Album 2: Atomic Optimism

Atomic Optimism flips the dial to a brighter, catchier frequency—only to reveal the same cracked world humming underneath. With upbeat jingles, playful duets, and cheerful swing rhythms, it sells radiation as a minor inconvenience and vault life as perfectly fine—just don’t look too closely. Beneath the smiles and finger snaps, something feels off, like a propaganda broadcast that never stops. 

It’s fun, ironic, and quietly unsettling—perfect for Fallout tabletop RPG stories where everything seems safe and happy on the surface, but your players slowly realize something is very, very wrong. 

Tracklist:

(Click a song to see lyrics and hear a preview)

1. A Little Glow Never Hurt

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Melodic intro

Now don’t you go worryin’ none…
It’s just a little shine.
If the dark glows back at you…
Well, that’s just nature bein’ kind.

Verse 1

Got a shimmer on the sidewalk,
Got a sparkle in the rain,
Got a funny little tickin’ sound
Runnin’ through my brain.

Street signs hum at midnight,
River shines neon green—
But that’s just modern progress, friend,
Cleanest glow I’ve seen!

Chorus

A little glow never hurt,
Just a little light on my shirt,
If my shadow shines at night—
Well, that just means I’m bright!

Verse 2

Doctor said, “Avoid the rads,”
I said, “Doc, relax,”
Everything’s a little spicy
In these post-war snacks.

Got a tan without the sunshine,
Teeth a little loose—
But that’s just evolution, pal,
Don’t go cryin’ “noose.”

Chorus

A little glow never hurt,
Just a little sizzle and burn,
If the Geiger starts to sing—
That’s my wedding ring!

Spoken Bridge

Now sure…
My hair fell out last Tuesday.
And sure…
The mirror’s lookin’ stranger than it used to.
But we’re all adjustin’.
And besides—
You don’t need eyebrows
To smile.

Verse 3

Fireflies look jealous
When I’m walkin’ down the street,
Dogs don’t come much near me now—
Guess they like the heat.

Water tastes metallic,
Clocks don’t tick the same—
But that’s just small side effects
Of a brand-new atomic age!

Final Chorus

A little glow never hurt,
Just a little flare and spurt,
If the night turns white as noon—
We’ll be hummin’ a happy tune!

A little glow never hurt…
That’s what I keep sayin’—
If my skin lights up the dirt…
That just means I’m stayin’.

2. Lipstick on the Gas Mask

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Verse 1

Met you where the streetlights flicker in a fallout afterglow,
Neon bleeding through the haze like a late-night picture show.
Wind was pushin’ paper cups across the broken asphalt,
But you stood there like a promise that the sirens couldn’t halt.

And I swear the whole world faded into smoky shades of black—
All I saw was scarlet shining on your gas mask.

Verse 2

You said, “Darlin’, air’s a gamble, best not breathe too fast,”
But your voice was smooth as bourbon from a pre-war glass.
Geiger counter clickin’ rhythm like a jukebox out of tune,
But you leaned a little closer like we owned the moon.

Couldn’t see your smile beneath that filtered chrome and brass—
But I felt it press against my gas mask.

Chorus

Lipstick on the gas mask,
Smudged in atomic red,
Kiss me through the rubber seal
Like the old songs said.

If the sky is glowin’ green
And the air is thick and fast,
We’ll make our own sweet oxygen
Inside this gas mask.

Verse 3

Rads are hummin’ softly like a love song in disguise,
City glowin’ brighter than the truth in our eyes.
Can’t hold your naked fingers, can’t taste your breath or laugh—
But I’ll dance with you forever through a filtered photograph.

World can crack and crumble into radioactive glass—
Long as there’s that lipstick on my gas mask.

Verse 4

Never thought romance would come with warning labels bright,
Never thought a kiss would need a hazard sign in sight.
But baby, when you pull me close and fog up that clear pane,
It feels just like July again before the fire and rain.

Let the fallout fall around us slow and vast—
Leave your heart-shaped echo on my gas mask.

Chorus

Lipstick on the gas mask,
Print it bold and loud,
Love ain’t scared of thunder
Or a mushroom cloud.

If tomorrow’s just a rumor
Buried in the past,
We’ll leave a little proof we lived
On this gas mask.

Spoken Bridge

MAN: You ever wonder what it’s like without all this rubber and steel?
WOMAN: I do.
MAN: Worth the radiation?
WOMAN (smirking): For you? Maybe just a little.

Final Chorus

Lipstick on the gas mask,
Bright against the gray,
Color in a colorless world
That burned away.

If the sirens start to wail
And the shadows stretch and pass—
They’ll still see how we loved
On a gas mask.

3. How to Survive in the Wasteland

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Spoken Intro

Well now folks!
If you find yourself slightly irradiated and mildly on fire—
Here’s a few helpful hints!

Verse 1

Rule number one: don’t drink the water
If it glows or hums or sings,
If it tastes like pennies and regret,
That ain’t hydration, friend.

Rule number two: trust no ladder
That’s been standin’ fifty years,
And never pet a creature
With more than seven ears.

Chorus

That’s how you survive in the wasteland,
Keep your boots tight and your hopes grand,
Count your caps and check your gear,
Smile wide and show no fear!

That’s how you survive in the wasteland—
Simple tricks at your command!
If you wake up still alive—
You’re doin’ just fine!

Verse 2

Rule number three: if someone’s friendly
And they’re smilin’ ear to ear,
Check behind the “friend” part first—
Then keep your trigger near.

Rule number four: don’t trust the quiet,
Silence means somethin’s wrong,
If the birds ain’t singin’ anymore—
You won’t be for long.

Chorus

That’s how you survive in the wasteland,
Keep your back to the sand,
If it’s shiny, strange, or new—
It probably bites you too!

That’s how you survive in the wasteland—
No need to understand!
Just duck your head and improvise—
And don’t believe the skies!

Spoken Bridge

Now rule number five…
Don’t get attached too easy.
Folks don’t last long out here.
And if you find someone worth holdin’—
Hold ‘em…
But don’t blink.

Verse 3

Rule number six: keep movin’ steady,
Don’t camp where you fought,
The past has teeth in places
You’d rather it did not.

Rule number seven: laugh a little
When the night gets loud and wide—
‘Cause if you lose your sense of humor…
You’ve already died.

Final Chorus

That’s how you survive in the wasteland,
Hold your breath and take a stand,
Every sunrise is a win—
Even if it’s thin.

That’s how you survive in the wasteland—
Best you understand:
It ain’t about how long you live—

It’s who you were when you did.

4. Now With 20% More Sunshine

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Spoken Intro

“Now with twenty percent more sunshine!
Brighter days ahead!
Pour yourself a happy tomorrow—
Leave those worries dead!”

Verse 1

That old radio still crackles
On a table by the door,
Pick it up in a grocery store
That ain’t a store no more.

And every night at half past nine
Right after the static whine—
That cheery little chorus comes
Like everything’s just fine.

Chorus

Now with twenty percent more sunshine!
New and improved delight!
Brighter smiles in every bottle—
Mornin’, noon, and night!

Now with twenty percent more sunshine!
Guaranteed to glow!
Buy today and chase your blues
Wherever you may go!

Verse 2

I look outside — the sky’s a bruise,
The air’s got a funny taste,
Sunshine’s got a different kick
Since it scorched the human race.

Twenty percent more? Well friend,
We sure got somethin’ new—
It shines so bright at midnight
You don’t need a light or two.

Chorus

Now with twenty percent more sunshine!
Health in every sip!
Golden rays in every drop—
Happiness on your lip!

Now with twenty percent more sunshine!
Shinin’ coast to coast!
Raise a glass to brighter days—
Here’s to what you love the most!

Spoken Bridge

I remember when we’d hum along…
Didn’t think much of it.
Just another tune between the ballgame and the weather.
Now it feels like a joke
Nobody bothered to finish.
Twenty percent more sunshine…
We got it, alright.

Verse 3

The streets glow green in places now,
The river hums at night,
The dogs don’t bark at nothin’
But they don’t bark at light.

Expectations used to be
A porch and kids and lawn—
Now I call it a good day
If my shadow’s still my own.

Final Chorus

Now with twenty percent more sunshine…
Brighter than before…
(voice warps slightly)
More… and more… and more…

Now with twenty percent more—

Guess they finally delivered.

5. Ghoul, But Not Feral Yet!

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Spoken Intro

Well good morning, memory.
You still here?
Atta boy.

Verse 1

Woke up with the sunrise
Peelin’ through the blinds,
Took a second just to see
If I still had my mind.

Said my name three times slow,
Listened for reply—
When it answered back like usual,
I nearly cried.

Chorus

Ghoul, but not feral yet!
Still know what I forget.
Still remember how to smile
And how to place a bet.

Ghoul, but not feral yet!
That’s a win I’ll take—
If I wake up knowin’ who I am,
That’s enough for today.

Verse 2

Skin don’t fit the way it did,
Voice is cracked and thin,
Mirror’s got opinions
I’d rather not give in.

Folks don’t shake my hand no more,
Dogs won’t meet my eyes—
But I still recall the way
My daughter used to laugh at pies.


Chorus

Ghoul, but not feral yet!
Haven’t lost me yet.
Still can count my fingers twice
And pay an honest debt.

Ghoul, but not feral yet!
Haven’t turned to bone—
If my thoughts still line up straight,
I’m not alone.

Spoken Bridge

Sometimes I wake up quiet.
Too quiet.
Like somebody moved the furniture
Inside my head.
But then I find a memory…
And put it back
Where it belongs.

Verse 3

I keep my past in tidy rows,
Stacked up nice and neat,
First kiss, first job,
The rhythm of old Main Street.

If one goes missin’ overnight,
I’ll know it when I check—
’Cause losing things is different
From losing self-respect.

Final Chorus

Ghoul, but not feral yet!
Still got some regret.
Still can hum an old-time tune
And place a silhouette.

Ghoul, but not feral yet…
Morning’s my roulette—
Every day I wake up whole

Is a day I haven’t fallen…
Yet.

6. Hold My Hand Through the Rads

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Verse 1

The doctor wouldn’t look at me
When he read the little chart,
Just said, “You both been out too long,”
And pressed it to his heart.

The counter kept on ticking
Like it didn’t understand—
That all I really needed
Was to hold your hand.

Verse 2

Your hair’s been falling softly
Like the dust out on the plains,
You say it’s just the weather
Or the changing in the rains.

But I see it in your eyes now,
That quiet, distant land—
So I pull you a little closer
And hold your hand.

Chorus

Hold my hand through the rads,
Through the glow and the gray,
If the light inside you’s fading
I’ll stay.

Hold my hand through the night,
Through the burn and the sand,
If the world is coming for you—
It’ll have to take my hand.

Verse 3

We used to dance in kitchen light
Before the sirens came,
Barefoot on the linoleum,
Laughing just the same.

Now we count the pills and hours
Like shells upon the strand—
But I still feel the girl I love
Inside your hand.

Spoken Bridge

You told me not to worry.
Said everybody glows a little
After so much sun.
But I see the way you shiver
When the room gets cold…
And I know…
It isn’t the weather.

Verse 4

Your breath is getting lighter now,
Like smoke that won’t stay still,
You say, “Don’t you let me slip,”
And I say, “I never will.”

The Geiger’s crying softly
Like it’s making some demand—
But it can tick forever…
I won’t let go your hand.

Final Chorus

Hold my hand through the rads,
Through the silence and the ache,
If your heart is getting tired
Mine will break.

Hold my hand through the dark,
Through the ash and the land,
If you’re walking somewhere I can’t—

Let me walk as far as I can…
Hold my hand…

8. Letters With No Address

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Verse 1

I found some paper by the bed
Still smells like things we never said
I write your name in careful lines
Then fold it neat between the signs

I do not know which road you chose
Or where the broken highway goes
But still I seal it like before
And leave it by the door

Chorus

Letters with no address
Written in loneliness
Sealed with a quiet prayer
Sent to the open air

Letters that never land
Carried by dust and sand
If you are anywhere
Find me there

Verse 2

I tell you how the nights are long
How silence hums a tired song
I say I’m eating like I should
And sleeping more than grief thought good

I do not say I reach at dawn
To where your warmth has long been gone
Some truths are softer left unsaid
Like words we never read

Chorus

Letters with no address
Folded with tenderness
Marked only “Love” and then
Written again and again

Letters with no reply
Sent to a vacant sky
Hoping the wind might care
You’re still there

Spoken Bridge

They say there’s no one left to deliver.
No trains.
No routes.
But if love once knew the way…
Maybe paper remembers too.

Final Verse

I stack them by the window pane
And read them when it starts to rain
Your name still sounds the way it did
Like something I could always hold

If somewhere you still breathe the air
I hope these words can wander there
Until they find you where you stand
And take your hand

9. Perfectly Safe Down Here

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Spoken Intro

Why worry about mushroom clouds
Or skies that glow at night?
Step right in, folks — we’ve got comfort,
Clean air, and fluorescent light!..

Verse 1

Step inside and close the door,
Leave the sirens far behind,
We’ve got filtered air and canned éclairs
And peace of mind refined.

Polished floors and numbered beds,
Smiles from ear to ear—
A future bright and concrete-tight…
You’re perfectly safe down here!

Chorus

Perfectly safe down here,
Nothing at all to fear,
Steel above and stone around,
The safest spot for miles around.

Perfectly safe, don’t cry,
No more dangerous sky—
Just hum along and disappear…
You’re perfectly safe down here!

Verse 2

We’ve got bingo nights on Tuesdays,
Movie reels on Fridays too,
Hydroponic lettuce fresh
And vitamin stew for you!

Clocks are set to “Anytime,”
Sunlight’s painted near—
If you miss the breeze and birds and trees…
Well, hush now, volunteer.

Chorus

Perfectly safe down here,
Nothing is breaking, dear,
Hear that little rumble sound?
That’s just comfort underground.

Perfectly safe, we swear,
Fresh recycled air—
If the walls shake once or twice…
That’s just settling, my dear!

Spoken Bridge

Now we know you might be wondering
About your house…
Your dog…
Your mother’s fine china cabinet…
But rest assured —
Everything important
Is right here.

Verse 3

Some folks say they hear a sound
Like scratching through the hall,
Some folks say the paint is peeling
Off the lower wall.

Some folks say the lights flicker
Like they’re tired of shining clear—
But rumors grow in crowded rooms…
You’re perfectly safe down here.

Chorus

Perfectly safe down here,
Why would you want up there?
Sky’s a hazard, sun’s unkind,
Trust the program, never mind.

Perfectly safe, don’t ask,
Questions are quite a task—
Smile for the intercom, dear…
You’re perfectly safe down here!

Spoken Outro

If the doors don’t open someday…
That just means
They’re working.

10. I Feel Better Already

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Spoken Intro

Now don’t you worry none…
I been feelin’ different lately.
Different’s growth.

Verse 1

Woke up with a little buzz
Runnin’ through my spine,
Head’s been ringin’ like a bell
But that just means I’m fine.

Got a twitch beneath my left eye,
New itch in my knee—
If my boots don’t fit no more,
That’s expansion, baby!

Chorus

I feel better already,
Just a little unsteady,
Little rhythm under ribs—
But that’s energy, baby!

If my heartbeat’s double-time,
That just means I’m ready—
I feel better…
Better already!

Verse 2

Doctor said, “That’s curious…”
Then he stepped away,
Counted twice on one hand
But I got three that day.

There’s a second little thumpin’
Underneath my vest—
But extra beats mean extra life,
And I always liked the best!

Chorus

I feel better already,
Little warm and heady,
If my reflection blinks too soon—
That’s personality!

If my hair won’t stay attached,
That’s aerodynamic, baby—
I feel better…
Better already!

Spoken Bridge

Sure…
I named my new toe “Bob.”
Figured if he’s stayin’,
He deserves a proper job.

Bob’s been growin’ steady—
Left boot’s feelin’ tight—
But you can’t stop progress, friend,
You just lace up right.

Verse 3

Neighbors cross the street now
When I wave hello,
Guess they’re shy about the way
My extra fingers show.

Food tastes kinda metallic,
Water’s sharp like wire—
But that’s just stronger flavor, friend,
I always liked it higher!

Chorus

I feel better already,
Little light and heady,
If my joints bend backwards—
That’s just flexible, baby!

If the Geiger starts to sing,
Well that’s applause, don’t you see?
I feel better…
Better already!

Final Tag

If Bob keeps growin’ sideways…
I’ll just buy bigger shoes.
And if I sprout another arm—
Well…
That’s just more of me to use.