Just when you thought you couldn’t love “The Bird Hunters” more.
Over the years, the Turnpike Troubadours‘ “The Bird Hunters” has become a fan favorite among their die-hard fan base. Released in 2015 on their self-titled album, the song remained under the radar for many years before experiencing a resurgence and becoming a staple in their catalog.
The tune follows a simple verse-chorus-verse template, delivering a story centered on duck hunting with a friend. “The Bird Hunters” is much more than the tale of two old boys hoping to take home some ducks from their time in the blind.
The story that unfolds in the lyrics addresses heartbreak and regret as the narrator tells his friend Danny about things not working out with a girl, the camaraderie that two old friends can find as life goes on and the brotherhood that always is there, the ritual of two old friends coming together to duck hunt, and the healing that the narrator feels as he finds his way back home literally and metaphorically.
The song has a simple front but is filled with complex layers once you take a longer look at it.
While I could sit and listen to Evan Felker’s steady and reassuring vocals sing this tale all day, there is one person who gives Felker a run for his money while singing this song.
Back in 2023 at the Newport Folk Festival, the Turnpike Troubadours invited Tyler Childers on stage with them, and it was pure magic. The group performed a cover of John Prine’s “Paradise” and “The Bird Hunters” this day. While the performance of “Paradise” was excellent, the duet of “The Bird Hunters” was something that altered my brain chemistry.
Childers’ Appalachian twang lends the tune a haunting quality as he delivers the lyrics, transforming the feeling of a failed relationship into a cautionary tale about how blessed he should be that he didn’t end up with the wrong girl. Childers sings the lyrics of Danny talking to the narrator, effectively depicting the tone of a concerned friend.
His vocal inflections in the chorus also itch my brain in the best way, driving home the repeated chorus.
“She said, ‘Go back to Cherokee CountyWon’t you crawl back with nothing but a razor and a comb?’Says, ‘Babe, if you need me, I’ll be where you found meGo on to hell, honey, I’m headed home.'”
Paired with these stellar vocals, Childers’ iconic stage gaze, when he’s fully engaged in the performance, makes the performance even more memorable. If anyone could give Evan Felker a run for his money while covering this tune, it would be Tyler Childers.
This is a duo I’d love to see more from. Turn it all the way up.
While you’re here, also check out their performance of “Paradise.”
