Winner Again

Tyler Magerkurth, West Point Class of 2010 Graduate, Division 1 College Tennis Varsity Letter Winner, High School State Champion, social club leader, and my son, returned from his US Army deployment in Afghanistan in 2013 with experiences few people his age ever face.

During Tyler's deployment, he served as a platoon leader in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Part of the job included leading his team on numerous missions all over Afghanistan assisting with the closure of 27 outlying combat outposts. Both their movements and the bases they operated out of were often attacked, and for 9 months Tyler led his soldiers through it. Coming home from that kind of responsibility and settling back into everyday life is a transition every combat leader has to make.

While Tyler was in Afghanistan, I attended a SongwritingWith:Soldiers retreat where I met SW:S co-founders Darden Smith and Mary Judd and instantly connected with the mission of SW:S. While there, my West Point classmate Ray and I wrote a song about our experiences as leaders in the US Army. The process of "opening up" and sharing experiences was thoroughly impressive.

Tyler was already a musician, and when he heard about SW:S, he saw the value right away. In 2016, he attended a retreat of his own. Working with Darden Smith, Tyler opened up about his time in Afghanistan and what he wanted for the next chapter of his life, ultimately writing the song "Winner." He described the session as incredibly valuable and said he felt truly seen.

That SW:S experience helped Tyler make the transition from combat back to civilian life with clarity and purpose. Seeing its impact firsthand, I have committed to support and assist SW:S in reaching other veterans by now serving on the SW:S Board of Directors.

After the Army, Tyler worked as an engineer in recording studios in both Austin, Texas and Miami, Florida, and went on to manage multiple artists. That path led him to start his own marketing agency, August Media Group, where he works with musicians and businesses of all kinds on social media, online branding, and ad campaigns. Today, Tyler is loving life as a Winner!

Winner

Tyler Magerkurth / Darden Smith

Everything looks great on paper
I should have no complaints
But when I look in the mirror
All I see is all that I ain't
I used to be the life of the party
Now I've got nothing to say
Life comes towards me
I walk the other way

I just want to feel like a winner
I just want feel like a winner again

It's all fun and games on paper
Till the day you understand
That life is pretty random
And it's all out of your hands
I'm worn out from worrying bout what might go wrong
I used to be so laid back
I'd do anything to get the train
Upright on the track

I just want to feel like a winner
I just want to feel like a winner
I just want feel like a winner again
I just want to feel like a winner again

It's the lack of understanding
It's the lack of love
Makes a man get angry
And pick up a gun
We're all humans
Brother can you see
Underneath our skin
You're the same as me

We all want to feel like a winner
We all want to feel like a winner
I just want to feel like a winner again
I just want to feel like a winner again

© 2016 SongwritingWith:Soldiers Music / Darden Smith Music (ASCAP)