Old Army Hat Song Lyrics and Chords by Bill Anderson
Old Army Hat
Recorded by Bill Anderson
Written by Bill Anderson and Walt Aldridge
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He came home to Tennessee a young man at the end of forty-
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five
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Only one of seven men in his platoon that made it back
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alive
He must have seen some tough times
But he never talked too much about all of
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that
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Put his pictures and his memories in the cedar chest
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Everything but
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his old army
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hat
By the time I graduated the winds of change had blown across our
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land
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They were burning flags and draft cards
When they bothered to take some kind of
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stand
And we used to laugh at grandpa
Like he was some old relic from the
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past
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Cause he never left the house less he was wearing
That
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funny looking
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worn out army
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hat
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Every eye was on him anytime that he went
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anywhere
They
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whispered and they pointed
But you could tell that grandpa didn't
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care
I ain't
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weaning this for them he said it's a whole lot more than
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that
For my
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buddies who gave everything the
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least that I can do
Is
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keep on wearing
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this old army
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hat
He called me up one morning said he'd seen it on the news on his
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tv
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They've opened up a monument to World War II in Washington D.
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C.
I ain't getting any younger
And I wish someone would take me to see
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that
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I couldn't help but think their gonna laugh at you up there
If
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you show up in that
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silly army
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hat
Two strangers both saluted as grandpa walked up to the monu
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ment
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One said thank you soldier for a job well done the other said
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amen
And a young boy said sir my daddy went to war and never made it
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back
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Would you take a picture standing here beside me
And
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maybe let me
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wear your army
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hat
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Every eye was on him and there was not a dry one in the
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crowd
They
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whispered and they pointed
And grandpa stood up extra tall and
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proud
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He said son just keep it
When the young boy tried his best to give it
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back
You're a
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brave little soldier son and
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every soldier needs
His
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very own
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authentic army
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hat
For your
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daddy who gave every thing the
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least that I can do
Is
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pass on this old
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worn out army
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hat
America the Beautiful
Written by Katharine Lee Bates and Samuel Ward
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O beautiful for
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spacious skies for
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amber
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waves of
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grain
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For
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purple mountain
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majesties above the
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fruited
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plain
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America
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America God shed his grace on
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thee
And
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crown thy good with
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brotherhood from
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sea to
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shining
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sea
And
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crown thy good with
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brotherhood from
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sea to
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shining
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sea
FAQ
Who sang the the song Old Army Hat?
- The song Old Army Hat was sang by Bill Anderson.
Who is Bill Anderson?
- James William Anderson III (born November 1, 1937), known professionally as Bill Anderson, is an American country music singer-songwriter and record producer. He also has been credited as a television personality and author. As a songwriter, his compositions have been covered by various music artists since the late 1950s, including Ray Price and George Strait. As a singer, his soft-spoken singing voice was given the nickname "Whispering Bill" by music critics and writers.Anderson was raised in Decatur, Georgia and began composing songs while in high school. While enrolled in college, he wrote the song "City Lights," which later became a major hit for Ray Price in 1958. His songwriting led to his first recording contract with Decca Records the same year. Anderson began having major hits shortly thereafter. In 1963, he had released his most successful single in his recording career, "Still." The song became a major country pop crossover hit and was followed by a series of top ten hits. These songs included "I Love You Drops," "I Get the Fever" and "Wild Week-End." His songs were being notably recorded by other artists. In 1964, Connie Smith had her first major hit with his composition "Once a Day." In 1971, Cal Smith had a number one single with Anderson's "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking."
In the 1970s, Anderson continued having major hits as a recording artist as well. Songs including "Love Is a Sometimes Thing," "All the Lonely Women in the World" and "World of Make Believe" became major hits. As the decade progressed his style moved towards the Countrypolitan sub-genre of country music, with songs such as "I Can't Wait Any Longer." He was dropped from his record label in the early 1980s and began a brief career in television which included hosting the game shows The Better Sex and Fandango. Anderson began writing songs again in the early 1990s for the next generation of country performers. Collaborating with other writers, he wrote material that became hits for Vince Gill, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, and Steve Wariner in the next two decades.
Anderson also continued recording into the 1990s. In 1998, he released his first major label album in over decade entitled Fine Wine. He continued releasing music through his own TWI record label. This included projects of gospel and bluegrass material. His most recent studio album was released in 2020. In his career as both a writer and performer, he has received awards from the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association, Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.