He came home to 
Tennessee 
Young man at the end of forty five 
Only one of seven men in his platoon 
That made it back alive 
And he must've seen some tough things 
But he never said too much about all that 
Put his pictures and his memories in our 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 some kind of stand 
Now 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 when he went anywhere 
They whispered and they pointed 
But you could tell my grandpa didn't care "I ain't wearing 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 DC" "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 salute 
As grandpa walked up to the monument 
One said, "Thank you soldier, for the 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"