For Wilson, "Grief is Only Love"

Thursday, June 13, 2024 – Stephen Wilson Jr. released a video for "Grief is Only Love," a centerpiece to his critically-acclaimed debut double album, "son of dad."

The disc was a tribute to Stephen Wilson Sr., and was released on Sept. 15, 2023, five years to the day that his father passed away.

The official video, directed by Stephen Kinigopoulos and Alexa Stone, channels Wilson's life story that pulls from his experience of living with, loving and ultimately losing his father unexpectedly. Similar to the main character in the video, Stephen raced to be by his father's side in his final moments and was forced to say goodbye to him in his car on an iPhone 8 in the middle of Kentucky. "His last words to me were 'Write a good song for me' and then he said, 'I love you' four times," he said.

Wilson Jr. shared a poem to accompany the video's release:
"Brevity is a theme and life is only brief
grief is only love and love is only grief
the gravity of this epiphany
from a life's mission to what seems like to the moon
Standing proud with my sad flag in a dune of a cratered heart
Unable to tell between the
two at times
One plus one equals
through at times. Learning.
Trying to understand & accept that I won't understand
Whilst accepting that letting go is perhaps the best heavy hand. Learning.
Life down here is a line far from straight
And this song was a gift to help lighten up the weight."

Wilson is currently supporting Brothers Osborne on tour and playing summer festivals. In July, Wilson will head to Europe for a run of dates supporting Joss Stone, including Royal Albert Hall on July 8, and a date supporting Miranda Lambert in Memphis on Sept. 28.