Forever Starts Today are gearing up to release their new album "Always Hope" on August 25th and to celebrate we asked frontwoman Christina Murphy to tell us about their new single/video "Optimist". Here is the story:
"Optimist" is a song about the struggle of trying to repeatedly help someone you care about, when they won't take your advice. The lyrics for "Optimist" came very organically. It was an easy song to write however releasing "Optimist" for all of the public to hear was the harder part. I have never been more honest in a song before and as a musician it's a very vulnerable feeling to openly state everything you're thinking and feeling when a struggle occurs. Especially if it isn't exactly a positive situation.
I wrote Optimist as I watched someone I cared about repeatedly put themselves in situations that were bad for their physical and mental health. I'm a helper and every time they'd put themselves in a bad situation and would get hurt I would coddle them and give advice on how to keep from having that situation happen again; yet every time they would put themselves in the exact same situation as before with the exact same outcome. It's heartbreaking to watch someone you care about continuously hurt and there's nothing you can do about it. They're in control of their own life. They're making these bad decisions and there's nothing you can do about it! I wrote "Optimist" out of frustration because I was rooting for that person to pull through for a better life for themselves. I was counting on them but I saw the cycle and fall after fall, I realized I was only a "Band-Aid" effect to their problems. There was a deeper issue that a Band-Aid couldn't truly heal. I'd only cover up the issue temporarily and they were using me as the only positive source in their life.
To anybody reading this who may be going through something similar, you cannot lastingly be the only light source in somebody's life. Doing this to someone will only drain the happiness, energy and positivity from yourself. Happiness, security and a sense of self-worth is something they need to find inside themselves and you may feel trapped in this relationship but there's always a way out. I do believe people can change but they likely won't if they're using you as a crutch. All of us need to learn to stand on our own two legs. Be happy and secure in who you are! If no one else does, I believe in you! Being able to stand on our own two feet is the only way we can move forward."
Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen and watch for yourself here and learn more about the album right here!
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