In 2017, she decided to try singing her own songs and released her debut single Issues. The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Chart, was certified triple-platinum and got her 2 Grammy Award nominations. After releasing her debut album "Nervous System" in 2017, Julia was the opening act for the European dates of Niall Horan’s Flicker World Tour in 2018.
She has also collaborated on songs with various major artists, such as Niall Horan, Noah Kahan, James Bay, Justin Bieber, 5 Seconds of Summer, LANY, Trippie Redd, LAUV, Kygo, RL Grime, Maroon 5, Shawn Mendes, Rita Ora, Clean Bandit, Keith Urban, Jordan Davis, JP Saxe and Selena Gomez.
Pessimist
Julia Michaels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wash away a foot to grow facilitates the bittersweet
No matter what I did
No matter what I did
I was hard headed to the ninth degree
Punch and push away anything I thought would make a mess of me
That's just what I did
That's just what I did
Made me die, made me melt
You've changed the way I felt
With your touch, with your help
You took a pessimist and turned me into somethin' else
You're all I see in my mind
I think I see a lifetime
Done holdin' on to myself
You took a pessimist and turned me into somethin' else
Painlessly caught in your eyes
I think I see a lifetime
Done holdin' on to myself
You took a pessimist and turned me into somethin' else
You made me believe this ain't no make-believe
I'll stop checkin' horoscopes to cope with all my misery
That's just what you did
That's just what you did, yeah
Made me die, made me melt
You've changed the way I felt
With your touch, with your help
You took a pessimist and turned me into somethin' else
You're all I see in my mind
I think I see a lifetime
Done holdin' on to myself
You took a pessimist and turned me into somethin' else
Painlessly caught in your eyes
I think I see a lifetime
Done holdin' on to myself
You took a pessimist and turned me into somethin' else
Made me die, made me melt
You've changed the way I felt
With your touch, with your help
You showed me what it means to fall in deep like no one else (hey)
You're all I see in my mind (in my mind)
I think I see a lifetime (a lifetime)
Done holdin' on to myself (to myself)
You took a pessimist and turned me into somethin' else
Painlessly caught in your eyes (in your eyes)
I think I see a lifetime (a lifetime)
Done holdin' on to myself (to myself)
You took a pessimist and turned me into somethin' else
In Julia Michaels's song "Pessimist," the singer shares how her lover has changed her perspective on life. She has been planting lemon trees since she was twenty-three, but nothing could help her forget the bitter experiences of her past. Michaels was hard-headed to the ninth degree and pushed away anyone who tried to get close to her. However, her lover came into her life and changed everything. He made her believe that their love is not some make-believe and she doesn't need to cope with misery by checking horoscopes. The lover has shown her a different way of looking at life, and now she sees a lifetime with him. He has turned her into something else, a completely transformed person who doesn't hold on to herself anymore.
The lyrics use metaphors to describe the transformation of the singer's life. For example, she used to plant lemon trees, which may symbolize her trying to grow something sweet out of something bitter. However, it wasn't until her lover came along that she realized that she didn't need to force something to be sweet. Her pessimistic attitude and reluctance to let anyone close to her was holding her back, but her lover has shown her that love can change everything. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes how the singer sees her life with her lover now and how he has transformed her.
Line by Line Meaning
Plantin' lemon trees since I was twenty-three
I've been working hard towards my goals for a long time.
Wash away a foot to grow facilitates the bittersweet
Sacrifices are necessary in order to achieve success and happiness.
No matter what I did
Despite my efforts,
I was hard headed to the ninth degree
I was stubborn and resistant to change.
Punch and push away anything I thought would make a mess of me
I avoided anything that I saw as a potential problem or difficulty.
That's just what I did
That was my way of coping.
Made me die, made me melt
You had a profound effect on me.
You've changed the way I felt
You transformed my perspective.
With your touch, with your help
Through your support and influence.
You took a pessimist and turned me into somethin' else
You helped me overcome my negative outlook and become a more positive person.
You're all I see in my mind
I constantly think of you and our connection.
I think I see a lifetime
I envision a future with you in it.
Done holdin' on to myself
I'm no longer focused solely on my own needs and desires.
Painlessly caught in your eyes
You captivate me in a way that doesn't cause me any pain.
You showed me what it means to fall in deep like no one else
You taught me how to love and commit at a level I didn't think was possible.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Julia Carin Cavazos, Robert Mandell, John Ryan, Stefan Johnson, Jordan K. Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iantearys2001
I hope she gain more recognition soon.. this album is underrated
@Pedro_Yu
agreed
@shivanshuraj859
Same
@alainadacosta1222
"I think I see a lifetime" Aw my heart. I'm just so incredibly happy for Julia. She truly deserves this. I have tears in my eyes after listening to this and then JP's "Like that"
@nuhamustafa9340
Finally a theme song for us pessimists!!
@lauren4127
i cant even explain how good this song is ugh
@queenv4340
Ikr
@ChromaticVanity
Never heard of this artist before, gotta thank YouTube recommendations cuz this is amazing. I really love this sound
@laurasmeets8492
You should check her other songs out! She’s great!
@Pedro_Yu
You probably have heard of some of her older songs. She has worked with a bunch of bigger artists eg. Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Hailee Steinfeld and more