Man With The Big Hat Lyrics - Jerry Jeff Walker

Stephen Fromholz 

Narrator: 

In a bar in Arizona 

On a sultry summer day 

A cowboy came in off the road just to pass the time away 

He pulled a stool up to the bar and pushed his hat back on his head 

I listened to the stories told to the words that cowboy said. He said... 

Cowboy: 

I could tell you stories 'bout the Indians on the plain 

Talk about Wells Fargo and the comin' of the trains 

Talk of the slaughter of the buffalo that roamed 

Sing a song of settlers, come out looking for a home 

CHORUS (both) 

Now the man with the big hat is buying 

Drink up while the drinking is free 

Drink up to the cowboys a dead or a dying 

Drink to my compadres and me 

Drink to my compadres and me 

Narrator: 

Well his shirt was brown and faded 

And his hat was wide and black 

And the pants that once were blue were grey and had a pocket gone in back 

He had a finger missin' from the hand that rolled the smoke 

He laughed and talked of cowboy life but you knew it weren't no joke, he said.... 

Cowboy: 

I seen the day so hot your pony could not stand 

And if your water bag was dry, don't count upon the land 

And winters, I've seen winters when your boots froze in the snow 

And your only thought was leavin', but you had nowhere to go 

CHORUS 

Narrator: 

Well he rested easy at the bar, his foot upon the rail 

And laughed and talked of times he'd had out living on the trail 

The silence was never broken as the words poured from his lips 

Quiet as the forty five he carried on his hip, he said ... 

Cowboy: 

I rode the cattle drive from here to San Antone 

Ten days in the saddle you know, and weary to the bone 

I rode from here to Wichita without a womans' smile 

The camp fire where I cooked my beans was the only light for miles 

CHORUS 

Narrator: 

Well he rolled another ciggarette, as he turned toward the door 

I heard his spurs a jingling as his boot heels hit the floor 

He loosened up his belt a notch, pulled his hat down on his head 

As he turned to say goodby to me this is what he said.... 

Cowboy: 

Now the high-lines chase the highways, and the fences close the range 

And to see a working cowboy, that's a sight that's mighty strange 

But a cowboy's life was lonley, and his lot was not the best 

But if it hadn't been for men like me, there wouldn't be no west. 

Repeat Chorus