"Great Southern Morning" was inspired by a grandfather’s—Papa’s—hunting place and by one of the most anticipated mornings of the year for a hunter: opening morning.
Long before daylight, there is a special sense of anticipation. The woods are still, the air is cool, and another season is about to begin. Yet for the true sportsman, that morning is about far more than hunting and certainly more than the harvest. It is a time of reverence, respect, and gratitude for the great outdoors.
Hunters are given the opportunity to experience the natural world in ways that many people rarely do—to watch the woods awaken, hear the first sounds of morning, and observe wildlife living freely in its natural habitat. Sometimes the most memorable moments of a hunt happen without ever pulling the trigger.
That appreciation also carries a responsibility. True sportsmanship means giving back more than we take. Protecting habitat, managing wildlife responsibly, conserving the land, and leaving it better for those who follow are all part of the hunting tradition.
Perhaps that responsibility becomes most meaningful when it is shared across generations. A grandfather walking the land with his children and grandchildren is passing along much more than the knowledge of how to hunt. He is teaching respect for wildlife, gratitude for the land, and the responsibility to care for what has been entrusted to us.
“Great Southern Morning” celebrates those mornings when families head into the woods together—not simply in search of game, but to experience the land, preserve a tradition, and pass along a love of the outdoors from one generation to the next.
LYRICS
Yeah, sun's comin' up, let's go
Headlights cut the great southern pine tree line
Ridin' in dust in a huntin' buggy shine
Coffee in a thermostrong and black
Got Papa's rifle ridden in the rack
Boots hit the ground before the world wakes up
Steam risin' slow from Papa's cup
You feel that fire run through your soul
Ain't nothin' like openin' morning roll
Every sunrise feels like grace
Out here in this wild, wide space
We're openin' day rollin, hearts wide open
Thankin' God for the life we're holdin
From the longleaf pines to the fields out wide
With the good Lord walkin' right by our side
Deer, wild turkey, quail, that fly
All livin' under that great southern sky
We take our shot, but we give back, too
That's what real hunters do
Camel cap and my hair pulled tight
Laughin' in the glow of early light
Hear that gobbler break the dawn
Or a covey rise and then they're gone
From a deer stand high to a quail field low
Every inch of great southern we know
It's more than a thrill, more than a view
It's takin' care of what God gave you
We're openin' day rollin, hearts wide open
Thankin' God for the life we're holdin
From the longleaf pines to the fields out wide
With the good Lord walkin' right by our side
Deer, wild turkey, quail, that fly
All livin' under great southern sky
We take our shot, but we give back, too
That's what real hunters do
Ain't about trophies hangin' on the wall
It's the early rise and the echo call
It's the land, the life, the reason we stand
Just takin' care of what's in our hands
We're openin' day rollin, don't slow down
Got a little bit of heaven in this great southern sound
From the deer stand wood to the dusty road
Every mile's a memory we're blessed to hold
Deer, wild turkey, quail, that fly
All part of God's grand design
We take our shot, but we give back, too
That's what real hunters do
Wouldn't trade it for nothin'