8th of November
Encyclopedia
"8th of November" is the title of a song written and recorded by the American country music
duo Big & Rich
, and recorded on their 2005 album Comin' to Your City
. Released in May 2006 as that album's third and final single, the song became the duo's seventh Top 40 hit on the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
charts, where it peaked at #18, in addition to reaching #94 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
provides the introduction and explains the significance of November 8, 1965. The 173d Airborne Brigade was ambushed by Viet Cong during Operation Hump
. One of the wounded, Niles Harris, was among the several soldiers saved by Lawrence Joel
, who later became the first living black American to receive the Medal of Honor
since the Spanish-American War
. Years later, Harris gave Big Kenny (one half of the duo) the top hat he often wears in public appearances.
The song itself is a mid-tempo set in triple meter, giving an account of Harris' life. In the first verse, at the age of 19, Harris joins the military to fight the Vietnamese. He ends up in Vietnam, "with the smell of napalm
in the air." The thirty in his group are then ambushed, as earlier stated by Kristofferson. In the second verse, Harris, now 58, exhibits the lingering injuries he sustained during the war, but he is "strong when he talks" about his injuries and his memories of his fallen comrades.
". Stephen Thomas Erlewine
, in his review of the album for Allmusic, called it "awkwardly jingoistic
".
was also nominated for video of the year categories for the CMAs, ACM Awards, and the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
duo Big & Rich
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich. Both members alternate as lead vocalists and play rhythm guitar...
, and recorded on their 2005 album Comin' to Your City
Comin' To Your City
In later presses of the album, "8th of November" was split into two tracks: one for Kris Kristofferson's opening and another for the song itself.-Big & Rich:*Big Kenny – vocals*John Rich – vocals, acoustic guitar-Additional musicians:*Max Abrams – saxophone...
. Released in May 2006 as that album's third and final single, the song became the duo's seventh Top 40 hit on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts, where it peaked at #18, in addition to reaching #94 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Content
The lyrics of the refrain refer specifically to "1965, the 8th of November" in describing the battle. In the album version, Kris KristoffersonKris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
provides the introduction and explains the significance of November 8, 1965. The 173d Airborne Brigade was ambushed by Viet Cong during Operation Hump
Operation Hump
Operation Hump was a search and destroy operation initiated on 8 November 1965 by the 173rd Airborne Brigade, in an area about 17.5 miles north of Bien Hoa. The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, deployed south of the Dong Nai River while the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, conducted a...
. One of the wounded, Niles Harris, was among the several soldiers saved by Lawrence Joel
Lawrence Joel
Lawrence Joel was a United States Army Sergeant First Class who served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars...
, who later became the first living black American to receive the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
since the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. Years later, Harris gave Big Kenny (one half of the duo) the top hat he often wears in public appearances.
The song itself is a mid-tempo set in triple meter, giving an account of Harris' life. In the first verse, at the age of 19, Harris joins the military to fight the Vietnamese. He ends up in Vietnam, "with the smell of napalm
Napalm
Napalm is a thickening/gelling agent generally mixed with gasoline or a similar fuel for use in an incendiary device, primarily as an anti-personnel weapon...
in the air." The thirty in his group are then ambushed, as earlier stated by Kristofferson. In the second verse, Harris, now 58, exhibits the lingering injuries he sustained during the war, but he is "strong when he talks" about his injuries and his memories of his fallen comrades.
Reception
Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a positive rating. He said the song is the best war song since "Travelin' SoldierTravelin' Soldier
"Travelin' Soldier" is a song written and originally recorded by American country music artist Bruce Robison in 1996 and again, in rewritten form, in 1999. It was later recorded by Ty England on his 1999 album Highways & Dance Halls. The first rendition to be issued as a single was by the Dixie...
". Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
, in his review of the album for Allmusic, called it "awkwardly jingoistic
Jingoism
Jingoism is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy. In practice, it is a country's advocation of the use of threats or actual force against other countries in order to safeguard what it perceives as its national interests...
".
Music video
The music video was directed by Deaton-Flanigen and premiered in the week of June 12, 2006. It first starts with Kristofferson saying the intro, and then cuts to the duo performing in front of a large screen, showing the visuals of Harris' life.Awards
The song was nominated for the 2006 CMA Awards song of the year category; its music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was also nominated for video of the year categories for the CMAs, ACM Awards, and the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
Chart performance
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|