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The Years of Optimism

by Robert Kennedy

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1.
Sunset 01:56
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2.
Winter 03:23
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I was only dreaming But it felt so real I could feel the burning brightness Morning sun like steel Waking to a nightmare Of reality Drown me in your ocean Of anxiety But I know that, that's no way to live And they all say, that's no way to live It's never easy to forgive All we have is music I still hear the sound Blowing like the wind that hits you On the underground Let us not go gently To a darker light You and I are only children Staring at the night But I know that, that's no way to live And they all say, that's no way to live That's no way to live It's never easy to forgive
3.
Give me something 03:56
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I sit at home with the tv screen Lights in the shadows flashing blue and green Empty bottles in the sink Means there nothing left to Drink I’m exhausted Like the autumn I’m Dropping off Oh please Give me something Sometimes everything’s Not enough All my friends hang out online So close but no one has the time Outside the branches start to leave You have have it too if you just Believe In something Could be anything To get me though Oh please Give me something I’ll take anything Make it true All the dreams I had as a kid are dumb Sometimes you never get to choose But I’m still supplied with love and hope It’s the last thing that you lose
4.
Eat you up 03:31
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Is it over yet? Is it over yet? I wanna get Back to the place where I forget I will eat you up I will eat you up Consume your love Taste all your fear and your regret I will eat you up I will eat you up I wanna eat so much of you that I throw up.
5.
Light burst 03:15
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Darkness on the water Holding tiny feet Standing with my daughter Watching from the street The light burst The love hurts The shadows fly The river Is melting Into the sky Morning in its infancy Opens up its eyes Somewhere something grows again Somewhere something dies The light burst The love hurts The shadows fly The river Is melting Into the sky The light burst The love hurts The shadows fly The river Is melting Into the sky
6.
Fierce 03:08
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Memories are lost inside my head Thoughts of you can run from A to Z Was it yesterday? When I stole away Through the bedroom door I can’t think no more So far from here, I hide my fear But it’s killing me We used to be so fierce We call a truce, but what’s the use? You have to know When it starts to show That it’s over. Said I wouldn’t hold on to the past Only love that hurts can ever last I could take the pain Like a constant rain Ringing telephones Shake my brittle bones So far from here, I hide my fear But it’s killing me We used to be so fierce We call a truce, but what’s the use? You have to know When it starts to show That it’s over.
7.
Lullaby 01:22
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A heart surrounded by glass Breaks in dangerous way I would constantly pass Feelings, always delays Here but moving Love's my, river Keep me close to your hear I will always be true Time can keep us apart But love, Binds us like glue.
8.
Cuckoo 03:40
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What do I do? My wings hurt like never before My feathers lay bare on the floor I call you from far away Maybe this time you’ll choose to stay Without you I wait I must cuckoo In April I open my bill In May I sing night and day In June I change my tune In July how far I fly In August away I must cuckoo What do I do? Old problems don’t matter it seems Our egg shells were only my dreams I watch as you fly away Nothing gold can ever stay Without you I wait I must cuckoo In April I open my bill In May I sing night and day In June I change my tune In July how far I fly In August away I must cuckoo I must cuckoo
9.
Summer 03:08
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10.
30 04:44
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Everything is slowing down tonight Heat is rising from the city lights Like fences Fences Drive around until the moon goes down See the billboards on the edge of town Like trenches Trenches When it’s late we drive back to apartments File our feelings into different compartments And we wish away the hours till the evening Is the way that everyone is feeling? Take another little piece of me Turn it over so the world can see I use you Use you Wind my window up and drive away While I think of something smart to say I lose you Lose you Pictures of you will be going through my head soon Now it’s late and I collapse into the bedroom And I stare all night at shadows on the ceiling Is this the way that everyone is feeling?
11.
Martha's song 03:55
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Martha my own girl Like the sun In my heart Martha my own girl I'm alone When we're apart Everything is for you All that came before you May you grow up believing In the love that we're leading Your light by Martha in my dreams You're a star Guiding me Martha from my fears You're a shield Hiding me Everything is for you All that came before you May you grow up believing In the love that we're leading Your light by Everything is for you All that came before you May you grow up believing In the love that we're leading Your light by
12.
At home 04:03
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about

Robert Kennedy is a singer songwriter based in London. This album 'The Years of Optimism' is his first. It was released exclusively on Bandcamp in June 2023, and will be released on all streaming platforms in Autumn 2023. All proceeds from Bandcamp sales go towards the promotion of the album.

Robert writes:

"I have spent the last few years of my music career playing in bands, most recently in 'Under the Arches' where I write songs in collaboration with bandmate Remy Rosengarten. I also write songs on my own, and have slowly been building a collection which has turned into ‘The Years of Optimism’ my first album.

Although I have not collaborated with anyone on this album there is still some collaboration of sorts. The song Cuckoo is originally by Benjamin Britten, and I have written new verses to make his original theme the chorus. In Lullaby I have taken the piece Berceuse Op. 38 by Saint Saens, and imagined a verse. The track Summer is based on Summer II from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and Winter is based around the tune of the traditional Christmas carol (easily recognisable) with a new original chorus.

This is by no means an album of classical music though. I’ve struggled slightly to define the genre, which could be alternative, indie-folk, singer songwriter…. But in reality it is just what I think sounds good, and how I am feeling now. My music influences include Elliott Smith, Radiohead, Phoebe Bridgers, Sigur Ros and The Beatles.

The final track At Home, is a soundscape of my home life with two young daughters. I often try to compose while they are playing and watching tv in the background.

I have tried my best to make my music emotional, original and authentic, and I hope that comes across when you listen to, and in, The Years of Optimism."

If you like this music, as well as sharing it on social media, but more importantly please tell just one other person about the album. Word of mouth is the original and best way to get information out about any creative work. So please, if you like this, tell someone.

credits

released June 25, 2023

All tracks written, performed, recorded and produced by Robert Kennedy, with the following exceptions

Tracks 1 & 8, guitars by Andrew Pankhurst of the band Constant Follower

Track 7 contains an excerpt from Berceuse Op. 38 by Camille Saint Saens

Track 8 music by Benjamin Britten, lyrics by Jane Taylor and Robert Kennedy

All tracks mastered by Pete Maher.

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Robert Kennedy London, UK

Robert Kennedy is a London based singer songwriter. As well as performing his own material, Robert is also a member of the band Under the Arches, where he is the lead singer and co-songwriter.

Robert is influenced by his favorite artists: Radiohead, The National, Elliott Smith, Phoebe Bridgers, Max Richter and Wild Beasts.

Robert has two young daughters and works for the Chelsea Arts Club. ... more

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