Hunt music! What a killer concept! As we all know, music represents a universal communication for mankind, and everybody has a life soundtrack of some sort or another. There is a song that brings forth powerful memories for all of us. That 1st kiss, 1st dance, graduation, a lifetime of summertime fun and adventure, marriage, the birth of our children, and that special song we played when we said good-bye to a loved one and so much more.
Based on many thousands of communications I have been blessed to receive over many years, many of the songs that I have written and performed have been celebrated for these and other memorable occasions in people’s lives, and for that I am much appreciative.
I mean, C’mon! What would summer be like without blasting Wango Tango loud and often!
Certainly, no words can possibly convey the incredible relationship my Fred Bear song has provided with so many people. The celebration of this song and the man is beyond description, and to this day I continue to hear from people around the world that cherish this killer piece of music as a spiritual bond with our loved ones, each other, the great outdoors and the deerhunting lifestyle.
When the song erupted from my soul after the death of the great man, I wrangled my band together immediately to capture and record the unbridled emotion that flowed forth.
I had no idea what exactly was taking place, but knew I had to share it with Fred’s widow Henrietta as soon as possible.
Like a raging firestorm, the demand for a cassette of Fred Bear got completely out of control, and as they say, “the rest is history.”
Young boys and girls, old died in the wool lifetime hunters who could care less about my rock-n-roll, the song connects and resonates with millions of people, many of whom had no idea who Fred Bear was until they heard the song.
Hundreds, maybe thousands of people have become bowhunters and archers as a direct result of how powerfully the song impacted them.
In Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and a few other states, the song is so relentlessly requested on radio that is it played pretty much every day of the hunting season.
I hear from hunters all the time how they cannot imagine heading to their deerstands without cranking Fred Bear before every hunt.
I swear to God in heaven, that I can actually feel that love and energy every day of the season as I head to my stand. Lord have mercy it is so very special.
It’s not officially the hunting season right now, but as I rock with my band in preparation for this summer’s SONIC BAPTIZM 2016 tour performing this masterpiece and I hear from BloodBrothers across the country who jam to it often, I thought I would repost the lyrics to what is clearly not only the only real hunting song in the world, but certainly one of the greatest songs ever.
When inspired by such love and admiration and the pain of saying good-bye to a hero, this is what happens when you live for the music and the mighty Spirit of the Wild!
Fred Bear
by Ted Nugent copyright Broadhead Music
There I was back in the wild again.
Felt right at home where I belong.
I had that feeling coming over me again,
Just like it happened so many times before.
The spirit of the woods is like an old good friend.
Makes me feel warm and good inside.
I knew his name and it was good to see him again.
Cuz in the wind he’s still alive.
Oh, Fred Bear, walk with me down the trails again.
Take me back, back where I belong.
Oh, Fred Bear, I’m so glad to have you at my side, my friend.
And I will join you in the big hunt before too long.
It was kind of dark, another misty dusk.
It came from a tangle down below.
I tried to remember everything he taught me so well.
I had to decide which way to go.
Was I alone, or in a hunter’s dream?
The moment of truth is here and now.
I felt his touch, I felt his guiding hand.
The buck was mine forever more.
Because of Fred Bear, I walk down these trails again.
Back where I belong.
Fred Bear, I’m glad to have you at my side, my friend.
I’ll join you in the big hunt before too long.
We’re not alone when we’re in the great outdoors.
We got his spirit, we got his soul.
He will guide our steps, he will guide our arrows home.
The restless spirit forever roams.
In the wind he’s still alive.
In the wind I hear Fred Bear.
“If today’s teenage thrill seekers seekers really want to get a thrill, let them go to the Northwest and tangle with a grizzly bear, a polar bear, or a brown bear. They’ll get their thrill, and it will cleanse their soul.” — Fred Bear, 1965
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