Don Was about Tyler Stenson
Born in Lander, WY but raised in Oregon, Tyler Stenson is a bold, lyric-first singer/songwriter in Portland that draws profound influence from his roots in the humble West. Raised a vocalist by his musical mother and a perfectionist by his father the architect, Stenson's unique brand of "Elegant Folk" music is the fitting result of his upbringing -- wildly creative but ever wrangled by his meticulous attention to detail and the desire to design things differently.
"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 -- yes, a long line of the Music Makers and of Soldiers for the Muse."
Tyler Stenson -- Fight 'til Dying Day
As front man and songwriter for his former bands Lander and Rhetoric Tuesday, Stenson played the Northwest college circuit throughout the early 2000s with great success. However, often unfulfilled by the beer soaked bars and bent upon highlighting his poignant lyrics that were too often shadowed by nightlife noise, he soon put band-oriented rock-n-roll to rest and tackled the burgeoning Portland scene in 2007 as a solo artist -- it was the best decision he would ever make.
Now, having been twice named the "Songwriter of the Year" by the Portland Songwriters Association (2007 and 2008) and "Best Male Artist" at the 2011 Portland Music Awards, Stenson's authentic sound is claiming stake on the national stage. Already considered one of the premiere singer/songwriters in the Northwest, Stenson was recently named a Top 10 Finalist in Guitar Center's 'Search for the Next Great American Songwriter’ contest with Don Was (out of 10,000) and, out of nearly 4,000 bands, he was hand-selected by Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) and Ryan Spaulding (RSLblog) to perform at The Outlaw Roadshow showcase at SxSW 2013 in Austin, TX.
"With the delivery of lyrics that leap from the page, Stenson's an artist who's instantly arresting. Everything I heard was worth repeat listening."
Ryan Spaulding -- RSLBlog.com
With his national name growing, Stenson was named Reverb Nation’s Breaking Artist in 2013 and has been invited to open for LeAnn Rimes, Chris Isaak, John Popper, Marc Cohn, Matisyahu, Fuel, Guster (and many others). He has also landed original songs on two separate national Chevrolet commercials, as well as, a handful of others placed in Internationally televised shows.
While Portland has no doubt given Stenson his artistic edge, he spent nearly two years as a singer/songwriter in Nashville, learning from the best -- all the while touring and building his loyal following that he aptly dubs “The Elegant Folk.”
With a well of experience behind him, Stenson continues to press forward with a broadened sense of self and an unshakable belief in his own abilities to plot his own path. A fearless recording artist, he has self-released 11 albums, including his acclaimed release of Some Days I’m a Lion, in front of a sold-out crowd at the legendary Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR.
In an age where thoughtful lyric has taken a backseat to hyper production, Stenson has learned one thing through his decade of experiences and performances at notable venues such as the legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville and The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles: Lyric is King -- Stenson's music is just that -- words paired with notes that sum up the human experience and endlessly inspire the train of followers that find a piece of themselves in the sincerity of his words.
"Don't whisper softly the things that you want loudly to be."
Tyler Stenson -- Whistle Stop
Clover
Tyler Stenson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Clover I'll be lucky
To ever find something like you.
Please, Clover make me lucky.
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.
The song "Clover" by Tyler Stenson tells the story of a man who's not a believer in fate but has his own quirks when it comes to superstition. He believes in luck and considers himself lucky if he finds a four-leaf clover, the universal symbol for good fortune. The lyrics also talk about the struggles of finding something as rare as a four-leaf clover, which is comparable to finding true love. The singer has had his fair share of luck in games of chance before, but he knows that finding a love like Clover is a different kind of luck altogether.
The song uses imagery to create a powerful message. The singer compares finding Clover with finding a four-leaf clover in a field of green. The task is arduous, tiring, and requires patience, but the reward is worth it. According to the song, finding Clover would be the ultimate display of luck because she's one of a kind.
The chorus of the song, "Clover I'll be lucky to ever find something like you," emphasizes the importance of finding true love. It's one of the most difficult things, and the singers know that if he could find someone like Clover, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack or a four-leaf clover in a field of green.
Line by Line Meaning
As a man of chance, not much for fate,
As someone who believes in luck more than destiny,
My superstitions are hard to break.
It's difficult for me to let go of my superstitions.
But, if Lucky see, then Lucky do,
If I see something lucky happen, I start to believe in my own luck.
Then Clover I'll be lucky to find you.
So finding someone like you would bring me great luck.
I've had a pocket-pair with an Ace up my sleeve
I've been in situations where I had a winning hand in my possession.
At an all-in table that boasted one King.
In a high stakes game where everyone is risking everything.
But, my luck has been known to wear walking shoes
But sometimes my luck comes and goes quickly.
So, Clover I'll be lucky to find you.
That's why finding someone like you would be incredibly lucky for me.
Clover I'll be lucky
Finding you would be like finding a four-leaf clover.
To ever find something like you.
Finding someone as special as you is a rare occurrence.
Please, Clover make me lucky.
I hope that you being in my life will bring me good luck.
In all the world there's a billion blades
The world is full of similar things.
In the grass on the ground that all look the same.
For example, all the blades of grass on the ground look identical.
I've combed them over- I've sifted through-
I've searched extensively for something or someone special.
And Clover I'll be lucky to find you.
So finding someone like you would truly be lucky for me.
Clover I'll be lucky
Again, finding you would be like finding a rare four-leaf clover.
To ever find something
Rare and special like you.
So small and so lovely.
You may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but you are beautiful and unique.
Yes, Clover I'll be lucky if I ever find you.
Once again, finding someone like you would bring me great luck.
Please, Clover make me lucky.
I hope that you being in my life will bring me good fortune.
Contributed by Elizabeth J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.