"If the Lord wants to take me, I'm here for the Taking. 'Cause Hell's probably better than tryin' to get by" ~ I'm am not sure there has ever been a song lyric that so clearly explains the headspace of folks that have fallen on hard times. Not just financial hard times but real physical/emotional/mental hard time. I am sure I am not the only one who can honestly say I've been there...

I’m a coal miner from Harlan county. I listen to this song and say to myself, “This man gets it.”. The struggle, the hardships, the hurt. This song is truth and the truth hurts. Don’t let them change you Tyler.

I'm a southern man from Florida and had the privilege of working the oilfield from Louisa down to Pikeville for over 15 years. I've drilled wells deep in the hollers of Eastern Ky and Southern West Virginia and want to shout out to all my brothers living deep in Appalachia. Some of the prettiest country in North America riddled with hard times. Mr. Childers your music speaks volumes! Forever in my music library.

“My sweat and my wages they don’t seem to weigh out, I’m getting more aches than I’m gaining in gold”....such strong lines.

I am 65 years old....you are the best new talent I've head in so so long. With "Hard Times" I had to pull over off the road and just listen....then the tears came.....thank you! I am a Radio DJ on a small community station. I will play you as much as I can......Coach

I'm an old man. I've associated everyone that plays music into 2 different types.... Artists and entertainers. This dude is an artist. Damn it's refreshing to hear music again.

What a legend , his voice is like seeing the ocean for the first time

I can't carry a tune but want to sing at the top of my voice when I hear this man .

"If the Lord wants to take me, I'm here for the takin', cause Hell's probably better than trying to get by." That's one of the best lines I've heard in a long, long time.

I'm in Grant County Kentucky, working 60 hours a week to take care of my family. This man is singing my life and touching my soul. Sing it young man, sing it.

I’m a construction worker from Lost Creek Alabama. I work my knees to the bone 60+ a week just to barely get by. I’m just a flat tire away from going under. Week to week living at 38 years old ain’t no way to live. But instead of taking down the Texaco store, I started playing guitar years ago. Bc I knew I’d never have shit being a uneducated country boy. So I taught myself all the instruments. And I played them for 25 years. A year ago I started recording myself in a closet make shift studio. And few months ago I start posting my music to social media. I started posted on Instagram 2 months ago. And last night I had struggle Jennings like one of my songs “Shot of whiskey” and fjoutlaw liked, commented, and even shared another one of mine called “Self inflicted pain” I know it’s not a pay out yet. But it was a first win in my music career. And I broke down and cried. After fjoutlaw shared that one. I had a flood of people following me and messaging telling me how much they loved my music. And all kind of people started sharing it. And it literally hit me right in my soul. I’ll be a paid independent musician very soon. And I just want to tell anyone that’s on the struggle and working like a dog for crumbs for you and your family. Keep going. Work on your dream.

I'm late to discovering Tyler Childers but my goodness....the growl in his voice, the pain on his face as his sings and the lyrics.....amazing.

Theres no dout in my mind that tyler childers is the best country artist out right now

U know an artist is awesome when they sound better live then on the radio

He summed up Eastern Kentucky in this song. So glad to see artist like Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, and Tyler Childers representing this area. We have tremendous talent here and a story to tell

“Well, the sign at the church says ill reap what I’m sowing, but I ain’t lost sleep it’ll come in due time, and if the lord wants to take me I’m here for the taking, cause hells probably better than trying to get by” the best thing iv ever heard

Jesus Christ, I've never heard anything so hauntingly beautiful.

Tyler Childers has single handedly erased the "Gingers have no soul" myth.

12 year marine veteran here from Claiborne county TN i worked construction for 30 years and I just retired from flat bed truck driving you sung my entire life to a t thank you for the song brother

I don't want to bring race into this, but I am a black man and I stumbled on Tyler Childers on My KZfaq Luke Combs Playlist. I haven't listened to another Artist since. Real life felt in all his music. Just hooked.

"Hell's probably better than trying to get by." Damn, I felt that.

My grandfather was a coal miner, and not one of his 7 children followed him into the pits... He wanted better for them, and he worked himself half to death to give them the opportunity. I never met the man, since he died not long before I was born, but I see the evidence of his commitment every time there's a family reunion. This song hit me in the feels... Hard.

24 year old, active duty Air Force from Raleigh county, WV. I want to go back to those hills so badly but there’s nothing there for me anymore. Just hard times and memories. But still, every once in awhile, when I hear a song like this…my mind goes back and I feel at home again…if only for a moment. Thanks Tyler. Your newer stuff isn’t my favorite but I’ll always love these gems.

Most men aren't appreciated for this type of work. A lot of people say they do but the truth is most don't have a clue. Stay strong kings 🤴

I hope the pills and whiskey don’t get to this man protect him at all cost. Save country music Tyler!

I bought a house.... a ring in the pawn.... a crib for the.... this song summed up my whole child hood. Just wanna give a big shout out to my dad. He worked his ass off with 2-3 jobs at a time just trying to keep the electric on and some food in our mouths. Because of him and our experiences, I am a survivor and can make it anywhere. I Love u daddy!

“Hell’s probably better then trying to get by”. Wow what a lyric! This guy vocally paints a picture of the pain and struggle of small town America. So glad I found this!

Did anyone else thumb up every comments below? This song brings out the real men of America that work hard to provide for their families. God bless you all.

I just discovered Tyler Childers 20 minutes ago and have already listened to 3 songs. I've never heard music that gave me the chills and made me feel what this guy's does. He could be the greatest musical artist of all time.

I'm Frome Knoxville TN, 37 years old with wife of nearly 20 years with two girls in elementary school. I keep reading replies from people in different states saying they understand this music but they don't mine coal, well neither do I and never will. I think this is folk music simply put, cause only people who are grounded understand what it's like to have to sacrifice for their families and friends, hard times effect the hard workers this country has soaked in sweat and blood while telling them of you work harder for the same benefits you'll be okay. It's a stigma the working class people have in America.. I'm glad I was born a poor Appalachian and taught to do for his. I'm a bricklayer and I help build the buildings my family and bloodlines to come will see long after I am gone and my hard time is done.

2024 is still kicking ass!

Are the 2900 people who thumbed this down deaf? More passion and soul in these three minutes than I've heard in a long time

I haven’t heard this much anger, pain, heart, soul, struggle in a song in a long time. He gives it his all in this song and it shows.

I bought a house at the mouth of the holler A ring at the pawn shop, and a crib for the kid I heard some word there was work up in Hindman I'm going tomorrow and hope that there is My sweat and my wages they don't seem to weight out I'm gettin' more aches than I'm gainin' in gold Whoever said you could raise you a family Just a'workin' your ass off knee deep in coal? Well the sign at the church says I'll reap what I'm sowin' But I ain't lost sleep, it'll come in due time If the Lord wants to take me I'm here for the taking 'Cause hell's probably better than tryin' to get by You can see me on the front page It'll be out tomorrow A boy in his 20's, shot down in his prime For trying to hold up the Texaco station They'll say I was desperate They're probably right I bought a house at the mouth of the holler A ring at the pawn shop, and a crib for the kid I heard some word there was work up in Hindman I'm going tomorrow and hope that there is

Man wish we still had this Tyler Damn

Literally going to be the theme of 2022

shit gives me goosebumps.

If this song doesn’t scream Appalachia, I don’t know what does. Awesome music

Big city girl here, from a different continent. When music's this raw it just grabs your guts regardless of where you're from.

My mom and dad are from Jackson Kentucky. I love them hollers down there it's home. My Paw is buried down in Jackson breathitt County hot gigged all up and down in creeks Frozen Turkey Creek Alcatel creeks where my paw taught me how to squirrel hunt. God bless you brother I'm 60 years old my twin sister died 2 years ago. I love them hollers down there beautiful country God Bless America

I'm from Texas and we don't mine coal but we understand hard times and this is some damn good music

When you play music through a quality sound system you can hear every imperfection. The only imperfection I can hear in this song is my wife telling me to turn it down.

That second verse is probably the best bit of song writing I’ve heard in a long long time. He explained the actual thoughts and feelings of falling on hard times better in four simple lines than I could in an entire novel.

Tyler Childers may be the only ginger with a soul. Great musician.

Damn. This boys got the pain of every generation of coal miners in his voice. I tell you what, this song cuts deep.

"If the lord wants to take me I'm here for the taking, cause Hell's probably easier than trying to get by" Truer words have never been spoken.

Your voice is otherworldy...brother the soul you put into this is truly divine...

Music about the struggles we face in this sometimes unbearable life always strikes a chord. Tyler just hits that chord HARD

My sweat and my wages they don't seem to weigh out I'm gettin' more aches than I'm gainin' in gold

"....... they'll say I was desperate, they're probably right" Wow.

I need a playlist with a hundred songs like this

sir Tyler your everything modern country music wishes it was. if you haven't heard that one yet haha ya right

Before I found this guy (and Sturgill Simpson) I thought I didn't like 'Country'. Turns out I just don't care for any of the 'hair metal ballads' that they're trying to pass as Country these days. All of Tyler Childers' music I've heard I really like.

You don't have to mine coal or even come from the country to understand and connect to this song. Life is hard, and being a good father in a world of disposable men isn't easy. This song is fantastic.

The love of my life, my partner, is from WV. I hear his soul in this song. Holding him tighter tonight.

One of the greatest songs ever. Period. Don’t @ me bro.

Anyone else here after hearing Tyler's message about the protesters on Twitter? I hadn't heard of him before that, but now I've found out that his music is amazing. What a wonderful voice.

We don't mine much coal in upstate South Carolina, but we damn sure understand these lyrics. Shit like this gets me through days working at the plant

The absolute best musician on the scene right now. Can't get enough of his music. Amazing

I come from a upper middle class background but in the past couple years stuff has really gone down hill and it’s made me appreciate people like this and the music from back home a lot more if life hards for you I hope it gets better even though they say it never does . Shout out to all the hard working men out there providing for their families by any means.

Man..i'm 19..and couldn't feel this song anymore. Grew up piss poor..with nothing but motivation..that motivation motivated me until the thoughts came in..lost my father at age 5..all I could do is help. At least we just got by..love you mah, i'll do what I can to outlive my past. I got this.

When he starts singing, I stop breathing. It’s punch-in-the-guts beautiful.

Stay true to your music. I grew up on outlaw country. Showed this to my 73 year old dad. It brought him to tears. To me as well.

I’m back with one more comment this guy takes me back to the hollers of West By God during the height of coal mining life was good ☮️

Heard this guy for the first time tonight when a young guy at work was playing it. I'm 61 and this sounds like some of the great stuff from the 70s. I thought it was from that era and was happily surprised to find out that Tyler is current. Some new music that's real. Such a good thing.

I don’t get chills/goosebumps very often, but something about Tyler’s voice... so many feels and emotion in his voice.

‘Cause Hell’s probably better than trying to get by Every person who has struggled knows how powerful and true these words are.

Tyler will be another Willie Nelson. I don't say that lightly. He makes me proud to be from the same state. Incredible voice and song writer from hell !

I just told my dog he’s the handsomest pal ever because of this song. Idk why. But it felt right.

This cats haulin so many hits.

It's been a long time since I've heard a song that brings a tear to my eye

Tyler is the best of this generation. No one is better❤❤x my ex’s family were from Harlan County and worked in the mines. Two got Black Lung and died in their 30s.

I seriously can't stop listening to this.

this youngster is blessed with the talent and emotion that has all but vacated modern country music, especially the garbage they play on the radio these days.

You can hear the pain of Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia in his voice. Amazing.

A Grammy for this masterpiece would be an insult……intergalactic sorrow psalm,

Johnson County born. Coal minin’ son of a miner, son of a miner, son of a miner. East byGod. And damn proud of you, son!

West Virginia native. This guy gets it.

Im a treeman in western nc mountains, i dont know a damn thing about mining or drilling, but tyler is singing about the struggles of being an an american Go Tyler!!! Preach brother preach!

I was Born and raised n west virginia. And we all support you.

Ain't heard passion pour out of someone like that in a long time

It's not often I hear a song that stops me in my tracks and causes goosebumps. Just found one.

Just moved from Appalachia. Had an opportunity to love to Oregon. An opportunity to leave, not forget, the horrible things taking me down. The mountains and trees and....the mountains and rivers here in Oregon have absolutely saved me. Love you all

Real as it gets=Tyler.

Damn proud to call myself a Countryman of Mr. Childers who brings out the life Kentuckians through music.

If this doesn't break your heart, I don't know what will.

I grew up at the end of lintz holler, Lucasville Ohio. 12 years old, rode my bicycle, (when i had tires) walked across the bridge from Portsmouth to North Shore Kentucky to work Tomato's. Best time of my life

Wow. He absolutely owns this song. His amazing delivery with this song and others showcases what a gifted artist he is.

When he hits that raspy high note, gives me chills every time

Tyler Childers is a true Appalachian treasure

Eyes closed because he sees better in the dark.

If this doesn't speak to your soul, see yourself out now.

that good of song writing at the age of 19.... with the voice to boot. holy cow

I'm from southern Indiana....ive worked in coal mining...regardless if you have or not, this song isn't for one group of people...i think most of us can relate to this song in one way or another....hes a soulful genius....a true artist

This dude is the Layne Staley of country music. My favorite country singer forsure!

I cant listen to anything without comparing it to Tyler and saying... "Well its good but it aint Tyler."

".... And if Lord wants to take me, I'm here for the taking, 'cause Hell's probably better than tryin' to get by..." whoooooaaaa... this man has BARS! That line put me on my ass.

"I heard some word there was work up in Hindman I'm going tomorrow and hope that there is." I've never related to any musician as I do with him. He captures the essence of growing up and living in Kentucky. The good and bad. It's just refreshing to listen to someone with talent tell like it is. The best country singer under 30 and no one talks about him. I just happened to be in Lexington the first time he played at Red Barn. Bottles and Bibles was a lot more raw and rough than Purgatory but I mean that in the best way possible. So underrated

Wish Childers still did it like this

shits bussin no cap fr fr 💯💯🍼