1. |
Echo The Optimist
04:13
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Don’t know about your younger years
You never seemed to let us in
But I saw you in that sepia photo
With a slick side part and an optimist’s grin
Hmmm
And I know that the years were hard
Luck wasn’t always on our side
But you would beg to disagree
Now perspective is a strength of mine
Why do you still believe?
When it could take everything
It's killing me to still believe
Is the optimist in you
The worst part about me?
Hmmm
Six strings and a heart of gold
The things you wanted me to have
Some 30 trips around the sun
And you're the first to still remind me that
I’m getting too old for this shit, I joke
So why the hell do I still try?
When I was young I broke my foot
You said fall 8 times and get up 9
Fall again, get up a million times
Why do you still believe?
When it could take everything
It’s killing me to still believe
Is the optimist in you
The worst part about me?
Hmmm
I echo the optimist, I know that it is dangerous
I echo the optimist, I know that it is dangerous
I echo the optimist, I know that it is dangerous
I echo the optimist
Hmm
I know you had the worst of news
A few months before I came in
But you held your head up all this time
Hair gone gray with an optimist’s grin
Why do you still believe?
When it could take everything
Because of you I still believe
Is the optimist in you
The thing that could save me?
Oh the optimist in you
Is the optimist in me
Hmmm
I echo the optimist, I know that it is dangerous
I echo the optimist, I know that it is dangerous
I echo the optimist, I know that it is dangerous
I echo the optimist
Hmm
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2. |
Words
03:05
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Words
All the things that I could have said
Words
Running through my veins to my head
Still
And quiet for a long, long time
And now
All my words are no longer mine
Like you’re no longer mine
No longer mine
Words
Failed me when I needed them most
But words
Fill me when I’m left with your ghost
Cut
Myself open to pour them out
These words
Are yours cause I don’t need them now
Like I don’t need you now
Don’t need you now
I don’t need you now
I don’t need you now
Don’t need you now
Ahh
Don’t need you now
Ahh
Words
Never thought that they’d let me down
Like I let you down
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3. |
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Over again
You said it over again
But I didn’t hear your words
Now under my breath
I repeat what you said
So it doesn’t hurt now
Oh so it doesn’t hurt now
You said
Don’t be hard on yourself cause we fell out of love
Cause we fell out of love
Don’t be hard on yourself cause we fell out of love
Cause we fell out of love
Oooo, oooo
Cause we fell out of love
Oooo, oooo
Just like prayer
Or a hymn for the broken
I know it well
If you say it enough
Then you start to believe
Like I believe you now
Like I believe you now
I believe when you said
Don’t be hard on yourself cause we fell out of love
Cause we fell out of love
Don’t be hard on yourself cause we fell out of love
Cause we fell out of love
Oooo, ooo
Don’t be hard on yourself, baby
Oooo, oooo
Said you’re back is gonna break from shouldering all that blame
You know I never wanted you to feel this way
Your back is gonna break from shouldering all that blame
Lemme take a little so you’re not in pain
I can say it over and over and over and over again
You said don’t be hard on yourself, baby
You said
Don’t be hard on yourself cause we fell out of love
Cause we fell out of love
Don’t be hard on yourself cause we fell out of love
Cause we fell out of love
Ooo, ooo
Don’t be hard on yourself
Oooo, oooo
You’re back is gonna break from shouldering all that blame
Lemme take a little so you’re not in pain
You’re back is gonna break from shouldering all that blame
Lemme take a little so you’re not in pain
Ooo, ooo
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4. |
Grand Canyon
03:26
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Thought I wanted to know what it felt like
for me to be free
And that you’d be alright so I gave you a break from me
Somewhere inside of my head another me screamed at the top of my lungs
Saying don’t go, you never forgive what you do to us
In another life
Maybe I turned around
In another life
Maybe we made it out
Took my car and I drove it all the way to the Grand Canyon
Cause I felt like the valleys were big as the holes in my chest
But all the beautiful colors can’t change the way we have aligned
I tried to let go, but couldn’t seem to leave us behind
In another life
Maybe we both were here
In another life
Maybe you’ll meet me there
Hmmmm
In another life
Maybe I turned around
(Maybe I turned around)
In another life
Maybe we made it out
(Maybe we made it out, ohh)
In another life
Maybe you came along
(Meet me somewhere sometime someplace else)
In another life
Is where we both belong
(Is where we belong)
In another life
Maybe I held on tight
(In another life)
In another life
Maybe we’ll get it right
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5. |
DNA
04:02
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You probably wonder why I never call you
I hope you don’t think that it’s because I forgot
All I wanna do is pick up the phone and tell you I love you
But sometimes when we talk I hang up feeling so damn lost
Don’t you think that our bloodlines have planned it?
But you don’t believe in those things anyway
And I wish, wish that I could understand it
But it’s not your fault
It’s not my fault
It’s just DNA
Years before now I thought this all was normal
Crying at night thinking I was the one to blame
Now I hear the same things come out of my mouth like an echo
But now I understand that it’s something you can’t wish away
Don’t you think that our bloodlines have planned it?
But you don’t believe in those things anyway
And I wish, wish that I could understand it
But it’s not your fault
It’s not my fault
It’s just DNA
You always said life’s not fair and I think I agree with ya
But I roll with the punches while you were always scared of change
And I wish that I could make you see the beauty in everything
Always thought you were blind to it
But it’s just DNA
I wish that you could see all of the good in your life time
And I hope you learn to believe it’ll all be okay
No I can’t let go of your heart no matter if it breaks mine
So I should pick up my phone
Cause now I know
It’s just DNA
It’s not your fault
It’s not my fault
It’s just DNA
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6. |
Bit By Bit
04:53
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I know it’s been some time
Some days you’re already off of my mind
It’s not something I’m proud of
Sometimes the calm makes you forget about the storm
And when a breeze blows by
And I feel a warm wind upon my shoulder
Is it just Mother Earth
Or is it you checking on me as I get older?
Don’t wanna lose you bit by bit
Until there’s nothing left of it
Cause who I am gonna become
Come the day that you’re completely gone
Cause I know that you'd be the one to tell me so
Hmm
I know it’s been some time
As the stones lay so quiet with the flowers
It’s not something I’m proud of
It’s just that I don’t drive up that way too often
Yea maybe that’s a bad excuse
But god it’s so hard to see you like that
I know you’d tell me I’m alright
Just remember to always love and trust but lock your doors at night
Don’t wanna lose you bit by bit
Until there’s nothing left of it
Cause who I am gonna become
Come the day that you’re completely gone
Cause I know that you'd be the one
To tell me so
Did you know that I was sorry
Couldn’t tell ya I was sorry
Did you know that I was sorry
Couldn’t tell ya I was sorry
Did you know that I was sorry
Couldn’t tell ya I was sorry
Did you know that I was sorry
Couldn’t tell ya I was sorry
Did you know that I was sorry
Couldn’t tell ya I was sorry
Did you know that I was sorry
Couldn’t tell ya I was sorry
Did you know that I was sorry
Couldn’t tell ya I was sorry
Did you know that I was sorry
Couldn’t tell ya I was sorry
Bit by bit
Ahhh
Don’t wanna lose you bit by bit
Bit by bit
Don’t wanna lose you
Bit by bit
Don’t wanna lose you bit by bit
Is that a wild warm breeze
Or is it you that’s been tapping on my shoulder?
Could you tell me where we all go
When we’re finally done with getting older?
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7. |
The Entertainer
03:32
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Hmmm
Hmmm
This
Guess I got pretty good at it
But I still hold my breath
Got same old white knuckle grip
And I
Hold the wheel but don’t steer the ship
And when it all goes down
They’ll be saying I wanted it
And when I come back around I’m
Either a god or I’m faking it
Guess I got pretty good at it
Now I don’t know how to turn it off
Now I don’t know how to turn it off
I
Guess I’ll pick up the phone again
And answer your call
I turn it on when you need a friend
Hmm lights
In my eyes and I feel your hands
But don’t you touch me, man
Want me smile and play pretend
And ooh when I bite the hand
You won’t even notice your bleeding then
Guess I got pretty good at it (yeah)
No I don’t know how to turn it off
Now I don’t know how to turn it off
You think she’s golden but she lives in grayscale
(The entertainer)
So it doesn’t matter the color you paint her
(The entertainer)
Gives as good as she gets but you go on and waste her
(The entertainer)
Just as long as she’s everybody’s savior
Hmm
Hmm
Now I don’t know how to turn it off
(Guess I got pretty good at it)
Now I don’t know how to turn it off
(The entertainer)
Now I don’t know how to turn it off
(Guess I got pretty good at it)
Now I don’t know how to turn it off
(The entertainer)
Oooooh
(Guess I got pretty good at it)
Oooooh
(The entertainer)
(Either a god or I'm faking it)
Oooooh
(Guess I got pretty good at it)
Hmmm
Hmmm
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8. |
Grief
01:35
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Did you bury your grief?
Like I buried mine deep, oh
Hid it when all it wanted
Was to wash over me
Well we packed it in boxes
And we hid it in closets
Spent some time on the highway
Drove until we forgot it
Did you bury your grief?
When it should have been free
Free to flow like the riptide
If your eyes were the sea
I heard time was a thief
Stealing pain from the weak
But he never took grief
Not from you or from me
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9. |
Afterlife
03:58
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Few years of distance for the both of us
But there’s still a question that I can’t shake off
And you know that I’m not the spiritual kind
But there’s gotta be a place for a love that dies
Right?
Cause something real can’t disappear
So even though it’s gone it had to go somewhere
And now I’d never wanna change a thing
I only wonder for the sake of wondering
Do you think that love
Has got an afterlife?
And even if it does
We can let it lie
And now we’re right where we’re supposed to be
You’re being you and I’m be somewhere else being me
And I’m not digging up what’s left behind
It’s just a thought I think about sometimes
Do you think that love
Has got an afterlife?
And even if it does
We can let it lie
Oh do you think that love
Has got an afterlife?
And even if it does
We can let it lie
We can let it lie
So this is a eulogy for things I loved the most
Like a VHS tape, I’ll kindly rewind your ghost
And I’d be remiss to not say it now I’ve got the chance
That the death of you and me changed who I am, hmm
So I’ll pour one out for you and you’ll pour one out for me
A grand standing ovation for the things we used to be
But kicking myself over it is something I don’t need
Since we landed right on our feet
We’re right where we’re supposed to be
Ahhh, ahhh
Do you think that love
Has got an afterlife?
Cause even if it does
We can let it lie
Do you think that love
(We’re right where we’re supposed to be)
Has got an afterlife?
(We’re right where we’re supposed to be)
And even if it does
(We’re right where we’re supposed to be)
We can let it lie
(We’re right where we’re supposed to be)
Do you think that love
Has got an afterlife?
And even if it does
Then we can let it lie
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10. |
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Uncharted streets
And territories
A time in my life when I felt I was free
But you came and drew a map of me
We’ve never met
But some kind of fate
Made me change my course when I saw your face
Something familiar that I just can’t place
Put our flags in the ground
What do you say
Something about you makes me wanna stay
Do you feel found
Cause deep down I know
Yeah something about you just feels like
home
Hmm
What do you want?
Tell me your dreams
Maybe a dog and a house by the beach
That sounds kind of nice if you know
What I mean
Beautiful life
Working out for the best
You get what you want and you want nothing less
But sometimes we make plans and the universe laughs
Head in my hands
Don’t wanna give in
Hide in the basement when high winds kick in
Crumbing down
Like me on my own
But something about you just feels like home
Something about you
What chance did I have
I was only a kid
Stupid in love but I learned pretty quick
To find somewhere to land
And lay down new stones
But something about you just feels like
home
Hmm
Oooh something about you
Yea something about you just feels like home
Something about you just
Feels like home
Yea something about you just feels like home
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11. |
Loudmouth
02:30
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Tell me all your stories honey, tell me about your day
It’s easy to forget that things weren’t always quite this way
You know I’ve seen neglect and awkward silent kind of love
But since you started coming round I can’t get you to shut up
But I mean that in the best way cause your voice it fills the void
That used to make me anxious guess that I needed your noise
I’ll never take for granted that you say what’s on your mind
Cause you might be a loudmouth honey but I’m glad you’re mine
Never used to be the quiet one in love I was ashamed
Like there was something wrong with me cause I had too much to say
They teach little boys to keep it in and suck it up
But who needs strong and silent when you’ve got an open book?
And I mean that in the best way cause your voice it fills the void
That used to make me anxious guess that I needed your noise
I’ll never take for granted that you say what’s on your mind
Cause you might be a loudmouth honey but I’m glad you’re mine
Mine
You’ve got a heart so big that you can’t keep it in your chest
So you wear it on your sleeve to give everybody your best
But you save me the best of the best anyone could find
I could hear you talk for hours I’m just glad you’re mine
Yea you may be a loudmouth honey
Oh you might be a loudmouth honey
You might be a loudmouth honey I’m just glad you’re mine
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12. |
Cornerstone
04:29
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When you left I wasn’t there
I stayed the weekend at my parents
Seeing all of your shit packed was a hard pill to swallow
And a sight that I just couldn’t bare
When you left I lost me then
Like a switch and that was probably when
Cause a version of me slipped out the door behind you
And I never saw her again
And ohh maybe it was for the best
We can laugh about it but it’ll sting til I’m dead
Call it my cornerstone
Call it the reason I do what I do
Call me a guilt trip or masochist
But something in me insists
To open old wounds
Hmm
When you called you caught me off guard
Didn’t realize that I set you off
After you exploded the one thing I noticed
Was you never said you were wrong
And ohhh I know that it’s in the past
But there was truth to your words
So I’m living with that
Call it my cornerstone
Call it the reason I do what I do
Call me a guilt trip or masochist
Something in me insists
To open old wounds
Hmmm
Call it my cornerstone
And don’t you dare
Think you’re off the hook
I should call you out by name
But you don’t deserve to have songs that I write
Immortalize you, just your shame
And oooh you must know who you are
I don’t owe you a damn thing
But in case you forgot
Call it my cornerstone
Call it the reason I do what I do
Call me a guilt trip or masochist
But something in me insists
To open old wounds
Call it my cornerstone
Call it my cornerstone
Hmmm
When you left I lost me then
And I never saw her again
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Melissa Menago Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter, Melissa Menago’s latest full length album, “Echo The Optimist” (2023), consists of 12 tracks of Menago’s own unique blend of indie-pop, singer-songwriter and alternative-folk, and touches on love, loss, grief, relationships and reflection. ... more
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