Big Time in the Jungle
Old Crow Lyrics

Down in Eutaw, Alabama in 1965
In 1965, in a small town called Eutaw located in Alabama, USA.

A young man ‘bout 21, no different than you or I
A young man of approximately 21 years old, similar to any other person in terms of his character and behavior.

He's catchin' catfish, and gettin' drunk
He spends his time fishing for catfish and drinking alcohol.

But Uncle Sam called, he called him up Sent him out to Vietnam
However, he got a call from the US military, summoning him to be a part of the Vietnam War.

That young man Got his life turned upside down Turned his smile into a frown Robbed that king of his crown For an ideal he didn't even know about
As a result of the Vietnam War, the young man's life was completely changed, causing him to lose his happiness and confidence for a cause he did not believe in or understand.

He was gamblin' at the wagon when that army man showed up And he flashed that pen and paper And ol' Flukie he signed up
While gambling, a US army recruiter approached him with a contract, and he agreed to join the army without thinking much about it.

There's gonna be a big time in the jungle Gonna be a firefight Gonna be a rumble Send me out to Vietnam
The lyrics suggest that the Vietnam War will be intense, with a lot of fighting and hostile encounters.

I'll fight ten men I got nothin' left in the States for me I wanna see the world you see I know that Uncle Sam needs me To fight for an ideal I know nothing about
The young man is willing to fight multiple enemies, and he feels that there is nothing left for him in his home country. He wants to experience the world, which is why he agreed to fight for his country, despite not knowing much about the war or its cause.

Oh the drop point was dusty and the drill sergeant was loud And he could not see the corpses for the ragin' dust cloud
Upon arrival in Vietnam, the environment is dusty and chaotic, with dead bodies scattered around, making it difficult for the young man to perceive his surroundings.

Grab your duffle bags, head to the checkpoint Welcome to Vietnam, boys, you're in for a hell of a fight Take it from the ones who know
Upon arrival, the young men are welcomed by a checkpoint, and are warned that they are in for a gruelling fight by those who have already been through it.

The army moves slow Hurry up and wait, don't sleep late And learn to hate your brother Before you hate your foe
The military takes time to operate effectively. The soldiers are asked to be prepared at all times, with a warning to not be complacent or lazy. They are told to hate their comrades before their enemies, highlighting the idea of brotherhood and camaraderie within the army.

On patrol out in the rice fields, them choppers flew low Glancing for the hand signal to tell you where to go Then the bombs started fallin' And they pounded his brain And he thought about Eutaw and who was to blame For sending him to Vietnam
During a patrol mission in the rice fields of Vietnam, the young man sees helicopters flying overhead, seeking guidance on where to go. Out of nowhere, bombs began falling on them, leaving him disoriented and overwhelmed, causing him to think about his hometown and blame those who sent him to Vietnam.