"Give It Back" - Tenacity written by Mathew Haeffel vocals/guitars/bass recorded by: Mathew Haeffel drums/keys/percussion recorded by: Dan Budziszewski ​ "Give It Back" invokes the cruelty and hardship of life in order to admire it's resilience and to encourage perseverance. In order to be motivated to endure hardship it must first be acknowledged, neither dwelled upon nor ignored. The songs refrain recognizes that apprehension arises equally from benevolence and malevolence, decrying "your heart is like an anchor holding on to you", whether you're love sick or heart broken. The lyric video for "Give It Back" uses imagery of the four seasons, a cycle that is terrifying and destructive yet beautiful and revitalizing, as a metaphor for life's trials and tribulations that often facilitate personal development.

"Color of Shade" - Tenacity written by Mathew Haeffel vocals/guitars/bass recorded by: Mathew Haeffel drums/keys/percussion recorded by: Dan Budziszewski "Color of Shade" reflects on how some of the heaviest regrets are not from a failure to succeed but rather a failure to attempt. Though not directly influential, in retrospect, a quote that succinctly encapsulates the song's theme is "For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: 'It might have been!'" (Whittier, "Maud Muller") The song's first two stanzas encourage fearless steadfast aspiration regardless of possible consequences, and to not be too defensive nor too proud to seek assistance. The refrain is akin to a mantra seeking the pleasure/"sunshine" and protection/"shade" of "romance" that stabilizes sanity. The lyrics in the darker minor 6th interval caution to not linger on regret beyond the lessons derived to bolster strength, while the final stanza is rejoiceful for the benefits of boldness using "love" as an exemplary reward. The lyric video for "Color of Shade" uses clips of island scenery to both symbolize the goals we strive toward and compliment the rhythm of the song.

"Be the Rain" - Tenacity written by Mathew Haeffel vocals/guitars/bass recorded by: Mathew Haeffel drums/keys/percussion recorded by: Dan Budziszewski "Be the Rain" predominately uses meteorological imagery to invoke the conflicting feeling that emerges from beautiful yet perilous situations. A theme that recurs throughout the album. Circumstantially, storms are relaxing and conversely terrifying in congruence with intangible emotions such as love, which is alluded to in the song's first stanza. The refrain is a counterintuitive desire for the storm, or difficult emotion, to be sustained in order to preserve the pleasure of discomfort. The lyric video for "Be the Rain" uses conspicuous scenes of rain to compliment the songs lyrical imagery.

"Climb" - Tenacity written by Mathew Haeffel vocals/guitars/bass recorded by: Mathew Haeffel drums/keys/percussion recorded by: Dan Budziszewski "Climb" is an argument in favor of altruism, specifically unrewarded selflessness, which easily leads to exhaustion. Even so the listener is encouraged to "lend your strength when there is none". The refrain uses the Sun as a metaphor for altruism in that it gives energy and warmth but can also blind and burn. The song encourages us to be altruistic but also cautions us to not burn ourselves out in the process. The song recognizes the "shadows stretching over underneath every scar" or the suffering that altruism attempts to alleviate. In the last stanza "home" symbolizes the benefits of altruism while cautioning to be prudent and act "just a little slower" and balance "in the middle" in order to sustain your efforts and maximize their benefits. The line, "where the heart is, home, leave the rest unknown," suggests that altruism is easiest to sustain among an inner circle of relationships and, while noble, extending altruism to wider circles is difficult to sustain. So start at "home" go "a little slower" and "get things done". The lyric video for "Climb" is a collage of Sun imagery to emphasizes the symbolism of altruism found in the songs refrain.

"Sheltered by Ruin" - Tenacity written by Mathew Haeffel vocals/guitars/bass recorded by: Mathew Haeffel drums/keys/percussion recorded by: Dan Budziszewski "Sheltered by Ruin" is unique among the songs on Tenacity since it refers to a specific event rather than an abstract allusion. The song is a poetic description of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 78 CE. The historical event itself is a metaphor of the beauty and benefits that may arise even out of tragedy. The prevailing conception of the 78 CE eruption centers around the destruction of cities and a morbid fascination with the body casts that captured victims chilling final moments. More salient however, is the beauty of the art and architecture, set against a breathtaking Mediterranean landscape, along with revelations about ancient Roman life preserved for nearly 2000 years by the same event that caused it's devastation. The lyric video for "Sheltered by Ruin" uses footage of volcanoes, first dormant then increasingly active, to compliment the songs theme of the eruption of Vesuvius. Actual footage of Mount Vesuvius, and the cities around it, appears during the instrument break before the last refrain.

"Diamonds out of Coal" - Tenacity written by Mathew Haeffel vocals/guitars/bass recorded by: Mathew Haeffel keys/percussion recorded by: Dan Budziszewski drums recorded by: Marshall McGhee "Diamonds out of Coal" refers to the possibility of rectifying seemingly impossible situations, an understanding that progress is punctuated by setbacks, the necessity of taming expectations, and the virtue of striving for success despite the odds. The song uses a bouncy swing rhythm under imagery-driven lyrical allusion to emphasize an optimistic tenor infused within the tension of its minor key. The final refrain ends in an inspiring crescendo with a simulated record-skipping mantra: "you can make a diamond out of, make a diamond out of, make a diamond out of this coal." External review: ""Diamonds Out of Coal" by Milwaukee native Mathew Haeffel is an uplifting anthem celebrating resilience and the beauty of transformation. With heartfelt lyrics and a melody that radiates warmth, the song captures the essence of finding light in the darkest moments. Haeffel's rich, soulful voice guides listeners on a journey of hope and perseverance, illustrating how life's challenges can lead to unexpected and precious outcomes. The track's optimistic tone and relatable message make it a perfect reminder that even under pressure, we have the power to create something beautiful." (PBS, Rhythm Café MKE, session 2, vol. 31) The lyric video for "Diamonds out of Coal" uses waterfalls, another surprising metamorphosis caused over vast amounts of time, as a stand in for the geological creation of diamonds for which there is an unsurprising dearth of available footage.

"Too Long" - Tenacity written by Mathew Haeffel vocals/guitars/bass recorded by: Mathew Haeffel drums/keys/percussion recorded by: Dan Budziszewski "Too Long" acknowledges that repetitive frustration threatens to deflate endurance. Importantly, fatigue emerges not only from loss but also success. Seemingly innocuous inconveniences, initially easy to endure, become annoyingly monotonous. The song encourages patience and endurance due to lack of alternatives, while recognizing the frustration and fatigue which accompany that course. The bridge cedes that patience and endurance seem ineffectual due to delayed gratification, but argues it is nonetheless a more prudent path. Crucially, though frequently done, patience and endurance should not be conflated with giving up or ceding ground. It is more akin to the embodiment of an immoveable object to meet a seemingly unstoppable force. The lyric video for "Too Long" uses time devices to symbolize the fatigue that builds up over time threatening our endurance.

"What I've Found" - Tenacity written by Mathew Haeffel vocals/guitars/bass recorded by: Mathew Haeffel drums/keys/percussion recorded by: Dan Budziszewski "What I've Found" has a practical response to existential mysteries: "the reason for living is to grow old," because the answers, or lack thereof, are inconsequential to a flourishing life. ""What I've Found" is a captivating original song that emerges from the depths of the subconscious, weaving together abstract thoughts into a poignant message. Inspired by a simple yet profound turn of phrase — "the reason for living is to grow old" — the song embodies a philosophy of embracing the present moment without being consumed by existential concerns about the past or future. The melody, characterized by tension-filled chords, mirrors the complexity of life's uncertainties. Yet, amidst this tension, the song delivers a powerful message of resilience and mindfulness. It encourages listeners to let go of worries about the meaning of life or what the future holds, and instead, to focus on living fully in the present. "What I've Found" invites us to appreciate the beauty and richness of each moment, reminding us that the true essence of existence lies in the experiences we gather along the way. With its thought-provoking lyrics and uplifting melody, the song serves as a gentle reminder to embrace the journey of life with open hearts and minds, finding joy and fulfillment in the here and now." (PBS, Rhythm Café MKE, session 1, vol. 22) The lyric video for "What I've Found" uses imagery of the awe-inspiring universe as the perfect metaphor for existential anxiety.