Manny's Hat Song

Jerry Jeff Walker
 Manny was a maker of hats, Manny was much more than that
 He was the kind of guy, you and I would want for a friend
 Manny was a regular guy, with an old soul look in his eye
 He was a man of word, and true to himself to the end
 Chorus:
 Manny liked to laugh and share a good story or two
 If he's a making you a hat, he needs to know some things about you
 He'd say, "Set yourself down, tell us what you're thinking about
 Your hat says something about you, before you even open your mouth"
 Manny had a funky hat shop, south of town where everyone stopped
 To sit and chat, get a hat, and maybe get a new attitude
 He loved to sit up front and greet folks
 Take their measurements and laugh at their jokes
 You couldn't stop by without staying there all afternoon
 His wife Norma she sat in the back,
 Sewing sweatbands in all of his hats
 She listened to the radio, some times I'd sing her a tune
 Chorus
 He made hats for a lot of great men
 But none were finer then he made for a friend
 He made 'em the old way, steamed, and creased 'em by hand
 He'd take your old hat and make her brand new
 He'd shape it any way you wanted him too
 He'd fix it up fine with a porcupine-beaded hatband
 You know his hats were worn all over the world
 By real cowboy, women's and pearls
 He even made one for me he jokingly called "the old friend"
 Bridge:
 Well when old friends disappear, I sometimes wonder where
 I'd like to think maybe there just somewhere round the bend
 But Manny's in heaven I bet, I'll go you one better yet
 I'll bet money John B. and Manny are talking God into a hat
 Old Manny used to take me aside,
 He'd say Jerry Jeff you know how to write
 Why don't you make up a hat song and do it just the way that you do
 Well now that old Manny has gone,
 I finally made him up Manny's hat song
 'Cause it's the best way to keep your old friend alive in a room
 Chorus
 Manny was a maker of hats, Manny was much more than that
 He was the kind of guy, you and I would want for a friend