While flying from Nashville to Portland, I finally finished a book that I started back in January. It’s not that the book wasn’t interesting; I just happen to read in sporadic spurts and February was a bit of a lull. I digress.

The book was called Endurance and it was the most insanely inspirational account of a 1914 Antarctic expedition gone awry. Sir Ernest Shackleton led 28 men into the treacherous territory and when their ship was crushed by the ice, they found themselves stranded and tested to the extent of human-will for roughly 2 years — never dry, never warm, always hungry.

THE BACK OF THE BOOK:
This fabulous account of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s epic adventure re-creates one of the most astonishing feats of exploration and human courage ever recorded.

In August 1914, the Endurance set sail for the South Atlantic. The object of the expedition: to cross the Antarctic overland. In October of 1915, still half a continent away from their intended base, the ship was trapped, then crushed in the ice. For five monts Shackleton and his men, drifting on ice packs, were castaways in one of the most savage regions in the world.

Alfred Lansing’s vivid narrative chronicles the amazing thousand-mile voyage in an open boat across the stormiest ocean on the globe and an overland trek through forbidding glaciers and mountains.

The book recounts a harrowing adventure, but ultimately it is the nobility of these men and their indefatigable will to fight back and survive that shines through.

I’m not typically a self-defeating pessimist but there are definitely times when I think life is too tough to bear. If anything, this book left me to reflect upon my “trials” and ultimately realize that I’ve seen nothing worth complaint. These men were the dictionary definition of resilient and I have much to learn from their bravery.

In the end, my life is a lovely piece of cake — I’m humbled and endlessly grateful for the food in my belly and the dry land under my feet. Thank you Endurance for the lesson on perspective.

If you know me in the least, you’d know that Willy Wonka (old school version) and The Pricess Bride are my absolute favorite movies of all time — hands-down — no contest. Not that I need to justify this fact, but as proof, my first album was called Princess Willy. Yes, I was young but the sentiment of undivided dedication stands.

That said, my good buddy Tommy recently stumbled across this graphic and sent it to me — the biggest Princess Bride fan that he knows. I’m honored to hold that title.

Below is a poster of the infamous Indigo Montoya spouting his famous words, “Hello, my name is Indigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.” A lifetime lived for vengeance.

Thanks Tommy!!

Indigo Montoya - You Killed My Father, Prepare to Die

As of today, I have officially finished a brand new song called Clover. Though I schemed it roughly 18 months ago, independently of St Patrick’s Day, it is a lovely coincidence that I should finish it just in time for the holiday.

CLOVER
by tyler stenson © 2010

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I’m a man of chance; not much for fate
And my superstitions are hard to break.
But, if lucky see, then lucky do,
Then Clover I’ll be lucky to find you.

I’ve had a pocket-pair with an Ace up my sleeve
At an all-in table that boasted one King.
But my luck has been known to wear walking shoes,
So Clover I’ll be lucky to find you.

Clover I’ll be lucky
To ever find something like you.
Please, Clover make me lucky.

All the colors curl inside a rainbow
With a soft descent into the pot of gold
But those fortunes go just as quick as they grew
So, Clover I’ll be lucky to find you.

In all the world there’s a billion blades
In the grass on the ground that all look the same.
I’ve combed them over – I’ve sifted through
And Clover I’ll be lucky to find you.

Clover I’ll be lucky
To ever find something
So small and so lovely.
Yes, Clover I’ll be lucky if I ever find you.
Please, Clover make me lucky.

NOTE: This recording was done on my laptop with limited professional equipment, time and instrumental know-how on my part. All things considered, I’m pretty proud of it; however, it’s definitely just a “demo” until I get the chance to work with some professionals on my next studio album. Until then, I’m really excited about the song’s content and hope you enjoy.

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind Wyoming – track #11 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

BUY/DOWNLOAD WYOMING HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

WYOMING

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EXPLANATION

MUSIC VIDEO

LIVE PERFORMANCE

LYRICS TO “WYOMING” by TYLER STENSON

The world started to run
With the turning of the sun.
Cities rose from towns
And quiet turned to sound.
That place stayed the same;
That’s Wyoming.

So, the legends say
That explorers tried to explain-
But the beauty that they found
Was too much to write down.
So, in fiction,
They believed to be Wyoming.

Where the clearest sunny days
Quickly turn to rain
But we don’t mind,
Because all of the sweetest smells remains.

I know Adam’s never seen such a scene
(In neither Eden or his dream).
Even Eve would stop to stare
At God’s most perfect square.
That’s one thing I believe;
He made Wyoming.

Where the clearest sunny days
Quickly turn to rain
But we don’t mind,
Because all of the sweetest smells remains.

All the years hang on the wind
Above this last good plot of land.
I hear it echo in the trees.
I hear its whisper on my knees.
Even Dust can be a king
In Wyoming.

Yes, even Dust can be a King,
In Wyoming.

BUY or DOWLOAD WYOMING HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind Fight til Dying Day – track #10 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

FIGHT TIL DYING DAY

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EXPLANATION

MUSIC VIDEO COMING SOON!!

LYRICS TO “FIGHT TIL DYING DAY” by TYLER STENSON

As long as there has been a song, I’ve felt it in my bones
It was a gift from my dear mother and her father who passed on
A long line of the Music Makers and of Soldiers for the Muse.
Oh, that boy in my war fell out of tune as he fell upon a couple grenades.
That boy in my war is still alive and he’ll fight ‘til Dying Day.

I crossed into California with a smile upon my face
But then I soon left San Francisco with my tail between my legs.
I swear, I was good as I could be on any given time of day
Still, that boy in my war saw the beach burn and the earth quake like a grenade.
That boy in my war is still alive and he’ll fight ‘til Dying Day.

He’ll blow like leaves in the wind
But be proud just to know that he can be his own man-
Not that boy.

I burned a bridge in the desert and left Arizona northbound
And thought If it’s not in Salt Lake, is it Oregon to be found?
On certain nights all the notes were bright and on others they would fade
And that boy in my war called out to god: Tell Hell with all the grenades!
That boy in my war is still alive and he’ll fight ‘til Dying Day.

He’ll blow like leaves in the wind
But be proud just to know that he can be his own man-
Not that boy.

Now, every time I sing, it’s just my confidences wearing thin
So I have to believe this lonely road will bring ‘em back again.
I’m as good as I can be on every given time of day
Oh, that boy in my war will no doubt rise in spite of a couple grenades.
That boy in my war is still alive and he’ll fight ‘til Dying Day.

BUY or DOWLOAD FIGHT TIL DYING DAY HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind Blush – track #9 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

BLUSH

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EXPLANATION

MUSIC VIDEO COMING SOON!!

LYRICS TO “BLUSH” by TYLER STENSON

It’s a sign;
A sign of a temperature rise
That spreads across your face
And in an instant you know what love is like.

When the skin colors crimson and rose
And it burns your eyes
And crawls on your face
In disguise as this thing called Blush.

Underneath our clothes
We are just heart and bone-
The rest is empty space
But we can fill it,
When from the inside we grow like Butterflies

And the skin colors crimson and rose
And it burns your eyes
And crawls on your face
In disguise as this thing called Blush.

Don’t rush me now.
I could stay this way all day.

When the skin colors crimson and rose
And it burns your eyes
And crawls on your face
In disguise as this thing
That comes up rushing love to the head
And is nothing more than proof we’re alive-
We are in orbit-
And with blood-red cheeks,
I could break at the seems
And the insides of me
Could float on above everything.

BUY or DOWLOAD BLUSH HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

Happy Valentines Day one and all. This is a special day for many reasons but to me, none more important than the fact that it’s the one-year anniversary of the completion of my song The Road.

Yep, exactly one year ago I put the pen to paper and navigated my way through the new song. Though I tweaked a few lines over the months to follow, it was written, roughly recorded and given as a Valentines Day gift to a loved one on Feb 14 2009.

In celebration of the one-year anniversary, below are the 2 versions of the song … separated by one very long year.

THE ROAD (Feb 14 2009)

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THE ROAD (Feb 14 2010)

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Time is a funny thing. This song has taken on a whole new meaning across the last year and what was originally written as a private Valetine’s Day confession has become the promoted single off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

If you enjoy this track, it is up for consideration to be included on the KINK.FM Plug in Portland Sampler. This is a vote based contest, so I would endlessly appreciate your support by voting here.

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind Explode – track #8 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

EXPLODE

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EXPLANATION

LIVE PERFORMANCE

LYRICS TO “EXPLODE” by TYLER STENSON

What have I been doing?
What good could come from keeping it in?
I’m terrified of losing
But fighting wars a could never win.
I watch the seasons turn it over.
I watch the reasons change over and over
To different words
But what’s between the lines don’t change.

I have seen my demons.
I have seen their faces.
I’ve seen their eyes.
They’re what I should be leaving
But in that mirror I see they’re still mine.
I watch the seasons turn it over.
I watch the reasons change over and over
To different day
But the same old suffocate.

So, I feel to lighten up my load, I should explode.

I am far from empty
Cause what you don’t let go is bound to build up
Or take you down a piece by piece-
Man, I’m in desperate need of your love.
In my bones I’m feeling older.
This war time has changed me-
I’m no doubt colder
And I will freeze here long before I burn.

So, I feel to lighten up my load, I should explode.

So, I feel to lighten up my load,
I should open up and let the insides show
And explode.

BUY or DOWLOAD EXPLODE HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind Push That River – track #7 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

PUSH THAT RIVER

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EXPLANATION

MUSIC VIDEO COMING SOON!!

LYRICS TO “PUSH THAT RIVER” by TYLER STENSON

If you had a heart, I might say you were the one
And it’s been worth the battle spread across the year.
Since that’s not the case, I am going over numbers
And calculating how to end The War-
I won’t try to push that river anymore.

I remember it was sunset, out by the Hidden Cover
And I could see that there was leaving in your eye.
So, when I said: When I say I love you, I mean it to the bone.
We both knew your heart was miles from that shore-
So I won’t try to push that river anymore.

I know that I could walk away,
Try to make you chase me,
Play the game of playing hard to get,
But I know just how my heart feels
So I will not lie to appease you
Your majesty, am I really such a bore?
I won’t try to push that river anymore.

You wrote: If he doesn’t come back,
He was never really yours
But now my knuckle is blood
From pounding at your door.
So, I’ll leave it at I love you
And I’ll mean it to the bone
And I’ll begin to mend
That red piece of me that was torn
And I won’t try to push that river anymore.
I won’t try to push that river anymore.

BUY or DOWLOAD PUSH THAT RIVER HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2

I recently posted a number of videos that promote my new album Bittersweet Parade by discussing and explaining the behind the scenes perspective. I’m taking each song, one-by-one and giving it some time in the spotlight. Enjoy the collective media behind As the Crow Flies – track #6 off of my new album Bittersweet Parade.

AS THE CROW FLIES

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EXPLANATION

LIVE PERFORMANCE

LYRICS TO “AS THE CROW FLIES” by TYLER STENSON

I blew all the way down to Arizona
Then, like a leaf, I settled down into Rome
And somewhere in between me and Barcelona
I heard the rush of the wind calling Home.

I could see seven miles into the distance
Before the earth began its curve out of site
And I leaned to the wind to feel a resistance;
To let me know I’m not a bird – I don’t fly.

I won’t take my time or circle ’round
Or weave my way through busy towns
Cause I could get lost if I miss a sign.
I’ll take the shortest path between you and I
And cut right through in a perfect line
And come to you as the crow flies.

From where I stand my Home is like a middle daughter;
Just a dot, on the map, in a world
And I’m reminded wheels don’t roll on water
So, tell me lies – tell me I am a bird.

I won’t take my time or circle ’round
Or weave my way through busy towns
Cause I could get lost if I miss a sign.
I’ll take the shortest path between you and I
And cut right through in a perfect line
And come to you as the crow flies.

I will come to you as the crow flies.

BUY or DOWLOAD AS THE CROW FLIES HERE: http://www.cdbaby.com/tylerstenson2