He said goodbye to his momma

As he left South Dakota

To fight for the Red, White, and Blue

He was 19 in 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

Then the sargeant said, "Look up ahead"

And 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

(Chorus)

On the 8th of November,

The angels were cryin'

As they carried his brothers away

With the fire rainin' down

And the Hell all around

There were few men left standin' that day

Saw the eagle fly,

Through a clear, blue sky

1965, the 8th of November

Now hes 58

And his ponytails grey

But the battle still plays in his head

He limps when he walks,

But hes strong when he talks

About the shrapnel they left in leg

He puts on a grey suit

Over his airborne tattoo

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

(Chorus)

On the 8th of November,

The angels were cryin'

As they carried his brothers away

With the fire rainin' down

And the Hell all around

There were few men left standin' 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

(Chorus)

On the 8th of November,

The angels were cryin'

As they carried his brothers away

With the fire rainin' down

And the Hell all around

There were few men left standin' that day

(Chorus)

On the 8th of November,

The angels were cryin'

As they carried his brothers away

With the fire rainin' down

And the Hell all around

There were few men left standin' that day

Saw the eagle fly,

Through a clear, blue sky

1965, the 8th of November

The 8th of November

The 8th of November

He said goodbye to his momma

As he left South Dakota

To fight for the Red, White, and Blue

He was 19 in green with a new M-16

Just doin' what he had to do.