Bill Anderson - Old Army Hat lyrics

rate me

He came home to Tennessee

A young man at the end of forty-five

Only one of seven men in his platoon that made it back alive

He must have seen some tough times

But he never talked too much about all that

Put his pictures and his memories in the cedar chest

Everything but his old army hat

By the time I graduated

The winds of change had blown across our land

They were burning flags and draft cards

When they bothered to take some kind of stand

And we used to laugh at grandpa

Like he was some old relic from the past

Cause he never left the house less he was wearing

That funny looking worn out army hat

Every eye was on him anytime that he went anywhere

They whispered and they pointed

But you could tell that grandpa didn't care

I ain't weaning this for them he said

It's a whole lot more than that

For my buddies who gave everything the least that I can do

Is keep on wearing this old army hat

He called me up one morning

Said he'd seen it on the news on his TV

They've opened up a monument to World War II in Washington D.C.

I ain't getting any younger

And I wish someone would take me to see that

I couldn’t help to think they will gonna laugh at you

If you show up in that silly army hat

Two strangers both saluted

Aas grandpa walked up to the monument

One said :thank you soldier for a job well done

The other said :amen

And a young boy said:

Sir my daddy went to war and never made it back

Would you take a picture standing here beside me ?

And maybe let me wear your army hat

Every eye was on him and there was not a dry one in the crowd

They whispered and they pointed

And grandpa stood up extra tall and proud

He said: son just keep it

When the young boy tried his best to give it back

You're a brave little soldier son and every soldier needs

His very own authentic army hat

For your daddy who gave everything

The least that I can do

Is pass on this old worn out army hat

O beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain

For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain

America, America, God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea

And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea