"For Many" by Shane Koyczan and The Short Story Long

Yes, it's a brand new video. Ben Clarkson really took the reins on this one and I think he did a stellar job. The piece, For Many, is a special one for me. It wouldn't exist had I not gotten a letter from an 8 year old boy in Vermont. Thanks for reaching out, young sir. Over the course of my life I've seen that we attach ourselves to standards. That in itself is not a bad thing... standards are important. They're part of how we learn to elevate ourselves above ideas that we've outgrown. The problem is that those same standards can become anchors... they can be what holds us back from evolving further. So we must be constantly resetting our standards so we can pull ourselves forward and help ourselves move away from concepts that no longer serve us. Beauty has always been a strange standard... how can we make uniform something that everyone has their own opinion of? The danger in allowing beauty to continue being a standard is that it then becomes the way we assign value to people. I wrote this piece as a way to speak to that.
Featuring the track "For Many" from the new album "Debris" by Shane Koyczan And The Short Story Long.
"Debris" is available for purchase exclusively from my webstore: www.shanekoyczan.com/store/alb...

[@zachgamingzone]

he contains the ability to leave us speachless because he describes the things which nobody else can put into words

[@leahbarrera698]

perfectly put! :)

[@madychinneck6931]

Every time one of his videos pops up in my feed, I know it's going to be a good day. You have changed so many lives, Shane. Because of you I didn't give up.

[@elijensen8521]

+Mady Chinneck Girl, youre beautiful. Im glad youre still here!

[@sassyinkist4803]

Listening to your poems has changed my view on life, I used to think I was ugly, I wasn't enough, now I realise maybe I'm not as good looking as others, maybe I'm not as smart as others but that doesn't mean that I don't have good intention and a good personality. Thank you Shane

[@lucyj5490]

+Sassy Inkist Your comment made me think of this quote by Tanni Sattar "Someone will always be prettier. Someone will always be smarter. Someone will always be younger. But they'll never be you."

[@debbyperry3744]

+Lucy J ride on

[@dxddis553]

I love this poem all of it poems I have so many friends I was never bullied bad but I have been called FAT but who cares I am who I am people may be skinnier prettier smarter but I don't care I am who I am I love myself I have amazing friends I'M NOT BULLIED people have way worse issues than mine I was only called fat 4 tines in my life but they all said sorry they all became nicer but never my friend it's mean to bully and sad to get bullied this is a poem I made about friends A friend is like a flower a rose to be exact or maybe like a brand new gate that never comes unlatched or maybr Like a owl so beautiful and wise or maybe like a ghost who spirit never dies were would we be in this world if we did not have a friend

[@USAtlas23]

Are you capable of writing anything that isn't revolutionary and beautiful?

[@iLoveTurtlesHaha]

I just discovered this channel and I occasionally suffer bouts of depression but right now I'm feeling so good I don't want to die anymore. I must subscribe. This channel may just save my life.

[@juliakoehler9255]

iLoveTurtlesHaha I'm so happy you're still here and you are worth it, I'll be here if you ever need someone. Stay strong 💘

[@pulsefaith2758]

iLoveTurtlesHaha you're amazing, keep going, you're beautiful I may not know you but everyone has a purpose find it or make it you can do it.

[@slick9629]

iLoveTurtlesHaha My dear friend, nothing is wrong with you, we are all our very own definition of perfection

[@visceraversa]

It saved mine.

[@Elchinodiabolero]

iLoveTurtlesHaha you are a beautiful being and you will have a wonderful life. :)

[@niskiornot2363]

This was so touching, just like all of your other poems. You're so incredibly talented and I can't wait to possibly see you live in November 😊

[@fruitbat422]

+RandomMadness24 wait, when in November?

[@niskiornot2363]

17th I think!

[@fruitbat422]

+RandomMadness24 thank you

[@killerebeast6486]

Where

[@Stefan-xr8lh]

Personally, I would love to see him but I doubt I will.

[@Michaela_Hearne]

Everyone needs to hear this. You always amaze me.

[@haynerbass]

+Michaela Hearne Have you heard his "To this day"?

[@skycheng17]

+haynerbass i feel like everybody has. its a bit cliche now OMG THATS WHAT MY POEM WILL BE ABOUT HTANKSSS

[@ciderwray3634]

"We live in a world where children would rather go under the knife than wait and see who they'll groe up to be" this line made me realize I can look forward to seeing who I'll be in the next 5 years. i've changed so much since the start of middle school and I'm going off to highschool in only a week. I realize now I get to see who I'll be in the next few years. I'm excited

[@envyllaw4487]

If I could change one thing I would change the fact that I get a rash every time I eat or smell or touch something wrong. That my Mum gets a belly ache from eating certain foods and the doctor can't tell her what. That we have to read every packet and label on what we eat, smell and wear because if we don't it hurts. I would teach cancer cells to stop growing and show them what they are meant to do, so they aren't lost without purpose. I would teach ears to listen when people are speaking and mouths to not judge so quickly. If I could change one thing I would heal my dog's hips so she doesn't have to live in pain from something she was born with. I would show eyes how to see because everyone deserves to be able to make shapes from the clouds in the sky. I would regrow limbs so people would be able to walk again and maybe learn to fly. If I could change one thing I would give it to you because I can survive.

[@maniimanii6310]

😢👏👏👏👏

[@aidenflame1576]

OMG YAS tht is bootiful omg

[@sharkwithsideburns7617]

I hope Shane goes in history, because this is what people need to hear throughout the ages.

[@AnimeDrawerOWO]

I almost cried just now. Like I dont think anyone understands how much your poems mean to me. I remember when I first saw your poetry, a friend was showing it to us when we were young and when we were having a sleepover. It was the one about Porkchops? You know the one. And we all laughed because we didnt listen to the message and just heard the word porkchop. My friend was furious but we didnt understand why. Until a few weeks later, I watched it alone. I isolated myself and watched it, making sure I wouldnt be interrupted. I never cried so hard over someone's words. I never heard a message so clearly. So I got into every poem. The one about tomatoe kisses and the one where the crickets had arthritis became my religion.I would listen to it on the bus everyday and cry or smile when I felt like shit because my emotions arent the most balanced and my life kinda sucks depending on the week. I never been so happy that another person was born until I heard your poetry. SO thank you for existing.

[@skellyskeleton720]

I've met this guy's poem by 12 and I went through knowing that I couldn't kill my life before it started, so I lived my life and then I met his beautiful poems and was happy, he is a inspiration Not much mine But he helped me get through He is the reason many lives are alive And I am grateful for that

[@erickane8163]

Shane I've been waiting for something new from you I missed you man your poetry changed my outlook on this world please keep doing what you're doing you're my favorite human on earth and I think you deserve way more credit than you get

[@RenSaxon]

Shane. I love you. I don't know if you'll ever read this, but I bet you do, so... I really love you. For your values, your words, those mountains you move. I'm not quite sure if you know how much all your poems mean to me. All my life I wanted to be an author, wanted my words to touch people, change something... I don't know if I'll ever be able to do it, but at least I'll try... Just know, that whenever I listen to your poems, over and over again, it's as if they're new words, words, I'ven ever even heard and they just sum up perfectly the way I feel, in a way I've never heard before. Thank you so much. I don't care what you look like. I don't care what anyone looks like as long as there's something in there, feeling, loving, burning in passion. (Sorry for bad english, by the way, I'm just a german girl dreaming of someday finding the right words)

[@yourlocalbi9811]

I really needed this today. Thanks for reminding me of what I've known all along but somehow forgot, and to be as gentle with myself as I am with others. I'll be a bit nicer to myself from now on, and if I slip up again, I know I can come back to this. From one of The Many, thank you.

[@UntamedOrc77]

I can't believe I got lucky enough to hear an amazing new poem before I go back to my usual repetitive day. Thank you, Shane.

[@BriannaWinchester]

I wish everyone in the entire world watch this guy's videos.

[@LoveAndPeaceOccurs]

Thank You Shane for these words. Thanks To all involved for this video being here. Shane you never fail to capture something pure and speak it in a way that sheds new light on it. I Love You. Love & Peace to All

[@JonahGauntt]

4:44 am surprise poetry made my day before it ever started :D

[@pco1984]

Very eloquent. Much amazing. So wow... But seriously, an awe inspiring piece of art! And so is the poem..

[@crazyhans]

This seems to be a touchy subject for a lot of people, but what's considered beautiful are the features which distinguish most suitable mates. Leanness in men, wide hips in women, etc.; they're all features which have historically produced more viable offspring, hence we desire them in our partners and ourselves. Some people are more beautiful than other people, and anybody who wouldn't change one thing about themselves is deluded. The answer is not fooling yourself into thinking that no matter how you look you're beautiful, it's accepting what you can't change, and changing what you can for the better.

[@alliecat3575]

Who gets to decide what is "for the better"?

[@AlmeidaVaG6]

+Crazy Hans Nice try, but selective advantages don't change over the course of decades, nor even centuries like that! Your explanation is not a bad one, but it's terribly limited and does quite a poor job in explaning beauty standards over alleged signs of fitness (in a Darwinian sense). First and foremost, partner selection in favour of fitness is not as easy to explain as you're trying to make it seem, as sometimes even signs that appear to show lower fitness are the ones being selected, because they meanwhile portray higher fitness - only it's not superficially visible. I'm clearly thinking of peacocks as an example here. Fruit flies that show homosexual behaviour have been shown to have a higher number of descendents. So you see that saying: this and that shows higher fitness is not THAT simple. Not to mention: where the hell did you get the idea that leanness demonstrates fitness? From an evolutionary point of view: do you know what your body fat is actually there for?! And beauty standards go farther than prolific hips as well. Beauty standards include traits that have absolutely nothing to do with an individual's fitness, such as the symmetry of their face, eye colour, the shape of their ears and nose, the lengt of their legs. And yet I'm not swiping everyone's colon for their enteric flora! And what's more important: beauty standards change all the time and differ interculturally, so they are quite literally bound to time and space and NOT universally valid; survival, however, doesn't leave that much room for variation. Believe it or not, what our society despises most nowadays (fat women) has been a beauty standard in the rennaissance! Women weren't required to shave themselves until around the 1940s! And androgynous men received much more love in ancient greece than they do now! To try and argue in favour of flaw in our society with poorly based science it's what truly is deluded! You might think that our perspective on beatuty is a given feat, self-evident even; but that's just a lie you're being told - or maybe telling yourself, I don't know... And though your last sentence kinda shows some good intentions there, your argumentation is that of someone who recognises problems in the world we live in, but does nothing to change it, most likely rejects change; rather seeks justifications for "why it's not that bad after all!" - and that is a disposable attitude, if you ask me! Science does not back you up in this, don't abuse it for your views (even if this view is shared by millions of others, I AM aware of that, but: "Sanity is not statistical." - George Orwell). The ANSWER is not to accept what we can't change; it's not convincing ourselves that we're all beautiful either! It's changing the definition of beautiful so it doesn't go as to cause harm, but joy - what the term is actually meant to do! Because man defines beauty, beauty shouldn't define man!

[@BlenBlen]

+Crazy Hans A myth. Read the beauty myth by naomi wolf.

[@ursulawhiteley6430]

+AlmeidaVaG6 You just worded every thought I've ever had about beautiful. I love this mind opening KZbin community.

[@AlmeidaVaG6]

are we in the same youtube community? because, usually, when i enter the comment section, i dont come out loving it hahaha thank you!

[@user-rb7qq7is8x]

One of my favorite lines from this that I could only wish were my own words. "We've been listening to something that's only function is to see."

[@jakeismyfirstname]

This man needs to come to Australia pronto.

[@haynerbass]

+Jake Howden Have you heard his "To this day"?

[@jakeismyfirstname]

I've been a massive fan of Shane for years. 'My Darling Sara' is my favourite for sure!

[@jjg7297]

Really hope he come to OZ one day

[@LandoMercy]

+Jake Howden lol he mostly tours Canada and the northern states of usa :/

[@diariesofapossessedboy6257]

YES HE BLOODY DO

[@phoebehinton-sheley3937]

Beautiful - as always! I've watched your stuff for a while now, but this one really hit me. Even more than 'To This Day'. Not many poets or artists portray emotions about beauty, bullying etc, in quite the way you do. You always sound so incredibly passionate, as well as the always fitting music and video. Thank you Shane, for voicing how so many of us feel in a way that people who don't can finally understand.

[@vinsertheritagehere340]

SHANE! Thank you for opening your mind and letting us in, sitting in that theatre and then going back out to the real world with a more broadened perspective of this system of things.

[@squidleystudios277]

Thank you for this, it really speaks to me. I've often been asked if there was any one thing I would change about myself or my life, and the answer is always the same - I wouldn't change a thing, because otherwise I wouldn't be the same person I am today, and I'm actually happy with who I am. If someone else doesn't like something about me, then that's too bad, because I'm not going to change in order to fit into somebody else's mold.

[@AaronHerzman]

I'd change my heart, so i could feel what you feel.

[@Velocitist]

You still could with your own, you just need to look deep.

[@luis.monteiro]

Every time I hear any of your pieces I have this amazing urge to show it to everyone I know, the whole world needs to reflect upon these subjects. Thanks for using your talent to shine a light on such important and often overlooked concepts.

[@PauloRenato23]

You just don't stop to amaze me... Fantastic Poem... Magnificent video... Congrats Shane!

[@911CrAziE]

amazing, he never fails to make me cry

[@jasonrdunn]

Thank you for sharing your art with the world Shane!

[@AValveFanboy]

I'd change my skin blue. Fucked if I know why, it'd just be a something different.

[@kindafatkindastrong5683]

+AValveFanboy csgofanboy lel

[@zachgamingzone]

+AValveFanboy sounds like something youd put on an application to join the blue man group

[@patch6again]

+AValveFanboy If you consume lots of collodial silver, one of the side effects is turning your skin blue. It's actually safe besides that one effect.

[@darkhorse1773]

+AValveFanboy Sirius memories???

[@Takazatara]

+AValveFanboy I'm blue da ba dee da ba die - Eiffel 65

[@roughchildhood4835]

I get a box of tissues every time I see his videos in my feed. He hits home with every word.

[@Courtsuki]

Thank you. Your words always give me another way to reach out to the beautiful people in my life and to convey messages that they need to understand but that I just don't have the eloquence to describe. The world is a more beautiful place with you in it.

[@EGE4owo]

may you dont know, but your videos have changed so much about my life, your videos are the most awesome thing i've never seen, i hope you have a good live, couse you are one of that people who deserves to be happy

[@cinnabubbs]

// When he said potato heads I thought of Mrs. Potato Head by Melanie Martinez. But really, he's probably the reason I want to keep going. He's amazing, and I listen to the To This Day project quite often. Y'all should all watch some more of his stuff, man. uwu

[@jeri9130]

I'm always happy to find another of your works of art sitting in my subscriptions box. This was a great one, thanks, it made my day better and your words gave me food for thought.

[@shajiamithani6700]

Thank you for this beautiful piece of art. It touched, not my heart but something deeper. Thank you :)

[@toasty9113]

I love your poems so much. Thank you Shane. For being you.

[@jaidenmanche7883]

Amazing as per usual. A new favorite.

[@taratorme]

Thank you for all of your awesome poems. They are truly inspirational for me. I look to them for inner reflection. Your poems are amongst the best that I have ever heard or read.

[@ReeSalem]

Shane, thank you for all that you do. Your words are beautiful art.

[@anonymoususer3473]

Shane ,your poems are extremely moving and THAT ....renders me speechless!

[@kingcyrus692]

I just love the videos they have made me stand up to bullying and it got me out of my depression I just want to thank him it has helped me so much it helped me through life just thank you.

[@2010curlysue]

Another masterpiece! Your talent has inspired me to pick back up the pen that has remained untouched for a decade. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@tobykahn-loftus8711]

Thank you for another superb poem that embraces and inspires us to love ourselves and one another. I revere you, my dear!

[@milkman4743]

I can't stop replaying this, it's so beautiful

[@arisnightingale7801]

this reminds me of a quote I posted to tumblr only a few days ago: 'imperfections are not inadequacies; the remind us that we're all in this together.' - Brene Brown I always find these poems to be touching and so full of truth

[@mrslittlekandigirl]

Another amazing video that I will play over and over again, and each time I hear it I fall in love with the words that comes out of your mouth. In fact one of my favorite quotes is from "To this day", it says "There's something inside you that made you keep going despite everyone who told you to quit". I'm getting it tattooed. the words you say make me keep going.. despite everyone and everything. I seriously cry anytime I hear your poems and how powerful they are. I just am in love every poem and every perfectly fitted word.

[@redjack1844]

Once again another incredible poem!

[@lupehurtado8274]

I love that this is the first thing that I watched before anything else or before going to school I love this

[@Jazzcal]

Gosh! You made me cry over another poem of yours!

[@OriginalGodza]

Shane , you are one of the most important voices in my mind, you helped me to change, to think, thanks a lot.

[@swiftclawtheshadowpup808]

every time I click any video it inspires me. makes my day a little brighter and lifts a little more weight off my chest. thank you.

[@jacklomas4218]

wow. he just has such a talent for this. it's amazing how powerful his poetry is. quite literally one of the best wordsmiths I've ever heard.

[@emmandarijn]

Goosebumps.. Goosebumps all over my body.. You've done it again shane..

[@nevinshaffer8444]

Brilliant as always.

[@arimakocashe8181]

My step-dad is very unappreciative of me not being fit and I can't get through to him. But I don't want to give up. This really inspired me thank you.

[@SexxxyDJ1]

Another Masterpiece by Shane, Thanks man I really appreciate it.

[@callcat14]

This was perfect I fell in love since reading it. This makes me want to show my parents to understand that beauty is not the most important in this world and I hope to show many this message.

[@Tubethevibe]

Wow. Thank you so much for this. Once again you take our thoughts and put them into action.

[@davidfletcher7238]

I love your poetry starting with To this Day you have saved my life time and time again. oh, and if i really did change something about myself, i'd want wings...

[@marilynwilson8752]

This one profoundly touched me. Actually a little speechless at this moment, so just Thank You!

[@jennakujawski5923]

Beautiful as always.

[@gageh3091]

to be this early on one of your works of art.. is a gift. love everything you make.

[@rob20bc]

hey man i just wanted to say....YOURE MY HERO. iv been through a lot. iv been homeless and iv lost just about my whole family. iv seen dark days, and in thoes days i found you. you saved me from myself. you saved me from the mental pain i was always in. when ever i feel broken i put on headphones and listen to your words. you give me strength . and for that i think you. i love your work, and i wish to be like you. youre my hero , my idol. please dont give up this work because your words help so many. thank you so much for being such a beautiful human being :,)

[@profchaos100]

This was amazing. I had to rewatch it a few times to see and understand everything. Thanks for the video :)

[@wrongshrub2759]

Beautiful, as always.

[@dtarrant1977]

Amazing Shane, just like all your others. First fell in love with your poems when I was at a retreat for eating disorders and a participant shared your "To This Day" poem, from there I was hooked. I became a Shane Koyczan Fan.

[@kawina8412]

Very beautiful, Shane. Thank you for continuing to inspire me everyday.

[@TheZaco32]

You are an amazing writer. We all need someone like you in our lives so it is nice for us to be able to connect with you through your channel. Thank you.

[@marjelol401]

your work is gold. ❤

[@happiehippie1712]

yay ♡ new video

[@libbiegillies5659]

Thank you for this astounding poem! It speaks to me so much and brings me at piece with myself that it's okay to be different and frankly I'm absolutely in love with all of you work(art) and I'm astonished by how you can put your thoughts to paper. Thankyou!! X

[@georgiapardy2215]

You are my inspiration for my poems and writing sir,I want to thank you for giving me hope,a modern day writer that writes and does poems on real problems.thank you for giving me strength, I'm thinking of showing one to my English teacher

[@vldarden]

Amazing as always!

[@Alex-se3gk]

Loved this poem like all your others , it really touches me because at school everyone thinks that because I wear glasses with yellow lenses, because I'd rather wear trousers than I high skirt and because I don't wear tons of make up I am instently 'ugly' same for all my friends but this just proves that beauty is skin deep and that even if your pretty on the outside you can be ugly on the outside. Thank you so much for doing this video I will show all my friends, so again thank you.

[@babblenator]

another beautiful story as always shane thank you!

[@ihath]

In tears already, and my day barely started.

[@TheMessegeinabottle]

Well done sir Koyczan. Always again well done.

[@taylorballingall]

I got the biggest chills from this. This is amazing absolutely great.

[@alexp7016]

I am so incredibly in awe of your work

[@striga3810]

Shane you've given so much to my life. Thank you.

[@maniimanii6310]

some people at my school should hear this

[@somujj]

i love your work... u made me fall in love with poetry all over again..!! Keep up the brilliant work.

[@STILLSLAPSPRODUCTIONS]

I needed this. Great work Shane!

[@lridg7]

Beautiful as always

[@picaellis4880]

I love Shane Koyczan. He inspires me...

[@edenwright8853]

Yet another work of art, thanks shane

[@e.cristinahernandez1315]

Powerful, beautiful. Thank you.

[@rosieperez6585]

This spoke to me on a emotional level. Gosh this was beautiful.

[@amyfallsforfictionalmen]

I love this, it's beautiful

[@callumjones1101]

Can't wait to see you in November, so talented.

[@chrisandrews5137]

every single poem shane does is so extremely touching, i wish i was that good at poetry

[@cc-sr1wv]

Shane is the most inspiring person that I know, and I hope I can write like him some day❤️

[@leahbarrera698]

:)) A truly amazing piece. wonderful and just what I, and many others, needed. :)

[@Birthdayduck]

shane you are so talented and I am so thankful for the words you wright

[@justaperson863]

A few years ago I had many things that I wanted to change about myself, but now whenever I'm asked this question I answer with: nothing. And it feels so good.

[@amandabarton8190]

You are amazing,no one else can create great works of poetry.

[@redhead7975]

Whenever I relapse into my depression I can only listen to Shane to help me get out.