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Last update, Jun 29, 2013

Play song 4:16
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This Cowboy's Hat
By Jake Brooks, sung by Chris LeDoux
Album: 20 Greatest Hits
Artist biography

This song is a good representation of the way most real cowboys feel about their hats. A cowboy's hat is a source of pride, as well as a critical part of their working equipment. Even though I'm not a real cowboy, when I first heard this song it hit home, and perfectly expresses my feelings about my cowboy hat.
Cowboy Frank

For background and hints on proper care and etiquette for cowboy hats, visit Canadian Cowboy's Cowboy Hat website.

Blue Norther: A strong wind which originates in Canada. More

Well there's always been groups of people who never could see eye to eye. But I always thought if they had a chance to sit down and talk face to face they might realize they got a lot in common.

Well I was sittin' in a coffee shop just havin' a cup to pass the time
Swappin' rodeo stories with this old cowboy friend of mine
When some motorcycle riders started snickerin' in the back
And started pokin' fun at my friend's hat

And one old boy said "Hey Tex. Where'd you park your horse?"
My friend just pulled his hat down low but they couldn't be ignored
One husky fellow said "I think I'll rip that hat right off your head."
That's when my friend turned around and this is what he said.

You'll ride a black tornado
Across the western sky
Rope an old blue norther
And milk it till it's dry
Bull dogg the Mississippi
Pin its ears down flat
Long before you take this cowboy's hat

Now partner this old hat's better left alone
See it use to be my daddie's, but last year he passed on
My nephew skinned the rattler that makes up this old hat band
Back in 69 he died in Vietnam

Now the eagle feather was given to me by an Indian friend of mine
Someone ran him down somewhere around that Arizona line
And a real special lady gave me this hat pin
I don't know if I'll ever see her again

You'll ride a black tornado
Across the western sky
Rope an old blue norther
And milk it till it's dry
Bull dogg the Mississippi
Pin its ears down flat
Long before you take this cowboy's hat

Now if your leather jacket means to you what this hat means to me
Then I guess we understand each other n' we'll just let it be
But if you still think its funny, man you got my back up against the wall
And if you touch my hat your gonna' have to fight us all

Well right then I caught a little sadness in that gang leader's eyes
And he turned back to the others and they all just kind of shuffled on outside
But when my friend turned back toward me, I noticed his old hat brim
Well it was turned up, in a big old Texas grin

You'll ride a black tornado
Across the western sky
Rope an old blue norther
And milk it till it's dry
Bull dogg the Mississippi
Pin its ears down flat
Long before you take this cowboy's hat


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