Lyrks
Lyrks
Cover Art

A Cockeyed Optimist Lyrics by Mary Martin

South Pacific (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

0

[NELLIE]
When the sky is bright canary yellow
I forget ev'ry cloud I've ever seen
So they called me a cockeyed optimist
Immature and incurably green

I have heard people rant and rave and bellow
That we're done and we might as well be dead
But I'm only a cockeyed optimist
And I can't get it into my head

I hear the human race
Is fallin' on its face
And hasn't very far to go
But ev'ry whip-poor-will
Is sellin' me a bill
And tellin' me it just ain't so

I could say life is just a bowl of Jello
And appear more intelligent and smart
But I'm stuck like a dope
With a thing called hope
And I can't get it out of my heart
Not this heart

About “A Cockeyed Optimist” by Mary Martin

Read the complete lyrics to "A Cockeyed Optimist" by Mary Martin from the album "South Pacific (Original Broadway Cast Recording)". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Soundtrack, Broadway, Musicals.

"A Cockeyed Optimist" is performed by Mary Martin. from the album "South Pacific (Original Broadway Cast Recording)" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Cockeyed Optimist", explore more songs by Mary Martin using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Mary Martin · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"A Cockeyed Optimist" is credited to Mary Martin. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Cockeyed Optimist" appears on "South Pacific (Original Broadway Cast Recording)".

Visit the Mary Martin artist page at /artist/mary-martin for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


Lyrks
Lyrks

Your gateway to the world of music lyrics.

Product

Features


© 2026 Lyrks. All rights reserved.