Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Big & Rich
Performer
Adam Shoenfeld
Electric Guitar
Big Kenny
Vocals
Brian Barnett
Drums
Ethan Pilzer
Bass
John Rich
Acoustic Guitar
Jonathan Yudkin
Fiddle
Mike Johnson
Pedal Steel Guitar
Mike Rojas
Piano
Paul Worley
Electric Guitar
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Big Kenny
Songwriter
John Rich
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Andrew Mendelson
Mastering Engineer
Bartley Pursley
Recording Engineer
Big Kenny
Producer
John Rich
Producer
Paul Worley
Producer
Lyrics
Hello, I'm Chris Christoverson
On November 8th, 1965
The 173rd Airborne Brigade on Operation Hump
War Zone D in Vietnam, were ambushed by over 1,200 V.C
48 American soldiers lost their lives that day
Severely wounded, and risking his own life
Lawrence Joel, a medic, was the first living black man, since the Spanish-American War
To receive the United States Medal of Honor for saving so many lives in the midst of battle that day
Our friend, Niles Harris, retired 25 years, United States Army
The guy who gave Big Kenny his top hat, was one of the wounded who lived
This song is his story
Caught in the action of kill or be killed
Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for a friend
Said "Goodbye to his mama, as he left South Dakota to fight for the Red, White, and Blue
He was nineteen, and green, with a new M-16
Just doin' what he had to do
He was dropped in the jungle, where the choppers would rumble with the smell of napalm in the air
And the sergeant said, "Look up ahead"
Like a dark, evil cloud 1,200 came down on him, and 29 more
They fought for their lives, but most of them died in the 173rd Airborne
On the 8th of November, the angels were crying as they carried his brothers away
With the fire raining down, and the hell all around
There were few men left standing that day
Saw the eagle fly, through a clear, blue sky
1965, the 8th of November
Now, he's 58, and his ponytail's grey
But the battle still plays in his head
He limps when he walks
But he's strong when he talks 'bout the shrapnel they left in his leg
He puts on a grey suit over his Airborne tattoo, and he ties it on one time, a year
And remembers the fallen, as he orders a tall one
And swallows it down with his tears
On the 8th of November, the angels were crying as they carried his brothers away
With the fire raining down, and the hell all around
There were few men left standing that day
Saw the eagle fly, through a clear, blue sky
1965, the 8th of November
Saw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky, 1965 ('65)
On the 8th of November, the angels were crying as they carried his brothers away
With the fire raining down, and the hell all around
There were few men left standing that day
On the 8th of November, the angels were crying as they carried his brothers away
With the fire raining down, and the hell all around
There were few men left standing that day
Saw the eagle fly, through a clear, blue sky
1965, the 8th of November
The 8th of November
The 8th of November
Said "Goodbye to his mama as he left South Dakota to fight for the Red, White, and Blue
He was nineteen, and green, with a new M-16
Just doing what he had to do
Written by: Big Kenny, John Rich