He came home to Tennessee a young man at the end of '45
Only one of seven men in his platoon that made it back alive
He must have seen some tough things
But he never said too much about all that
He put his pictures and his memories in a cedar chest
Everything but his old Army hat

By the time that I was born
The winds of change had swept across our land
They were burning flags and draft cards
When they bothered to take any kind of stand
And we used to laugh at Grandpa
Like he was some old relic from the past
'Cause he never left the house unless he was wearing
That funny looking, worn out Army hat

Every eye was on him anytime that he went anywhere
They whispered and they pointed
But you could tell my Grandpa didn't care
I ain't wearin' this for them, he'd say
It's a whole lot more than that
For my buddies who gave everything the least that I can do
Is keep on wearing this old Army hat

He called me up one morning, said he'd seen it on the news on his TV
They've opened up a monument to World War II in Washington, D.C.
I ain't getting' any younger
And I wish someone would take me to see that
And I couldn't help but think they're gonna laugh at you up there
If you show up in that silly Army hat

Two strangers both saluted
As Grandpa walked up to the monument
One said, "Thank you soldier for a job well done" the other said "Amen"
And a young boy told him
"Sir, my daddy went to war and didn't make it back
Could you take a picture standing here beside me
And maybe let me wear your Army hat?"

Every eye was on him, there was not a dry one in the crowd
They whispered and they pointed
As my Grandpa stood up extra tall and proud
And he told him, "Son, just keep it"
When the young boy tried his best to give it back
You're a brave little soldier and every soldier needs
His very own authentic Army hat

For your Daddy who gave everything the least that I can do
Is pass on this old worn out Army hat