Music
A former combat medic who served two tours in Iraq during the "surge", Stephen Covell is a gifted, authentic storyteller with an incredible voice that carries lyrics with vivid imagery that stays with you long after the song ends, begging you to hit "repeat". During episode #5 of the OE podcast, Adam Rossi and Guy Jaquier introduce the audience to Stephen, a hyperactive kid who picked up a guitar at 18 and frustrated his music teachers by learning everything quickly by ear. Stephen tells the story of joining the Army at 23 and "wanting to go to combat because I was an idiot", of his assignment to the "Old American Chorus" that lasted less than 7 days, and of his first deployment to Iraq and how some of the hardest moments were treating Iraqi civilians. Along the way, he performs three of his most impactful songs while describing the experience of returning home from war, and how suicide can seem like a relationship, but in reality is "just a story we tell ourselves". Don't miss this episode.The songs referenced in the podcast can be found at the links below, complete with lyrics:"Monuments" "On That River" "Sandhills to Sandals" "Her Cold Hands" - Available soonSupport Stephen's New Book "Bring Your Gun to Work Day": Learn more about Stephen on his website: http://stephencovell.com/Purchase Stephen's newest album: Longing For the HillsSupport Stephen on Patreon"Her Cold Hands" Lyrics:I flirt with deathi send her flowers and chocolatesin the hopes that she’ll noticeand send her attention my waydeath she flirts backgives me that smile that I wantedshe takes my hands and holds thembecause hers are always so coldmaybe i’m oh yes i am a fooli go steady with deathgo driving around after my shiftdown to the shore where it’s quitewe’re trying to just be alonedeath snuggles upwraps herself around my neckshe lets go, I catch my breathand we stare up at the skyunderneath the starswe both feel smallshe says let’s go homeI say, that’s a good calli fight with deathshe breaks a glass on the countershe storms out through the showerslamming the door as so goesstops returning my callsi got a note pinned to my doorsaid baby I’m gone and I’m sorrymaybe the timing was wrongi can’t lie and still dream about her I doone day she’ll come backgirls like that always dowhen smell the shirtthat she left in my bedroomthe sweet sour smoke of her perfume i know that I should but I can’t throw it outi won’t lie, I still dream about her I doone day she’ll be backgirls like that always choose ------------Operation Encore is a non-profit veteran service organization that helps veteran artists get noticed in the music industry while advocating for veterans through the powerful medium of original musicSupport the show (http://www.operationencore.org)