Tag: contest

Best You Can Do – NPR Tiny Desk 2025

Posted on by Allyson

My entry for the NRP Tiny Desk contest this year. While writing, I thought about how it never seems to be the “right time” to implement solutions to problems, societal or personal. Being without courage to try at solutions, even if it fails, I think can do even greater harm. My feelings found a place in this song. Lyrics below – Youtube video link

Weight of an ocean I carry by the neck.
All the human moments I collect.
A prayer full of grief to the god of all gods.
Show me why you bothered.
Our purpose long lost.

Meaningful mistake, be the faith of a life.
Distract the emptiness piercing inside.
I know it’s our way – everything just survives.
Taking up space – getting born to die.
With no aversion, as life is loss.
Numb to the ruin our sacrifice cost.
Is it all instinct or suffering we choose?
Insisting you are exception to the rule.

As disengaged. As cold and cruel.
Selfish wants are the best you can do.
Lean into it. Laugh out loud.
Like the wall of a grave hold safe and sound,
The time for truth is never now.
Is never courage ever found?

Lean into it. Laugh out loud.
The time for truth is never now.
Like the walls of a grave hold safe and sound,
The time for truth is never now.

“Be As the Water” – Tiny Desk 2024.

Posted on by Allyson

My contest entry has been accepted 🙂 I wasn’t planning to enter this year, but I wrote this and felt it had the right energy this time, It’s a reminder to myself to be as present and open as I can be, while I can. I think it’s a message worth sharing. If you listen, thank you and I hope you enjoy. Poem below.

Be As the Water

No, the river rising won’t mind the flood.
Like arms of the ocean, to the sky every open.
Given good and bad, it fills up in love.
Any and all and more than enough.

What lessons? To accept this life gave what you need.
The good and bad equal the meaningful between.
So be as the water ever open to the sky.
Forget how you got here. Forget you asked why.
Why? Why? Why? No reason at all.

Tomorrow is yesterday, over and done.
To be is all purpose could ever want.
However you got here is with a goodbye,
Sure as the loss as each moment here dies.

So be as the water ever open to the sky.
Forget how you got here. Forget you ask why.
Why? Why? No reason at all.

Link to browse all the other cool contest entries this year: https://tinydeskcontest.npr.org/2024/browse-2024/

Exit Interview – Tiny Desk Contest 2023

Posted on by Allyson

My entry for 2023 contest. I wrote this after leaving my job of 5+ years last year. I think my music in general is too dark for what they’re looking for in a winner, but it’s fine. I really have no show to put on for them or anyone else at this point.


Lyrics :
Cutting losses, speak my bones.
If it’s my fault, you should have known.
But who ever sees me? Who is warm to the cold?
I’m here dying all alone.

Feel the thought tear from inside.
Having to lie and lie and lie.
I matter more kept in the dark.
Waste what remains of my heart,

Because who ever saw me?
Who was warm? Who was warm to the cold?
I was here dying all alone.
You never saw me. Never warm for the cold.
I was here dying all alone.

Burning bridge, you are a gift.
I hurt and want nothing more from the end.
Burning bridge, you are a gift.
I hurt and want nothing more from the end.