
"For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" is the first track off of Paramore's second album Riot!
Background[]
"The first song on the record (“For a Pessimist I’m Pretty Optimistic”), I think we reworked that song four or five times before we even recorded it. It was just one of those songs where it didn’t know what it wanted to be, but it became the first song on the record." – David Bendeth
For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic is about putting faith in someone else and seeing that person not succeed and how one feels betrayed when another person you trusted hurt or disappointed you.
The name of the song (For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic) came to be when Hayley Williams was feeling pressured to name the song.
"i was pissed that day in the studio but really stoked and confident about the record. we had no time left to name songs. hence this title and let the flames begin. we always wait too long" - Hayley Williams
Audio[]
An official audio for "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" was uploaded to the official Paramore youtube channel on January 17, 2015
Paramore - For A Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic (Official Audio)
Lyrics[]
Just talk yourself up
And tear yourself down
You've hit your one wall
Now find a way around
Well what's the problem?
You've got a lot of nerve
So what did you think I would say?
No you can't run away, no you can't run away
So what did you think I would say?
No you can't run away, no you can't run away
You wouldn't
I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
You threw it away
I'm not so naive
My sorry eyes can see
The way you fight shy
Of almost everything
Well, if you give up
You'll get what you deserve
So what did you think I would say?
No you can't run away, no you can't run away
So what did you think I would say?
No you can't run away, no you can't run away
You wouldn't
I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
You threw it away
You were finished long before
We had even seen the start
Why don't you stand up, be a man about it
Fight with your bare hands about it now
I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay, well did you
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay
And I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
Personnel[]
- Hayley Williams - Lead Vocals
- Josh Farro - Guitars
- Jeremy Davis - Bass
- Zac Farro - Drums
Streaming[]
Riot!
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- | "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" | "That's What You Get" | ![]() |
Paramore Chronology
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"This Circle" | "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" | "That's What You Get" | ![]() |
Live in the UK 2008
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- | "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" | "Born for This" | ![]() |
The Final Riot!
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"Pressure" | "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" | "We Are Broken" | ![]() |
Riot! (Special/Limited Edition MVI)
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"Pressure (Live)" | "(Live)For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" | "Born for This (Live)" | ![]() |
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Riot! |
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Songs | For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic • That's What You Get • Hallelujah • Misery Business • When It Rains • Let the Flames Begin • Miracle • Crushcrushcrush • We Are Broken • Fences • Born for This |
Bonus Tracks | When It Rains (Demo Version) • Misery Business (Acoustic) • Temporary • Decoy • My Hero • Stop This Song (Lovesick Melody) • Rewind |
Members | Hayley Williams • Josh Farro • Jeremy Davis • Zac Farro |
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Live in the UK 2008 |
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Songs | For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic • Born for This • Emergency • Never Let This Go • Fences • Let the Flames Begin • When It Rains • Crushcrushcrush • Pressure • Here We Go Again • That's What You Get • My Heart • Decoy • Misery Business |
Members | Hayley Williams • Josh Farro • Taylor York • Jeremy Davis • Zac Farro |
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The Final Riot! |
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Songs | Born for This • That's What You Get • Here We Go Again • Fences • Crushcrushcrush • Let the Flames Begin • When It Rains • My Heart • Decoy • Pressure • For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic • We Are Broken • Emergency • Hallelujah • Misery Business |
Members | Hayley Williams • Josh Farro • Taylor York • Jeremy Davis • Zac Farro |