Teach me follow but never to lead"; "As long as I'm upright I'll try to prolong"). In the initial stanza, she talks about the need for truth, and more importantly, the need for proof. We often consider our beliefs to be invincible truths, ones that cannot be challenged. However, Pollock's lyric "Given the maybe, give it some proof" challenges each of us to accept that our beliefs can be wrong, and that we need to ensure they align with reality.
As the song progresses, Pollock explores the idea of trust ("They trusted you/And all the things you often made them do"), and the impact that decisions have on not just ourselves, but others too ("And look, everyone's smiling/Telling me I've got to trust you too"). The chorus repeats the idea of doing no wrong, but Pollock doesn't view this as some kind of moral lesson. Instead, she's blunt about the reality that if we make the wrong choices, we won't live as long. This brings into focus the idea that our decisions should not just be centered on ourselves but on how it affects those around us. Ultimately, "The Optimist" is about the complexity of human emotions and decision-making, and the impact that they have on us all.
Line by Line Meaning
Given the light, give it some truth
Be honest and truthful when it comes to opportunities or positive situations in life.
Given the maybe, give it some proof
You need to provide some evidence to support your assumptions or doubts to turn them into facts.
This body is cleaner, I'm one to behold
I am capable of achieving great things since my mind and body are clear and ready for anything.
My truth is uncovered, untainted, untold
I am aware of my true self that is authentic, genuine, and free from any external influence.
Hello to the people I considered old
Greetings to people who were once in a position of authority or lived through significant experiences worth learning from.
Oh, the optimist
Referring to a person who emphasizes on the bright side of things and has positive expectations of the future.
Teach me to follow, teach me to lead
Help me to learn the skills of both following and leading as both are important in life.
Teach me to stand up and how to succeed
Show me how to take charge of my life, gain self-confidence, and achieve my goals.
As long as I'm upright I'll try to prolong
I will strive to extend the duration of positive events or opportunities as long as I am capable and standing upright.
The notion that future events must go on
Believing that future events or circumstances will continue to happen whether positive or negative.
No matter the turn out is right or is wrong
Regardless of the outcome, positive or negative, I will accept it and move on.
They trusted you
Referring to someone in a position of authority or influence who was trusted by others to do what is best for them.
And all the things you often made them do
The actions and decisions made by this person were guided and influenced by the trust placed in them by others.
And look, everyone's smiling
The results of this person's actions have made others happy and satisfied.
Telling me I've got to trust you too
Others are suggesting that I should also trust and rely on this person to achieve similar results.
Do no wrong
This person is expected to act in a morally correct and ethical manner to avoid any harm or negativity.
'Cause if you do you just won't live as long
Being unethical and harming others can result in negative consequences that may shorten your lifespan or damage your reputation.
And look, everyone's crying
As a result of this person's wrong or harmful actions, others are feeling sad, upset, and disappointed.
Someone's telling them to just stop trying
Some people are suggesting or advising others to give up on their goals and stop trying because of this person's negative actions.
Given some truth, call it a lie
When someone is presented with facts or truth, they may still choose to deny or ignore it and consider it a lie.
Give some action, ask yourself why
When given an opportunity or taking an action, it's important to think and reflect on why you are doing it and what the consequences may be.
This body is slow and has seen its best days
This person may have reached a point in their life where they are slowing down and may not be able to achieve the same things they did before.
My truth has uncovered my negative ways
This person has discovered their own flaws, weaknesses, and negative traits that have prevented them from reaching their full potential.
I'm one of the people I struggle to praise
This person is having difficulty giving themselves credit or acknowledging their own achievements and successes.
Oh, the pessimist
Referring to a person who emphasizes on the negative side of things and has a negative outlook on the future.
Teach me follow but never to lead
Help me to learn how to be a good follower, but never put me in a position of leadership as I don't think I can handle it.
Teach me to stay down and never succeed
Teach me to remain in the same place and never try to achieve anything more than what I already have.
When everyone's watching it's hard to admit
It can be difficult to confess or acknowledge your own mistakes and shortcomings when others are observing you.
The movement of shadows that lead me to quit
Negative influences or thoughts are pushing this person to give up and quit trying to achieve their goals.
I grapple with time, but I can't make it fit
This person is struggling with managing their time effectively and efficiently, but they are unable to find a solution that works for them.
Contributed by Cooper E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.