Story Behind The Song

Back in 2007 I was playing around the Hill Country of Texas and having a great run. Just about every day I'd go out to Luckenbach and sit in on the song circles. There's a hat shop there run by a fella named Tony. I'd go in there every day, admiring a big, palm leaf cowboy hat with a rattlesnake skin band. I kept telling Tony I'd buy it soon. Tony would always come out to listen, and his favorite song of mine was "Michelle's Song". One day I went in the shop and said something like, "Tony, a couple of weeks and I'm gonna buy this hat!" He paused for a second, looking at me, then took the hat down off the wall and handed it to me. I said something like, "Tony you can't do this, you gotta make money, too!" He said, "Your songs have already paid for it." I humbly accepted the hat, and have it still. A few years ago I thought about it and decided to write this song.

Song Description

A "dude" has been given a hat, and, though he continues to insist that he's not a cowboy, he dresses in what he thinks are cowboy clothes, listens to country music, drives a truck, etc., etc. There are some inside jokes here, for those who are familiar with hats and such things. By the way, I'm not a cowboy, I'm an Indian from southern Arizona.

Lyrics

The Hat Song
© Bob Villa (602)705-2320 ® BMI Bob.Villa@Outlook.com
1.
I like country-western music . . . and I drive a big ol' truck
And I just love two steppin' . . . with pretty country queens who like to . . . fool around
And I'm rockin' these jeans and ropers . . . Wranglers as a matter of fact
But I really ain't no cowboy . . . someone just gave me a hat

Chorus 1
No, I really ain't no cowboy . . . someone just gave me this hat
It might be a George Strait Stetson . . . . . . could be an Ariat
I got a pawn shop trophy buckle . . . and a shirt with white pearly snaps
See, I really ain't no cowboy . . . someone just gave me the hat

2. Same chords as first verse
Well, I spent a little time in Texas . . . but I sure ain't long and tall
But I dip Copenhagen . . . and I can talk with a Texas drawl, y'all
I ain't never been on a horsie . . .I'd be scared to death of that
See, I really ain't no cowboy . . . someone just gave me a hat To Chorus 1

Bridge
Well, you can find me . . . Friday evenin' . . . at the Rusty Spur saloon
Where I'll be pickin' . . . and a grinnin' . . . and howlin' at the moon . . . yodle aye he hoo! Chorus 2

Chorus 2
No, I really ain't no cowboy . . . someone just gave me this hat
It might be a George Strait Stetson . . . could be an Ariat
I wouldn't know what to do with a lasso . . . and my pistols just fire caps
See, I really ain't no cowboy . . . someone just gave me the hat

Tag
No, I really ain't no cowboy . . . my buddy Tony just gave me this
Palm leaf . . . ten gallon . . . potato chip lookin' . . . boot scoot boogyin'
Big ol' cowboy hat.