Lyrics Old Army Hat - Bill Anderson

Old Army Hat

He came home to Tennessee a young man at the end of forty-five\nOnly one of seven men in his platoon that made it back alive\nHe must have seen some tough times\nBut he never talked too much about all of that\nPut his pictures and his memories in the cedar chest\nEverything but his old army hat\nBy the time I graduated the winds of change had blown across our land\nThey were burning flags and draft cards\nWhen they bothered to take some kind of stand\nAnd we used to laugh at grandpa\nLike he was some old relic from the past\n'Cause he never left the house less he was wearing\nThat funny looking worn out army hat\nEvery eye was on him anytime that he went anywhere\nThey whispered and they pointed\nBut you could tell that grandpa didn’t care\nI ain’t weaning this for them he said it’s a whole lot more than that\nFor my buddies who gave everything the least that I can do\nIs keep on wearing this old army hat\nHe called me up one morning said he’d seen it on the news on his tv\nThey’ve opened up a monument to World War II in Washington D. C\nI ain’t getting any younger\nAnd I wish someone would take me to see that\nI couldn’t help but think their gonna laugh at you up there\nIf you show up in that silly army hat\nTwo strangers both saluted as grandpa walked up to the monument\nOne said thank you soldier for a job well done the other said amen\nAnd a young boy said sir my daddy went to war and never made it back\nWould you take a picture standing here beside me\nAnd maybe let me wear your army hat\nEvery eye was on him and there was not a dry one in the crowd\nThey whispered and they pointed\nAnd grandpa stood up extra tall and proud\nHe said son just keep it\nWhen the young boy tried his best to give it back\nYou’re a brave little soldier son and every soldier needs\nHis very own authentic army hat\nFor your daddy who gave every thing the least that I can do\nIs pass on this old worn out army hat