Stephan Ryder

Good, Better, Best

“Still Here” – Stephen Ryder

A soul-deep tribute to the quiet strength of a woman who’s carried more than her share of pain—and kept going anyway. Still Here is a country soul ballad that sees the cracks behind the smile, the fire behind the silence, and the beauty in simply surviving.

With gospel undertones, warm organ, acoustic guitar, and a voice full of grit and compassion, this is a song for every woman who’s ever held it together when the world was falling apart.

Still Here

Heavy Is the Crown is a tribute to the everyday working man — the unsung hero who gets up before sunrise, pushes through pain without applause, and carries the weight of a family on his back.

He may not wear gold or sit on a throne, but to his loved ones, he’s a king.

This song is for the welders, farmers, truckers, builders — the men who show up, day after day, without asking for credit. Because real strength doesn’t shout. It works.

Written by: Steven Walter Cwiak
Performed by: Stephen Ryder

For licensing or pitching inquiries, contact: stephen@ryder.productions

#CountryMusic #SouthernRock #Americana #WorkingManAnthem #SongwriterDemo #StephenRyder #HeavyIsTheCrown

Heavy Is The Crown

“Barstool Prophet” is a smoky sermon from the darker side of the neon glow.Blending the grit of Waylon Jennings with the unfiltered truth of Charles Bukowski, this outlaw-country blues track spits wisdom from the bottom of a glass. It’s part confessional, part comedy, and all soul — a tongue-in-cheek gospel for the bruised and barbound.

Barstool Prophet

“Riders of the Road” is a cinematic outlaw country ballad, paying heartfelt tribute to The Highwaymen—Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. With deep baritone vocals, acoustic storytelling, and a slow-burning rhythm, the song honors their legacy as legends who carved their truth into every mile of the open road. A timeless journey through rebellion, brotherhood, and the fire that never dies.

Riders of the Road

God Don’t Ride Shotgun is a raw, confessional outlaw country ballad with gritty vocals and a haunting spoken intro, the song tells the story of a man who’s made peace with the scars he carries — even if heaven hasn’t. It’s not about asking for forgiveness. It’s about owning the road you’ve paved, sins and all.

God Don’t Ride Shotgun

Runnin’ on Dust and Grace” is a haunting outlaw country ballad by Stephen Ryder that tells the story of a man haunted by past mistakes, lost love, and a son he never got to raise. With gritty vocals, raw acoustic textures, and a mournful harmonica weaving through the track, this song rides the line between redemption and regret. It’s not a plea for mercy—it’s a confession whispered into the wind. For fans of Chris Stapleton, Johnny Cash, and Southern Gothic Americana.

Dust and Grace

Raw, unflinching, and full of outlaw grit, “Soul” is a powerful anthem about holding on to the one thing no one can take — your spirit. Through weathered vocals and stripped-down storytelling, Stephen Ryder lays bare a lifetime of sins, scars, and regrets, but draws the line at surrender. With haunting guitars and a voice soaked in truth, this track isn’t about redemption—it’s about defiance, dignity, and dying with something left that’s still yours. “Soul” is for anyone who’s walked through fire… and came out with something that still burns.

Soul

“This Ain’t Goodbye (It’s Just a Song)” by Stephen Ryder is a tender, heart-worn ballad that captures the pain of love left unspoken and the quiet hope that lingers through music. With aching lyrics and a soulful country delivery, Ryder turns a lost note, an empty driveway, and a jukebox hum into a story of holding on without pretending to be okay. This is the kind of goodbye you don’t say — you sing.

It’s Just A Song

Bet You Don’t Miss Me is Stephen Ryder at his most vulnerable. This emotional country ballad dives deep into the quiet ache of unreturned love — when one person moves on without looking back, and the other’s still stuck in rewind. With aching lyrics, raw vocals, and a melody that lingers, it’s the kind of song that hits late at night when you’re wondering if they ever think of you too.

For anyone who’s ever said “I’m fine” and meant the opposite — this one’s for you.

Bet You Don’t Miss Me

🎶 I use SoundCloud to test out my songs before official release, and your feedback means the world to me.
If you’ve got a thought, a favorite line, or even a critique — drop it in the comments.
Every listen and message helps shape the final cut. Thanks for being part of the journey! 🙏
— Stephen Ryder

The Reason I Stay

Broken Wings (Remix)

Second Chance Road

Strut is a song about finding the courage to stop hiding and walk tall. It’s a story of rising from the mud, holding your head high, and owning every step forward. It’s about proof — proof that after all the struggles, you can still stand proud and unshaken.

Strut

A Man” is the story of someone who’s walked through hell and came out changed. Calm, quiet, and steady, he doesn’t move like everyone else because he’s already fought battles no one knows about. This track is raw and honest, built from scars and soul. I’m tired of people telling me how to write and sing — I am Outlaw Country, and I stand my ground. What you hear in this song is survival, truth, and fire-forged grit. Nothing polished, nothing fake — just a man, and the sound of his soul.

A Man

Whispers

My New Album Delta Dusk & Soul will be releases on a streaming platforms November 6th. This is a sneak preview for SoundCloud only. Let me know what is your most memorable song!

Riders in Love

🎶 "No Wings, Sky in View" - A folk-protest anthem born from the heart of Edgewood, BC. Inspired by the ongoing fight at Universal Ostrich Farms, where ~330 ostriches stand strong against a cull order amid the H5N1 outbreak. With lyrics echoing the farmers’ defiance, the Supreme Court’s interim stay, and protestors’ hay bale barricades, this song asks: What does freedom mean to you? Penned with fire and hope, set to an original melody—perfect for rallying the cause.

Stephan Ryder

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