Rack Season

[Verse 1] Truck was packed the night before Thermals, tags, boots by the door Rifles cleaned, scent blocker sprayed Cooler full and the ammo laid Hit the road ‘fore the sky turned light Talkin’ game trails and deer in flight Pulled off slow where the pines grow thick And smiled a little too long when he adjusted his grip [Chorus] It’s rack season, out in the blind Two grown men, just tryin’ to unwind Got our tags, our calls, our blaze orange pride But some thoughts don’t ride in a four-wheel drive Ain’t no big deal, just me and my friend… And a feelin’ I can’t quite pin down again [Verse 2] Tracked a few prints through the morning frost Talked stand strategy and the one we lost Set up the scope, checked the wind Ain’t nothin’ new — same as it’s been He crouched in the brush, workin’ the trail I stared too long, then checked my rail Thought I was focused, eyes on the ridge But my gaze was stuck on the curve of his bridge [Chorus] It’s rack season, waitin’ for the shot Talkin’ ’bout bucks and who’s got the best spot We split some jerky, passed a flask And I took a little longer than I needed to ask Just him and me, like every fall But lately I ain’t just watchin’ the deer crawl [Bridge] Back at the truck, we cleaned our boots Wiped down the guns and checked our suits He slapped my back and grinned real wide And I laughed too, just tryin’ to hide [Final Chorus] Yeah, it’s rack season, that time of year When the woods get cold and the thoughts get clear He’s my huntin’ buddy, my lifelong friend But I think ‘bout him more than I’d ever intend Ain’t somethin’ I’d ever confess out loud— Just a secret that hangs like a misty cloud [Outro] So we’ll be back next fall, just the same old plan Two rifles, one truck… and one quiet man He don’t know, and I don’t say— But I’ve never seen a buck take my breath away