In January 2010, I was able to do a 2-week promotional tour with singer-songwriter Eric Peters.  About a week prior, he finished writing a new song that he debuted during our tour.  I asked Eric to give us the story behind “Old Year of Denial”:

Yes, it’s been good to be able to try and write a little this year. 2009 for me and for so many other people in America - in the world - was just a very frustrating, disheartening, sort of a hopeless, despairing year. It just felt like there was a dark cloud over the entire year and for me professionally ‘09 was just the worst I’ve ever had – worst year I’ve ever had career wise, just trying to book shows and get work… it was what it was. And so this song “Old Year of Denial” is me saying “Sionara 2009. I’m glad to see you in my rear-view mirror,” as are I’m sure many people.  So, it’s a song about just being present in our day and in the moment, and me just being grateful for the chance to not only live another day, but to get to sing another day.

Here’s the lyrics for “Old Year of Denial” by Eric Peters:

There’s so much to be thankful
And so much to be forgotten
There’s no perfect secret to the things that bring us joy

So ha ha to the old year
Goodbye to the cold fear
Gonna cry when I need it
Gonna smile when I need it
Goodbye denial

My mind is a wanderer
Slips off into a false world
Never stopping for a minute to take a good look around

So ha ha to the old year
Goodbye to the cold fear
Gonna cry when I need it
Gonna smile when I need it

I’m gonna live like a living soul
I’m gonna write it on my wretched bones
And stop waiting for happily ever after

Ha ha to the old year
Goodbye to the cold fear
Gonna cry when I need it
Smile when I need it
Laugh… Goodbye denial, goodbye


On this week’s Under the Radar, Eric Peters takes over the steering wheel and picks all the music.  Plus we share the world premiere of the song “Old Year of Denial.”  Check out an exclusive video performance of that song and a special Eric Peters autograph giveaway on this site.