Don’t Forget The Cowboy

I was visiting an old town one day

And I ventured into a store

This store was old and filled with dust

Few folks live here anymore.

I was just about to leave the place

When something caught my eye

Over in the corner there

And I really don’t know why.

I picked it up and blew dust off

This thing, it struck me with awe

It was a beat up old Stetson

The scruffiest thing I ever saw.

“How much for this old hat?” I asked

And held it so they could see

“Oh that old thing” a man replied

“Has really no value to me.”

“You see it’s been in here so long

I forgot it was even there

I don’t know how I got it

I can’t remember when or where.

So if you really want that thing

I guess you might as well take it

Can’t imagine you wanting it though

I’m really quite sure it wont fit.”

Well I gave that man a couple of bucks

And headed home with my prize

That night as I was examining my find

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I started to see the life of that hat

From the beginning to the end

It belonged to a handsome young cowboy

It became his very best friend.

You see his daddy gave him that hat

Said, “Son, you have to be strong.

Take care of your mama…I love you both.”

And closed his eyes and he was gone.

He very rarely took it off

He wore it both night and day

Yet he could feel his father near

Each time he took it off to pray.

The hat went with him on all his rides

Caught snowflakes and puddled the rain

It even covered up his face

To shadow the hurt and pain.

Then there was that wonderful day

When he took it off his head

He held it tightly in his hand

When he took his bride to wed.

I only saw it one other time

On his head it was not worn

And that was when he took it off

The night his son was born.

He only had a moment though

Before they were taken away

He never could quite understand

Just why they could not stay.

There was nothing they could do they say

They each were fading fast

He held them tightly in his arms

Then from this world they both passed.

He never really did know why

But he knew all else would pale

It was then he devoted the rest of his days

To the life he knew on the trail.

As lines grew on that cowboys face

The wrinkles appeared on the hat

Each one told a story of life rugged and hard

Each stain testifies of that.

They say you can’t judge a man

Without walking a mile in his shoes

But by looking at an old cowboy’s hat

There’s no way you can lose.

Each wrinkle, each line, each spot, each tear

Tells of the boy, the lad, the man

Of his life long before now

Try to imagine if you can.

You may even hear their voices

If you’re listenin’ just right

In the wind, the sage, and trees

Or orange skies at night.

So if your one that’s thinkin’

They’ll be a dying breed

Well you’d better think again

Cuz there’ll always be a need

For what they did help pave the way

Like Gene, Dale and Roy

And though this hat has been forgotten

There will always be the Cowboy.