The Hat

Beat up western Stetson silver belly Open Road

Sitting on his lap as that old veteran rolled

His creaking VA wheelchair down the street our houses share

He flagged me down and held that felt hat straight up in the air

He said I know you're a traveler singing songs from town to town

Way back in my glory days you know I sure got around

My knees don't work as easy as they used to I'm afraid

But I've still got that urge to roam and I think I found the way

So soak up the sun in the shade beneath the brim

Don't get too bent out of shape when this road that you're on ends

If you're alone under it's shadow then let somebody in

Take it round the world and tell me where it's been

He said go on boy and take with you out there in the wild

Hell I don't even know if these old things are still in style

But if its not too much to ask I'd really love to know

What it's seeing every now and then when you come home

So soak up the sun in the shade beneath the brim

Don't get too bent out of shape when this road that you're on ends

If you're alone under it's shadow then let somebody in

Take it round the world and tell me where it's been

I told him that I could not possibly accept his gift

He said son I don't see nothing resting up there on your head

Besides it ain't about the hat I'm given you you know

It's a chance to stretch my legs a few more times before I go

So soak up the sun in the shade beneath the brim

Don't get too bent out of shape when this road that you're on ends

If you're alone under it's shadow then let somebody in

Take it round the world and tell me where it's been

I've been flying solo out here on the interstate

For as long as I've had songs to sing and bars that I can play

Sitting on the dash 350 miles from home

There's a beat up western Stetson silver belly Open Road