Big & Rich's "8th of November" music video features Kris Kristofferson telling the story of a solider in the 173rd Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War.
Big & Rich released 8th of November song in May 2006 as the final single off their album Comin’ To Your City. The song was a success, marking Big & Rich’s seventh song to reach the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at No. 18. The single also reached No. 94 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The title “8th of November” refers to a significant day in 1965, during the Vietnam War. On this day, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was ambushed by Viet Cong forces in the jungles of South Vietnam. Among the soldiers who survived the attack was Niles Harris, whose story inspired Big Kenny and John Rich to write the song.
Niles Harris, a friend of the duo, recounted his experiences of that fateful day when nearly 50 of his fellow soldiers lost their lives. Harris’ bravery, resilience, and vivid storytelling left a profound impression on Big & Rich, leading them to craft this moving tribute. The song also highlights the unsung heroism of Lawrence Joel, a medic who received the Medal of Honor for his efforts to save the wounded during the ambush.
The song pays tribute to Vietnam War veterans, specifically focusing on the harrowing experiences of one soldier, Niles Harris. The song and its accompanying music video serve as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served in combat. The music video starts out uniquely, with a spoken narrative by country music icon Kris Kristofferson telling the story of a solider in the 173rd Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War. The solider, Niles Harris, is mentioned to have “given Big Kenny his top hat.” Niles was saved by army medic Lawrence Joel, the first African-American to receive a Medal of Honor since 1898.
The music video for “8th of November” amplifies the emotional weight of the song. Directed by Deaton Flanigen, it combines reenactments of the Vietnam War with footage of veterans and their families. The video is interspersed with clips of Big & Rich performing, but the focus remains on the soldiers’ stories.
One of the most poignant aspects of the video is its inclusion of real-life Vietnam veterans, including Niles Harris himself. The scenes of soldiers in battle and their eventual return home capture the stark realities of war and the emotional toll it takes on those who serve. The video ends with a tribute to all veterans, urging viewers never to forget their sacrifices.
Watch the compelling music video below!
Niles Harris’ story, immortalized through the song, has brought awareness to the sacrifices of Vietnam War veterans, many of whom faced significant challenges upon returning home. The song has also inspired countless listeners to learn more about the events of November 8, 1965, and to honor those who served.
He said goodbye to his momma
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
He was dropped in the jungle
Where the choppers would rumble
With the smell of napalm in the air
The the Sargent said:
“Look up ahead”
Like a dark evil cloud
Twelve hundred came down
On him and twenty nine more
They fought for their lives
But most of them died
In the 173rd airborne
On the eighth 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 eighth of November
Now he’s fifty eight and his ponytail’s gray
But the battle still plays in his head
He limps when he walks
But he’s strong when he talks
About 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 eighth 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 eighth of November
Saw the eagle fly through a clear blue sky
1965
On the eighth 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 eighth 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 eighth of November
Eighth of November
He said goodbye to his momma
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