November of 04
On Sunday, 21 November 2004, we came back into the shack after shooting hours and began to take off our boots etc., crank up the stove and pop a cold one for happy hour when I turned on the radio and heard the news that shocked not only the deer hunting world, but literally all across the nation. The tragic shooting of 8 people had occurred only 25 miles from our location. The shooter was still at large and would not be captured for nearly another 30 minutes. Needless to say, all of us at the shack were on guard until word came across the radio that the suspect had been captured. The victims were all from the local area (small towns all around ours). I did not know the victims personally but I along with a lot of other people all know people who know them. Some of the game wardens who were involved with the initial investigation were at my shack the night before. I wondered how their season had now changed and the amount of work that lay ahead. It was a sobering event for sure. I wanted to do something to show my support for their families and for our sport of hunting. I wrote this song two weeks after deer season while sitting in a tree stand during late season bow hunting. I will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this C.D. to the Rice Lake Hunters Survivors and Victims Fund at dairy State Bank in Rice Lake Wisconsin. Thanks for your support!
November of 04
There are days that we remember, days throughout our history
Like “9-11” and “Pearl Harbor”, and when they shot John Kennedy
If you’re a hunter in Wisconsin, to those days you’ll add one more
Just where you were when you heard the news in November of 04
In an old remote deer hunting camp a family gathered ‘round
Along with friends they were in for lunch from their hunt on private ground
When a stranger man from a far off land would cross their path that day
And no one there could ever know that by his hand with their lives they’d pay,
Chorus-
On 21 November 04, the day that changed the face of hunting deer forevermore
Well it’s up to us to teach our kids the proper way it’s done
To respect all life and property when you’re carrying a gun,
So on opening day remember, when you’re walking out your door
To reflect, think back on those who fell in November of 04.
A call came to the cabin about the stranger man
So they went out and confronted him, said you best get off our land,
When he turned and fired upon them, to this day no one knows why
But when the smoke had cleared away, 8 were down and 6 would die,
Chorus-
A lumberman, a salesman, a son, a would-be-bride
A construction man, a laborer, they were all good folks who died
So we’ll wear our blaze orange ribbons, forever hold their memories
And carry on but we will not forget the senseless tragedy, of
Chorus-
On that opening weekend, Sunday noon, November of 04
Copyright 2005: words and music by Joe Weiss
