VERSE 1
Am E G Am
Well I was sitting in a roadhouse havin' a cup to pass the time
Am E G Am
Swapping rodeo stories with a few old territory friends of mine
Am C Dm
When some motorcycle riders started snickering in the back
Am E Am
They were pokin' fun at my friends hat
Am E G Am
Well one old boy said 'Hey Tex where'd you park your horse'
Am E G Am
My friend just turned his hat down low but they couldn't be ignored
Am C Dm
Then one husky fella said 'I think I'll rip that hat right off your head'
Am E Am
That's when my friend turned 'round and this is what he said
CHORUS
Am C Dm
You'll ride a black tornado across the western sky
Am C E
You'll rope an old blue norther and milk it 'til it's dry
Am C Dm
Bulldog the Diamantina pin its ears down flat
Am E Am
Long before you take this cowboy's hat
VERSE 2
Am E G Am
Now this old hat is better left alone
Am E G Am
You see it used to be my father's but last year he passed on
Am C Dm
My Uncle skinned the red belly black that makes up this ol' hat band
Am E Am
But back in '69 he was killed in Vietnam
Am E G Am
Now the eagle feather was given to me by an old aboriginal friend of mine
Am E G Am
But someone run him down somewhere up around that Nothern Territory line
Am C Dm
And a real special lady gave me this hat pin
Am E Am
But I don't know if I'm ever going to see her again
REPEAT CHORUS
VERSE 3
Am E G Am
Now if your leather jacket means to you what this old hat means to me
Am E G Am
Then I guess we understand each other and we'll just let it be
Am C Dm
But if you still think it's funny then you've got my back up against the wall
Am E Am
And if you touch my hat then you're gonna have to fight us all
Am E G Am
Well right then and there I noticed a little sadness in the gang leader's eyes
Am E G Am
He turned back toward the others and they all just shuffled on outside
Am C Dm
But when my friend turned back towards me I noticed his hat brim
Am E Am
Well it was turned up in a big old Territory grin
REPEAT CHORUS