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The Optimist

by Grover Anderson

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1.
Sick of You 04:19
I don’t know if it’s fireflies, or if my eyes are lying to me But the lights that fill up my sky aren’t shining as bright I landed in Minnesota, it’s colder, but I’m warm and I’m free Until I’m alone, only memories to help me get through the night And I got what I want, now I just want more When you leave Indiana, I’m gonna cover some ground Do all that I couldn’t get done without you around I’m gonna cook you a dinner and burn it I’ll say you’re perfect when you don’t deserve it I’m gonna love you til I’m sick of you And hopefully you’re gonna be sick of me too We’ve dealt with this distance, Lived through dissonance, the wild ups and downs But I hear your voice through the wire and my heart floats away Soon you’re headed home, and we’ve gone on too long waiting around Let’s have some of that fun we’ve been hearing about Forget about the future and live for today When you leave Indiana, I’m gonna cover some ground Do all that I couldn’t get done without you around I’ll change your flat tires, keep my facial hair groomed I’ll hold you in bed til the late afternoon I’m gonna love you til I’m sick of you And hopefully you’re gonna be sick of me We’ve got the rest of our lives to live the rest of our lives And try as we might, in time, some of the magic might die But when we get together, I’m gonna cover some ground Right now we’re young and we’re dumb and we’ll run this town I’m gonna cherish each kiss like the first I’ll hold you in ways that they’d frown on in church Then if I’m lucky to live til I’m 80 I’ll still be a fool for my little old lady I’ll tell everyone that I’m sick of you And hopefully you’re gonna be sick of me too
2.
There was a poor old Lampolier Who’d corner any man drawn near Solicit, grinning ear to ear, his time “Dear Citizen, entrepreneur, “Bourgeoisie or raconteur, “Permit me the chance to fill your mind “With my travelled, torrid tale “No broken hearts or angels ailing “In some foreign castle in decline. “If you’ll sit a minute please “I’ll tell you how your own two knees “Can carry you to hold the brightest light “Ever to shine.” Now most men over five and twenty’d Long since learned to make their money Pouring iron or pressing fact’ry stamp. But me, I’d gone by many names, I’d brought my parents ought but shame Dishonorably they’d cast me out a tramp. “Sit, I’ll tell you crystal clear,” To me said the Lampolier, Cold, glazed piercing eyes once red and damp “Days a’walk from this cold city “Hides a cave, old, dark, & gritty “And inside’s the light that outshines anything “I’ve ever burned inside my lamp.” The Lampolier Tell my mother it was the Lampolier “Three days out Route 49 “You’ll find a town in deep decline “Left abandoned by all but the fools. “Then go up walking in the hills, “Wander where the light it wills, “But don’t you trouble rations, maps or tools.” I had to stop the Lampolier, “Mister you’ve not made it clear, “Exactly the value of the light.” “Young man,” said the old lampmaker, “Love your God and don’t forsake Her, “But this light’s the very holy source that gives your soul its life.” The Lampolier Tell my mother it was the Lampolier If you find my body here Carry it into the sun Well I obeyed the man’s directions Brought no map but found the sections Perfectly the Lampolier’d described I crawled headfirst in that hole Lost my grip and cracked my skull And in the waning moment before I died I recognized a well-dressed stranger Eyes ablaze, I’d played his game to Watch him stoke his cold and glorious fire He held a shiny lamp towards me And rather than my soul set free Now I make his flame burn all the brighter The Lampolier Tell my mother it was the Lampolier If you find my body here Carry it into the sun Children do not fear the dark You’ve no idea who lit the spark That you believes keeps demons far at bay Late at night when lamps are burning Next to you he could be lurking The Lampolier could always use more prey.
3.
Enough 05:17
Sleep is a luxury, til you’re next to me, then I’d rather be your pillow. Life used to be a bore, only hoping for a sign that there is more than merely filling in the days until we give it up, but I became unstuck from that routine the day I met you. I’m awake and living in the now, cause I’ve spent too much energy worrying about the future. Only heaven knows if I’ll be with you til the day I die, but I’m gonna try. There will be obstacles in the road, I’ll go around them. I’d like your permission to vow to never leave your side, would you be satisfied? It could feel right to marry you tonight, but I know that you’d like to invite all our friends and throw a big party and that’s fine! Get your dress designed. We can take our time, cause it’s only a brand new life we’re starting. Hope, innocent and plain, soon to be reclaimed, I’ll hold you in my arms, I won’t forget this feeling that we share. If it gets rough out there, I’ll remember where my soul went flying back when glances needed stealing. Only heaven knows if I’ll be with you til the day I die, but I’m gonna try. There will be obstacles in the road, I’ll go around them. I’d like your permission to vow to always have your back, could you go for that? Every day I’ll look for a new reason to fall for you again. Perfect is far out of my reach but I’ll always be your best friend. We’ll start sharing our new life tomorrow, but tonight can I just have this dance? Thank you for the chance… Only heaven knows if I’ll be with you til the day I die, but I’m gonna try. There will be obstacles in the road, we’ll go around them! I’d like your permission to forever call you the one I love …that would be enough
4.
He said, “Pick up your horn and you should blow it away, blow it away my friend!” My daddy worked the factory seems the whole day long He’d come home at suppertime, drink whiskey til it’s gone And he never laid a finger on my mama or my kin But Friday night on the banjo, his hands moved like the wind Folks came from every direction just to hear That banjo in the old mans arms Between chasing girls and fighting with my friends The old man asked me to join him and play him some guitar Well my daddy’s mind’s still going, but his hands have lost their speed He still loves that rocker and he sure as hell loves to sing Even though this town it seems to change every day The family still gets together, and we still love to play
5.
I see the rain falling down through the haze I see the colors but I’m missing all the shapes I see the light but it won’t show me the way And I can’t see you I see the future when I close my eyes I see your picture, but I think it’s a disguise My fingers run through your hair but no matter how I try I can’t see you It’s like I’m telling myself something I don’t wanna hear They dismiss it as a dream, but it seems so clear I could testify, but it’s best if my eyes drift when you come near Cause they’re telling me something I don’t wanna hear Even when I’m sleeping there’s a reason that I do the things I do And every changing of the season brings believing that dreams come true Give me just a little time, I’ll remind myself what you’ve been going through When I can’t see you Well I spend so much time thinking about what’s out of my hands I hear, I plan, I hope, then you command I wake up grasping at what my heart demands But it don’t matter what I do
, no I can’t see you Now I see the future when I close my eyes I’ve been staring at your picture, and I know it’s a disguise Don’t you know I did my best to love you but no matter how i try I can’t see you It’s like I’m telling myself something I don’t wanna hear Y’all dismiss it as a dream, but it seems so clear You know I could testify, but it’s best if my eyes drift when you come near Cause they’re telling me something I don’t wanna hear
6.
Dancing Slow 04:45
I remember when I took you camping in the snow It melted and a river grew between us Even then I had decided that our time was low There would soon be miles between us So we packed up and for the first time I took you home My mother smiled to see us I would like to meet the one who said, “If you love them, let them go.” I would like to think I’ve lived enough to hope And now, we’ll never know When we met in Vegas weeks after I let you go We watched the world beneath us I withered as you left for the plane that took you home But I steeled my heart and lied, “It’s for the best.” I would like to meet the one who said, “If you love them, let them go.” I would like to think I’ve lived enough to hope And now, we’ll never know You remember when you took me camping at the coast? I’d not yet felt the canyon grown between us I’d forfeited every chance to tell you how I loved you so Exhausted in the months that I’d let pass I relive that night, naked, dancing slow Regretting that if only we had both known I would like to meet the one who said, “If you love them, let them go.” I… would like to think I’ve lived enough to hope And now, we’ll never know
7.
Philip Marshall Cates was born in Carolina, Went to school in England Philip and Samantha married on his farm Before the harvest season He was schemin’ His worshipped father died a Great War hero At night he’d lie in bed and clutch his silver stars and eagles (He was schemin’) Back abroad in London Philip Marshall Cates Had met an old explorer Who’d climbed the Ural Mountains, crossed Sahara, Dove the oceans, spoke of more Oh, he spoke of more! So one night Philip abandoned poor Samantha, Future Smokey Mountain old maid And as he dark departed, son Lysander Joined his father as a stowaway (He spoke of more!) But tonight, don’t cry for Samantha, mother and bride As she holds a black and white photograph that fades away She still works the farm, and she remembers her baby in her arms The babe that left her barren and the man that drove her early grey And they all take respite in the thought of coming home one day Philip and Lysander carried south to work for merchants out of Quito Son translated, father wore a gun and fended off banditos He grew weak though Then in eighteen years they worked every job from here to Argentina Every woman a distortion of that last time they had seen her (He grew weak though) But tonight, don’t cry for Samantha, mother and bride As she holds a black and white photograph that fades away She still works the farm, and she remembers her baby in her arms The babe that left her barren and the man that drove her early grey And they all take respite in the thought of coming home one day Old Lysander Cates spent over thirty months In travel north to Raleigh Gasping when he saw Samantha bed-ridden, rheumatized and gnarly He said “I’m sorry, “It’s been seven years since father was gunned down “By gauchos out to rob our cocaine “And when I got out of jail for killing every last one “I started home again “Oh, Mother I’m sorry.” Old Samantha Cates was buried in The shadow of the church bell tower And when he took his life Lysander’s body Landed there amongst her flowers…. But tonight, don’t cry for Samantha, mother and bride As she holds a black and white photograph that’s faded away She still works the farm, and her baby has outgrown her arms The fields are never barren and The men come in for supper after a long hard day And they all take respite in the thought of coming home….
8.
She likes my taste in music and I love her taste for life She can’t stand to read, but I love what she writes And when I need an answer, she’ll only ask me why But I know that it’s somewhere behind those eyes Because she’s just as uncool as me But she loves me like you won’t believe And she swears a singalong is gonna save the world And she goes La Da Da Da Da Da Da Da She’ll never tell me what she’s thinking but she’ll tell everybody how she feels Says she oughta go to prison for them hearts that she steals And when I’m feeling safe she goes and catches me off guard We both take our jokes just a little too far Because she’s just as uncool as me But she loves me like you won’t believe And she swears a singalong is gonna save the world And she goes La Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Dancing in the silence of the moonlight Or making up new words to all our songs It don’t matter which one is running through my head Because I know she’ll be singing, She’ll be singing along Because she’s just as uncool as me But she loves me like you won’t believe And she swears a singalong is gonna save the world She goes La Da Da Da Da Da Da Da
9.
There’s a picture that our friends put in a frame Of you acting the fool on a drunk I hid it deep in my closet But that ain’t stopped it from keeping me up Here’s the belt that you gave me What a diabolical plan Because I lost a lot of weight since you wound up in another’s arms Now your memory is holding up my pants I can handle the lonely It feels like that’s what I was born to do I can handle My stomach, my heart and my panic attacks, but Lord knows I can’t handle you, I can’t handle you One of the best things about us Was our mutual love of music and good tunes But now every song has a memory And I’ve nothing left but country and the blues I asked your opinion What’s the classiest car I can afford? Now I’m riding in style And my passenger seat is empty and ignored I can handle the lonely It feels like that’s what I was born to do I can handle My stomach, my heart and my panic attacks, but Lord knows I can’t handle you, I can’t handle you Now there’s no better version of me Than the one that’s standing by your side But he went south in a hurry, yes he did On the day you hung me out to dry I can handle the lonely Cause it feels like that’s what I was born to do I can handle forgiveness There’s something to hold on to I can handle the blame game Cause at least that’s something I’m prepared to lose I can handle My stomach, my heart and my panic attacks Lord knows I can’t handle you, I can’t handle you
10.
Grindstone 05:04
Watching the sun come up over Lake Michigan Letting the morning train drag me away Hard to believe that we’re doing this again Hard to believe I didn’t come here to stay Hard to believe you’re sending me back west, but easy to see Why you don’t need me wearing you down Grindstone Love’s down to powder and sawdust and grit I’d like to call but there’s nothing left to say And I never meant to take advantage of you like I did The wind picked up and carried all away Grindstone (Love falls out every day) (I just missed it)
11.
Little Spoon 02:58
Hey pretty lady won’t you come my way We got nothing going on today I got two arms and you belong in the middle I’ll be the big spoon if you’ll be the little We could stay out until we see the stars Or we could drink Blue Moon in a dive bar If you wanna go shopping you could drag me around I could check out the new record store downtown You got the money, I got the time You put me in the best frame of mind Lately I’ve been telling anybody who’ll hear That you’re the only song playing in my ears Hey pretty lady won’t you come my way We got nothing going on today I got two arms and you belong in the middle I’ll be the big spoon if you’ll be the little I sold a record but I ain’t sold two So I only got a little bit to spend on you I’d sure like to buy you an ice cream cone Pretend we don’t have to act like all grown Up men and women worried bout the banks The youth and the protests and the corporate ranks The burden and afflictions and the stress are all gone When I’m walking down the street with you on my arm So hey pretty lady won’t you come my way We got nothing going on today You keep doing what it is you do And I’m always gonna be a fool for you You be the crazy and I’ll be the sane I’ll keep up with you and I won’t complain Oakland, Chicago, to NYC I just wanna hold you next me I’ll be the big spoon, you be the little I got two arms…and you belong in the middle

credits

released March 10, 2014

Performed By:
Grover Anderson (vocals/rhythm guitar), Aaron Bishop (bass), Bob Matthews (drums), Rick Moore (keyboards/sax), & Kiel Williams (lead guitar)

“Pick Up Your Horn” features Jimbo Scott (vocals/guitar) & Pete Ahonen (banjo)
“Grindstone” features Rick Moore, Caroline Nelson, Owen Ridings, Jimbo Scott, & Kiel Williams (vocals)

Music & Lyrics by Grover Anderson
Except “Pick Up Your Horn”, written by Jimbo Scott & Grover Anderson

Recorded at:
I See Red Studios (engineered by Bob Matthews)
The Electric Company (engineered by Grover Anderson)
Lost Monkey Studio (engineered by Mike Stevens)
Great Modulator Productions (engineered by Rick Moore & Kiel Williams)

Mixed by Michael Clebanoff
Mastered by Paul Stubblebine

Artwork & design by Alexis Wagner

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Grover Anderson Murphys, California

Grover lives in Murphys, CA with his wife Katie (also a high school teacher) and their two daughters. The variety of bands that he’s opened for (including America, Matt Stell, Birds of Chicago, and The Charlie Daniels Band) reflects the crossover appeal of his music, which folks have labelled folk, country, rock, and Americana. Grover doesn’t really care what folks call it as long as it moves them ... more

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