Wildlife Called Him King
This song was written during an Elk hunting trip I took following my release from active duty in the U.S. Air Force in September of 1980. I met a few friends in the “Missouri Breaks” country of Montana for an archery Elk hunt. One evening, while sitting in a tree stand along the Missouri River, I spotted a huge bull elk on the other side of the river. He appeared on top of a knoll, probably 300 – 400 yards away from me at the time. The setting sun illuminated his huge antlers as he stood there. He then walked off the knoll and disappeared into the timber. I never saw him again. I figured that if I couldn’t have him, at least I’d write a song about the encounter and I could choose the outcome! It was truly an inspiring moment!
Wildlife Called Him King
A big bull elk was walking on a cold September day
And on a ridge he rested as he made along his way,
He surveyed ‘cross’ the big sky land where wildlife called him king
Massive horns above his head, and bugling was his thing.
The Missouri valley lay below him as he started down
Through wooded draws and brushy fields into that willow ground,
But little did he know that he would meet his fate that day
For down below sat a man, he’d fall victim to his prey.
Chorus: Yippee ’I’ oh, Yippee ‘I’ aye
Wildlife called him king
Down through the trees, into the willows by the riverside
He stopped to take a drink then raised his head in stately pride,
A gust of wind alerted him that he was not alone
That human scent’s what danger meant, intruder in his home,
He turned and whirled around and headed back up through the trees
That was the fatal move that sent that monarch to his knees,
When 60 lbs. Of arrow shaft slammed in his massive side
Where on the ground he once was king, now on that ground he died.
Chorus:
Now every night when the moon is bright and the stars come out
You can hear the river near and hear those coyotes shout,
But if you’re still than maybe you will hear that bugle sound
For though the king is gone from here, his ghost is still around.
Chorus: Yippee I oh Yippee I aye
Wildlife called him king
Bugling was his thing
Copyright: 2005 Words and Music by Joe Weiss
