Jerry Jeff Walker: Manny's hat song

Manny was a maker of hats, Manny was much more than that He was the kind of guy, you and I would want for a friend Manny was a regular guy, with an old soul look in his eye He was a man of word, and true to himself to the end Chorus: Manny liked to laugh and share a good story or two If he's a making you a hat, he needs to know some things about you He'd say, "Set yourself down, tell us what you're thinking about Your hat says something about you, before you even open your mouth" Manny had a funky hat shop, south of town where everyone stopped To sit and chat, get a hat, and maybe get a new attitude He loved to sit up front and greet folks Take their measurements and laugh at their jokes You couldn't stop by without staying there all afternoon His wife Norma she sat in the back, Sewing sweatbands in all of his hats She listened to the radio, some times I'd sing her a tune Chorus He made hats for a lot of great men But none were finer then he made for a friend He made 'em the old way, steamed, and creased 'em by hand He'd take your old hat and make her brand new He'd shape it any way you wanted him too He'd fix it up fine with a porcupine-beaded hatband You know his hats were worn all over the world By real cowboy, women?s and pearls He even made one for me he jokingly called "the old friend" Bridge: Well when old friends disappear, I sometimes wonder where I'd like to think maybe there just somewhere round the bend But Manny's in heaven I bet, I'll go you one better yet I'll bet money John B. and Manny are talking God into a hat Old Manny used to take me aside, He?d say Jerry Jeff you know how to write Why don't you make up a hat song and do it just the way that you do Well now that old Manny has gone, I finally made him up Manny's hat song 'Cause it's the best way to keep your old friend alive in a room Chorus Manny was a maker of hats, Manny was much more than that He was the kind of guy, you and I would want for a friend