There is a humble river from my childhood that runs through the middle of Lander, WY — the place of my birth. I have vivid memories of wading in the shallow waters of the Popo Agie and breathing the clean air and soaking in a simpler time.

Below is a video discussion of the behind-the-scenes background of Popo Agie, track #7 on my new album Another Gleam — a revealing look at the inspirations, the meanings behind the song, the songwriting process, the recording experience and much more. Enjoy.

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POPO AGIE
by tyler stenson © 2007

I can feel the Lander wind
Coming up beneath me again.

But to the north there’s millionaires
That lay between the billionaires
And their buildings stretch to touch the sky
In the bigger world on the other side of the middle
… of the Popo Agie.

Running down the crooked miles,
I could feel the muscles tire
And I could bend my tongue and sing the words of Pioneers
(They’re coming up between my teeth).
All at once their melodies turn to fields of industry
And the California air turned black
So, the movie stars started moving back to the middle
… to the Popo Agie

These are places- Western spaces
And I go back there just to taste it.
To feel a warm night mixed with fireflies and I–
I can feel the Lander wind coming up beneath me again.

But to the north there’s billionaires
That are speckled between the millionaires
And their buildings stretch to touch the sky
In the bigger world on the other side of the middle.
It’s just a little river,
But it’s clean as all hell
… Oh, Popo Agie.

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In the Spring of 2004, I took a poetry class at the University of Oregon where we were assigned to write a descriptive poem about a childhood memory — my mind jumped immediately to the oldest memory I have of my babysitter’s backyard in Lander, WY.

In reality, I was a child playing on a broken down riding lawnmower; however, in they eyes of a younger me, a child lost in a daydream, it was a chugging John Deer tractor and I was an important farmer/cowboy, responsible for keeping the crops alive, feeding hungry mouths and corralling the cattle before the dust storm.

Written in one sitting, this poem-turned song is one of my most prized creations and I proudly dedicate it to Lisa, the teenager that answered the call of duty all those many years ago and accepted a humble hourly wage in exchange for Babysitting the Cowboy.

Below is a video discussion of the behind the scenes of my original song Babysitting the Cowboy, track #13 off of my new album Another Gleam — a revealing look at the inspiration, the songwriting process, the recording experience and more. Enjoy.

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BABYSITTING THE COWBOY
by tyler stenson © 2006

My memories are a series of backyard cul-de-sacs
That smell of fresh cut grass and juniper.
Wyoming sunsets burned and
Crickets sang their hearts as the sky turned orange
And mother called us in from the day.

In one particular backyard
Sat a stagnant John Deer tractor that remained
Green all year round
As it rested quietly in the shade
Of the Bellevue Alley shrubbery
(No more than ten feet from the fence line).

A younger Me could turn the ruins of
Once Great Machines into a dream.

This useless tractor was fully functional
In the eyes of a younger me-
Those eyes saw fearlessly a cowboy
With buckles and leather and mouths to feed
And dried up fields that desperately
Need a farmer’s touch.

A younger Me could go and do great things in the shade,
While the rest of the yard was green-
How it glistened in the sunlight.

Lisa. Please watch over me;
Write it down in your memory that I-
I was a child lost in a daydream.

She would say Only boring people get bored.
So, today I’ll be plowing a field and
Corralling cattle before the dust storm.
Disintegrating are the chances for our lunch break-
There is too much work to be done today and
The cattle won’t milk themselves.

——

There are multiple recorded versions of Babysitting the Cowboy to be found online:

Orange Chrome Sky
Live at Mississippi Studios
See That Gleam
Another Gleam

I hope it has never been a secret about where I was born; Wyoming. Many songs have referenced this Western space and it holds a most dear piece of my heart. Although I am a Portlander at the core and by trade, I am endlessly proud of these roots…

A few years ago when I wrote a song about Wyoming for my Bittersweet Parade album, I sent it to the Wyoming Tourism Bureau and even though they enjoyed the song, they didn’t have any use for it at the time.

However, years later, the Wyoming Ad Council has called me with a use: They’re doing a targeted “Visit Wyoming” campaign in Pioneer Square (in Portland, OR) and will be leveraging my Wyoming roots and my Portland connection for their weekend long event.

MORE ON THE EVENT:

Forever West | 8:00AM – 6:00PM
Want to get a taste of Wyoming and see what it feels like to Roam Free? Come on down to experience all that Wyoming has to offer, and for a chance to win your own vacation to an authentic dude ranch! Enjoy samples of delicious bison burgers, chili, and yummy candies – straight from the source. Also, learn to rope, take your picture running from a bucking bull or on top of Old Faithful and listen to music from Wyoming native, Tyler Stenson. For more information about Wyoming, click here.

WYOMING

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In September of 2009 I played a farewell show at the Aladdin Theater — my last waltz before moving to Nashville, TN. Although I’ve posted the concert videos previously, I now present the audio — for free — a live album that captures the magic of one of the most special nights in my life. Please, pass it on.

DOWNLOAD THE .ZIP HERE: Tyler Stenson live at the Aladdin Theater

WATCH ALL THE VIDEOS HERE

Lastly, please join me on March 11th for another live recording at Alberta Rose Theater. It promises to be just as special. More info here.

ALADDIN SET LIST:
You can download the tracks individually below…

1. Welcome the Change
2. You Already Know
3. As the Crow Flies
4. Cellophane
5. The Road
6. Wyoming
7. Explode
8. Great Man’s Funeral
9. I Get No Sleep
10. Better Be Us All

I was quite honored today when I logged on to Facebook to find an invite for a group titled: Tyler Stenson’s “Wyoming” Should Be the Official State Song. I had no idea this group had been formed but I must admit, I have zero objection to the cause. I’m truly honored that my song has made the impact that it has and I’m humbled that others would even attempt to get it recognized on a larger level.

I suppose the attention began last summer when I performed my song about Wyoming at the Oyster Ridge Music Festival in Kemmerer, WY — the song, it seemed, received a beaming appreciation from the crowd and this Facebook group is the result.

That said, I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be returning to the Oyster Ridge Music Festival this year where I’ll be kicking off the festivities with a special first-of-its-kind Thursday night showcase on July 29th. I just found out about this performance so as usual, I’m very excited to return to my place of birth — Wyoming.

WYOMING

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Tyler Stenson @ the Oyster Ridge Music Festival
Thursday July 29th, 2010
Kemmerer, WY

Please do me the honor of joining Tyler Stenson’s “Wyoming” Should Be the Official State Song. May this group take us places!

I am proud to announce that I’ve written a song about Wyoming — the last good plot of land. It has been included as track #11 on my newest album Bittersweet Parade and I couldn’t be happier. Hear it and see it below!

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 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

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my song Wyoming. Below you’ll find the song, the lyrics and some other videos illustrating the inspirations. Please give it a listen, turn the volume way up and enjoy it to the fullest. Thank you.

WYOMING

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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