Someone called KiltedYaksman wrote an intriguing analysis of Optimistic by Radiohead:
Another way of exploring meanings of this song is from the biological / ecological / evolutionary perspective:
first verse: Everything is just trying to secure natural resources, and we should not be judgemental about it. Flies, vultures, and large critters eating smaller / weaker ones shouldn’t be of any concern – everything needs the resources, including us.
second verse: All organisms are optomistic about gaining their resources (it’s in our genetic programing), but we are all destined to becoming resources for other organisms – when pigs go to market, they are butchered and consumed, as old forms of life become inadequate, new forms rise up ”out of the swamp.” Dropping a payload is taking a dump. Even dung is a resource for other animals. We’re ALL animals living on the same farm – consuming and providing resources.
third verse: ”I’d really like to help you” = altruism doesn’t necessarily pay off as far as my chances at surviving and reproducing. ”Nervous… marionette.” = We are a puppet for our DNA – our behaviors (self preservation, resource consumption, reproduction) are only a reflection of the DNA’s ‘desire’ for replication of itself. ”Prison ship” = planet Earth.
last part: ”Dinosaurs roaming the earth” Despite each organisms optimism for reproduction, all species are destined for extinction. We’re the dinosaurs – currently dominating the planet, but not forever.
Here are the lyrics:
Optimistic
Flies are buzzing round my head
Vultures circe-ling the dead
Picking up every last crumb
The big fish eat the little ones
The big fish eat the little ones
Not my problem, give me some
You can try the best you can
You can try the best you can?
The best you can is good enough
If you try the best you can
If you try the best you can
The best you can is good enough
This one’s optimistic
This one went to market
This one just came out of the swamp
This one dropped a payload
Fodder for the animals
Living on animal farm
You can try the best you can
You can try the best you can
The best you can is good enough
If you try the best you can
If you try the best you can
The best you can is good enough
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Ah ah ah
Oh oh oh
I’d really like to help you, man
I’d really like to help you, man
Nervous messed up marionettes
Floating around on a prison ship
You can try the best you can
You can try the best you can
The best you can is good enough
You can try the best you can
You can try the best you can
Dinosaurs roaming the Earth
Dinosaurs roaming the Earth
Dinosaurs roaming the Earth
Ah ah ah (oh oh oh)
Ah ah ah (oh oh oh)
Ah ah ah
Oh oh oh