He spent eight years in Nashville before signing a record deal with MCA Nashville. His debut single, "Mary Was the Marrying Kind", peaked at #45 on the country singles charts published by Billboard.
On September 27, 2011, he released his second single, "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck". The song was followed by the release of his debut album Up All Night in April 2012. Moore co-wrote every song on the album, and Brett James produced it. A month later, "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck" hit #1 on the Billboard country charts. "Beer Money" was the album's second single, followed by "Hey Pretty Girl". These songs also reached the country Top 5. Up All Night was the most commercially successful album for a debut country male artist in both 2012 and 2013.
Moore co-wrote two tracks on Thompson Square's self-titled debut album which was released in February 2011: "All the Way" and "Let's Fight", the latter of which was their debut single. He also co-wrote James Wesley's 2012 single "Walking Contradiction". He also co-wrote Frankie Ballard's 2016 single "Cigarette".
In October 2013, Moore announced his fifth single, "Young Love". It charted at #22 on the Country Airplay in March 2014. After it underperformed, it was followed by "Dirt Road", which failed to make Top 40. Moore then decided to "scrap" his second album and compose new material. Moore then released "I'm to Blame", the lead single to his 2015 album, Wild Ones.
On February 10, 2017, Moore released "More Girls Like You" as the lead single from a then-unannounced forthcoming album.
On June 21, 2017, Moore announced the album's title, Slowheart, and its release date of September 8, 2017.
On November 16, 2018, Moore released his second EP titled Room to Spare: The Acoustic Sessions. Three singles were released in preparation for the EP: "Tennessee Boy," an acoustic version of "Plead the Fifth," and "It Ain't California." The EP consists of seven acoustic tracks.
In May 2019, Moore announced on social media "That's a wrap, record #4 is done". No release date had been officially announced, but on June 15 Moore announced he was checking mixes for his upcoming record, indicating the record may be released sometime in 2019.
On August 9, 2019, Moore released a much-anticipated lead single to his yet to be named upcoming album. "She's Mine" is a song Moore wrote over a decade ago, and finally released it in 2019.
On March 27, 2020, Moore released the title track for his fourth studio album titled Wild World. Later that same day, Moore did an interview with Billboard about his new album. The album, which consists of 13 tracks (twelve of which are co-written by Moore), was released on May 29, 2020. Another preview song, "Southpaw", followed on April 17, 2020.
Guitar Man
Kip Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still taste the whiskey, still fresh on my mouth
Hot cup of coffee, smoke in my hand
Another day in the life of the guitar man
La de da
Well last night was a good night as I reached in my jeans
Crumpled up ones, a few tens in between
Made me make her a promise, she knows I can't keep
La de da
Time to fire up that two tone bucket of rust
Throw my amp and my case in the back of my truck
Breathing my freedom, windows rolled down
Forty-six miles till the next nameless town
La de da
Well, the place is still empty when I walk in the door
Stench from the beer, spilling up through the floor
Give an eye to sweet Lisa, she mixes the drinks
Life's been hard on her, but she's been good to me
La de da
Off in the shadows
Stands a stool and a stage
Where many souls before me were put on display
I take one last breath, time to pay some more dues
That won't add up to nothing but tips and cheap booze
Yeah, the fruits of my labor is when the crowd sings along
Nothing short of a savior, still I go home alone
I'm an empty, faceless spotlight mike-stand
I'll getcha high, I'll getcha low
I'm the guitar man
Well they'll ask for more love songs and I'll play with a smile
To help them hold on or forget for a while
They can fill up that jukebox with a week's worth of pay
But it can't fill their happy and it can't fill their pain
No drums, no pianos, no sweet harmonies
It's all in a song and it's all on me
Won't find nothing fancy I'm a tired one man band
I'm the picking and grinning guitar man
Yeah the fruits of my labor's when the crowd sings along
Nothing short of a savior I go home alone
I'm an empty, faceless spotlight mic-stand
I'll getcha high, I'll getcha low, I'm the guitar man yeah
Well I had me a pretty baby, thought she was the one
But she soon grew tired, this love on the run
Said she felt second, told me I had to choose
She's back in Georgia and I'm there with you
The end of the night, we'll all be best friends
Then strangers till I roll through town again
I'll yell out hey Lisa something cold in a can
One for the road for the guitar man
Yeah the fruits of my labor's when the crowd sings along
Nothing short of a savior still I go home alone
I'm an empty, faceless spotlight mic-stand
I'll getcha high, I'll getcha low, I'm the guitar man yeah
I'll play em fast, I'll play em slow, I'm the guitar man
Yeah
In Kip Moore's song "Guitar Man," the singer describes the life of a struggling musician who wakes up in the morning with a taste of whiskey in his mouth, a hot cup of coffee in his hand, and the dream of playing music for another day. The song tells the story of a man who is struggling to make ends meet as he travels from town to town playing gigs for a few tips and cheap booze. The singer describes the emptiness of his life on the road, the loneliness he feels at night, and the struggles he faces as a one-man band. Despite these challenges, he continues to play, hoping that his music will connect with someone out there.
The song is a powerful account of the ups and downs of the life of a musician. It shows the struggles they face on the road, the sacrifices they make to follow their dreams, and the joy they feel when they connect with an audience. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's world, where every night is a new adventure and every stage is an opportunity to share his music with the world.
Overall, Kip Moore's "Guitar Man" is a poignant song that captures the spirit of the musical journey. It speaks to anyone who has ever struggled to make their dreams a reality and shows that even in the midst of hardship, there is hope and happiness to be found in the act of creation.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I woke to the rise, sun going down
I woke up in the late evening with the sun setting.
Still taste the whiskey, still fresh on my mouth
The aftertaste of whiskey still lingers in my mouth.
Hot cup of coffee, smoke in my hand
I have a cup of coffee and a cigarette in my hand.
Another day in the life of the guitar man
I start another day on the road as a guitar player.
La de da
This is a meaningless phrase meant to fill space in the song.
Well last night was a good night as I reached in my jeans
Last night was a successful show as I removed money from my pocket.
Crumpled up ones, a few tens in between
The money I earned last night is a mix of singles and tens.
And a red head named Annie, she's still fast asleep
I had a romantic encounter with a woman named Annie who is still sleeping.
Made me make her a promise, she knows I can't keep
Annie requested a promise from me that, realistically, I cannot fulfill.
La de da
Pointless phrase to fill space.
Time to fire up that two tone bucket of rust
It's time to start my old pickup truck and get back on the road.
Throw my amp and my case in the back of my truck
I load my guitar amp and guitar case into the bed of my truck.
Breathing my freedom, windows rolled down
I feel free as I drive with the windows down.
Forty-six miles till the next nameless town
The next town on my route doesn't have a name and is 46 miles away.
La de da
Nonsensical phrase to pad out the lyrics.
Well, the place is still empty when I walk in the door
When I arrive at the bar, it's still empty.
Stench from the beer, spilling up through the floor
The odor of spilled beer permeates the establishment.
Give an eye to sweet Lisa, she mixes the drinks
I notice a woman named Lisa who is working as a bartender.
Life's been hard on her, but she's been good to me
Lisa's life has been difficult, but she has always treated me well.
La de da
Empty, meaningless phrase.
Off in the shadows
In the corner of the bar.
Stands a stool and a stage
There is a stool and a stage in the corner of the bar.
Where many souls before me were put on display
Many musicians have performed on that stage before me.
I take one last breath, time to pay some more dues
I take a deep breath before going on stage to perform and continue to work hard to establish myself.
That won't add up to nothing but tips and cheap booze
I know that the pay for performing won't amount to anything significant, but I still give it my all.
Yeah, the fruits of my labor is when the crowd sings along
The ultimate payoff for me is when the audience gets involved and sings along with me.
Nothing short of a savior, still I go home alone
My performance might make me feel like a hero, but ultimately I still go home by myself.
I'm an empty, faceless spotlight mike-stand
When I'm performing, I'm essentially an anonymous stand with a microphone in a bright light.
I'll getcha high, I'll getcha low
My music can evoke both happy and sad emotions in the audience.
I'm the guitar man
I'm the guitarist performing in the bar.
Well they'll ask for more love songs and I'll play with a smile
The audience will often request more love songs, and I'll perform them with a smile.
To help them hold on or forget for a while
The love songs I play can help people hold onto their love or forget their problems for a while.
They can fill up that jukebox with a week's worth of pay
The customers can spend a lot of money on the jukebox, but it won't necessarily make them happy.
But it can't fill their happy and it can't fill their pain
Playing music on the jukebox can't bring real happiness or ease their pain.
No drums, no pianos, no sweet harmonies
My performance is stripped down to just me and my guitar, without much embellishment.
It's all in a song and it's all on me
My performance relies solely on the song and my abilities.
Won't find nothing fancy I'm a tired one man band
There's nothing lavish or fancy about my performance, I'm a single musician feeling worn out.
I'm the picking and grinning guitar man
I'm a guitarist who picks and grins while performing on stage.
The end of the night, we'll all be best friends
Towards the end of the night, everyone in the bar will feel like they are best friends.
Then strangers till I roll through town again
After leaving town, everyone will be strangers until I return to perform again.
I'll yell out hey Lisa something cold in a can
Before I leave, I'll call out to Lisa to bring me a cold drink in a can.
One for the road for the guitar man
I get one last drink before hitting the road again.
I'll play em fast, I'll play em slow, I'm the guitar man
I'm capable of playing songs at any tempo, and that's what makes me the guitar man.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAN COUCH, KIP MOORE, WESTIN DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
luc gault
Well, I woke to the rise, sun going down
Stale taste of whiskey, still fresh on my mouth
Hot cup of coffee, smoke in my hand
Another day in the life of the guitar man
La de da
Well last night was a good night as I reached in my jeans
Crumpled up ones, a few tens in between
And a red head named Annie, she's still fast asleep
Made me make her a promise, she knows I can't keep
La de da
Time to fire up that two tone bucket of rust
Throw my amp and my case in the back of my truck
Breathing my freedom, windows rolled down
Forty-six miles till the next nameless town
La de da
Well, the place is still empty when I walk in the door
Stench from the beer, spilling up through the floor
Give a nod to sweet Lisa, she mixes the drinks
Life's been hard on her, but she's been good to me
La de da
Off in the shadows
Stands a stool and a stage
Where many souls before me were put on display
I take one last breath, time to pay some more dues
That won't add up to nothing but tips and cheap booze
Yeah, the fruits of my labor is when the crowd sings along
Nothing short of a savior, I go home alone
I'm an empty, faceless spotlight mic-stand
I'll getcha high, I'll getcha low
I'm the guitar man
Well they'll ask for more love songs and I'll play with a smile
To help them hold on or forget for a while
They can fill up that jukebox with a week's worth of pay
But it can't feel their happy and it can't feel their pain
No drums, no pianos, no sweet harmonies
It's all in a song and it's all on me
Won't find nothing fancy I'm a tired one man band
I'm the picking and grinning guitar man
Yeah the fruits of my labor's when the crowd sings along
Nothing short of a savior, I go home alone
I'm an empty, faceless spotlight mic-stand
I'll getcha high, I'll getcha low, I'm the guitar man yeah
Well I had me a pretty baby, thought she was the one
But she soon grew tired, this love on the run
Said she felt second, told me I had to choose
She's back in Georgia and I'm here with you
The end of the night, we'll all be best friends
Then strangers till I roll through town again
I'll yell out hey Lisa something cold in a can
One for the road for the guitar man
Yeah the fruits of my labor's when the crowd sings along
Nothing short of a savior still I go home alone
I'm an empty, faceless spotlight mic-stand
I'll getcha high, I'll getcha low, I'm the guitar man yeah
I'll play em fast, I'll play em slow, I'm the guitar man
Yeah
Catherine Todd
Well, I woke to the rise, sun going down
Still taste the whiskey, still fresh on my mouth
Hot cup of coffee, smoke in my hand
Another day in the life of the guitar man
La de da
Well last night was a good night as I reached in my jeans
Crumpled up ones, a few tens in between
And a red head named Annie, she's still fast asleep
Made me make her a promise, she knows I can't keep
La de da
Time to fire up that two tone bucket of rust
Throw my amp and my case in the back of my truck
Breathing my freedom, windows rolled down
Forty-six miles till the next nameless town
La de da
Well, the place is still empty when I walk in the door
Stench from the beer, spilling up through the floor
Give an eye to sweet Lisa, she mixes the drinks
Life's been hard on her, but she's been good to me
La de da
Off in the shadows
Stands a stool and a stage
Where many souls before me were put on display
I take one last breath, time to pay some more dues
That won't add up to nothing but tips and cheap booze
Yeah, the fruits of my labor is when the crowd sings along
Nothing short of a savior, still I go home alone
I'm an empty, faceless spotlight mike-stand
I'll getcha high, I'll getcha low
I'm the guitar man
Well they'll ask for more love songs and I'll play with a smile
To help them hold on or forget for a while
They can fill up that jukebox with a week's worth of pay
But it can't fill their happy and it can't fill their pain
No drums, no pianos, no sweet harmonies
It's all in a song and it's all on me
Won't find nothing fancy I'm a tired one man band
I'm the picking and grinning guitar man
[Chorus]
Yeah the fruits of my labor's when the crowd sings along
Nothing short of a savior I go home alone
I'm an empty, faceless spotlight mic-stand
I'll getcha high, I'll getcha low, I'm the guitar man yeah
Well I had me a pretty baby, thought she was the one
But she soon grew tired, this love on the run
Said she felt second, told me I had to choose
She's back in Georgia and I'm there with you
The end of the night, we'll all be best friends
Then strangers till I roll through town again
I'll yell out hey Lisa something cold in a can
One for the road for the guitar man
[Chorus]
Yeah the fruits of my labor's when the crowd sings along
Nothing short of a savior still I go home alone
I'm an empty, faceless spotlight mic-stand
I'll getcha high, I'll getcha low, I'm the guitar man yeah
I'll play em fast, I'll play em slow, I'm the guitar man
Yeah
Heather Contois
I have been listening to all Kip's songs for a week. I realize, that my heart has been hurting or some real country music to have with all my folk music and this is where I can find it.
Jimmy Ginger
This is real music straight from the soul. Kip you are an inspiration for so many people. Keep on making music brother we need real music like yours.
Susan Kelly
@Jimmy Ginger rrwwetfr77
Kaye Andrews
I agree. Love concerts as well as acoustic.Every song has meaning.
Jimmy Ginger
Brittany B no there are some fake ass country singers who only sing it to make money.
Wanda Bates
Music straight from the heart, sung with a whiskey-soaked voice. Incredible song, incredible album. This is what country music is, music that makes you feel something deep in your soul.
Alyssa Rockwell
This song always makes me sad... When I found out what it meant I cried... It's so sad yet so good... Keep them coming Kip! We are all here! We all love and support you!
Bex Marie
I felt the same way.. Look at how far he has come!
Ryan Fitzgerald
natural91LC it’s about his early career of music and the struggles he had before making it big
natural91LC
what does it mean? (beyond the lyrics I mean)