Eric Steffensen - History Lesson info, credits, lyrics, and comments at IndieMusicPeople

Eric SteffensenHistory Lesson Alternative Pop Rock

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Monday, March 22, 2021 8:55:32 PM

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Monday, March 22, 2021 8:55:32 PM

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Story Tellers

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An inspirational take about the legend of Edmund McIlhenny, the inventor of Tabasco Sauce.

Copyright 2009 Eric Steffensen
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals by Eric Steffensen
Drums and Percussion by Erin Anders
Bass Guitars by Denson Angulo
Electric Guitars by Jerry Cortez
Recorded and produced at Spirit West Studios, Salt Lake City, Utah
Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Matthew Montoya
Produced by Eric Steffensen and Matthew Montoya

McIlhenny was growing sugar cane on Avery Island before the Union Army invaded it and took it over during the American Civil War. The legend says that when he was finally able to return to the island, that it was so damaged that sugar cane (his main crop) would no longer grow. The economy was in shambles so he couldn't return to his former job as a banker in New Orleans. Apparently Tabasco peppers would grow on the island and he started experimenting with those, and since most post-Civil War food was quite bland, it was a success, and even to this day his sauce is a household name.

Old McIlhenny's ruined now
No sugar cane is left to plow
A casualty of war, this lone island left to die

Can't bank again in New Orleans
Must make ends meet by other means
Encouraged by his friends, and then soon this chapter ends

It might sound cliche
You can turn lemons into lemonade
Adversity to gold
If you're not too quick to fold

Now only peppers seem to grow
On this war-torn island soil
Experiment with sauce
Maybe now not all is lost

By now you've heard of Tabasco
In a few short years the world will know
You cannot bring him down
This pepper sauce will turn his life around

It might sound cliche
He did turn lemons into lemonade
Adversity to gold
'Cause he was not quick to fold

Like Edison, Lincoln, or anyone great
Who didn't bow down to apparent fate
You too can set the record straight
When you're struck down it's not too late

It might sound cliche
You will turn lemons into lemonade
Adversity to gold
If you are not quick to fold x

Song Comments

Story Tellers
This is a story about success in the face hopelessness and devastation, where one guy's persistence paid off resulting in a product to sell and make him rich.