'Cuttin' Teeth' by Tyler Childers – Lyrics & Meaning

Immediately building up hype for what was bound to be one of the most anticipated releases of 2025, Tyler Childers took to social media to post a short clip of what could only be the start of a new era for the Kentucky native.

Kicking things off with the release of ‘Nose on the Grindstone’ on June 12–a song that had only been released as a live recording before–we were starting to get a glimpse at what was to come.

Alongside the release of ‘Nose on the Grindstone’ came the album announcement, some stunning album art by Tony Moore and a release date of July 25. The release of another familiar favourite, ‘Oneida’ came on July 2, but any of the brand new music from the Childers was kept a secret until the release of Snipe Hunter.

The second track on the album, 'Cuttin' Teeth' launches into a steel-heavy melody, rhythm guitar keeping it steady and laying the ground for Childers’ vocals to start the story.

As we reach the chorus of the Kentuckian singing about playing in a country band and his artistic rise and personal growth, the sound is perhaps the closest to a traditional country two-step we find on ‘Snipe Hunter’.

However, in keeping with the rest of the album, it still has some unexpected instrumental choices that keep the listen interesting and unique. Some layered vocals and harmonies add a warmth to the track before it drops off at the bridge with Childers delivering a spoken word section. An effective sonic transition that, once again, seems to play into the traditional country music Childers likely grew up listening to.

“He was spinnin’ wheels
Makin’ deals
Wildeyed in his twenties
With nothin’ in the way of work
He was ever fit to do

It was for the birds
He worked with words
The thing is words work funny
Ya weld’em right ya know they’re liable
To effect the way you move”

‘Cuttin Teeth’ feels much like an autobiographical account of Childers’ journey into the world of music; he certainly puts enough passion into it.

Our protagonist seems to be just a little bit lost, not quite knowing what he should be doing and nothing ever being the right fit for him. Until he found that he might have a way with words.

As a songwriter, author, storyteller in any capacity everything starts and ends with words. As Childers started stringing them together, finding a passion for writing music he also seems to have found a calling–one that might just lead to success.

“Fronting him a country band
Buncha rockin’ barkin’ deadbeats man
He played a gig with one night
When he was cuttin’ teeth”

Taking to bars, honky tonks and anywhere in between, Childers started to make his name by playing with anyone he could find, perhaps even becoming a self confessed "rockin’ barkin’ deadbeat".

Turning to the classic idiom of cutting teeth, Childers was learning the ropes, figuring things out and gathering up first experiences along the way.

“Hustle high
Hustle low
Hearken out that band window
The price of gas is getting low
In the pocket of the seat

Of his pants
He has had
Tightening ‘round his body
Livin’ off of tavern’s fare
Drowning in the grease”

Although a dream for many, life on the road isn’t always the most glamorous, referring to the highs and lows that come with spending your days hopping between barrooms.

However, there are two ways of seeing this: he’s having to spend all his money on gas to make the journey, eating at the places he plays and having to accept what’s offered to him, but every gig he plays is getting him one step closer to success.

So maybe, it’s worth it?

“You can yell
You can croon
You can reach the firecode of any room
With a catchy song or two
If they’re sang in key

There’s room for error
If the band is there
In a way it’s ‘bout like baseball
He swings a bat left handed
He’s good a walk at least”

When you’re playing to crowds that are just looking for a good time, the pressure eases off. If the song is catchy, if it’s sang in key then it might just do when you’ve got a band and a beer to back you up.

Although this might not be the dream for a skilled writer like Childers, it does sound like he’s reflecting on his younger days positively–after all, it’s a classic country origin story.

He was spinnin’ wheels
Makin’ deals
Wildeyed in his twenties
With nothin’ in the way of work
He was ever fit to do

It was for the birds
He worked with words
The thing is words work funny
Ya weld’em right ya know they’re liable
To effect the way you move

Fronting him a country band
Buncha rockin’ barkin’ deadbeats man
He played a gig with one night
When he was cuttin’ teeth

Hustle high
Hustle low
Hearken out that band window
The price of gas is getting low
In the pocket of the seat

Of his pants
He has had
Tightening ‘round his body
Livin’ off of tavern’s fare
Drowning in the grease

Fronting him a country band
Roaddoggin’ in a stripped out van
Bummin’ powder in the barlight
When they were cuttin’ teeth

You can yell
You can croon
You can reach the firecode of any room
With a catchy song or two
If they’re sang in key

There’s room for error
If the band is there
In a way it’s ‘bout like baseball
He swings a bat left handed
He’s good a walk at least

Fronting him a country band
A buncha West Virginia deadbeats, man
He split the door with one night
When he was cuttin’ teeth
I played a gig with one night
When he was cuttin’ teeth

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For more on Tyler Childers, see below: