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Ned Ledoux: A Tribute to Dad –“This Cowboy’s Hat”

“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction

You ever hear a song that feels like it’s got a whole life stitched into its seams? That’s “This Cowboy’s Hat” for you. Picture this: you’re sitting on a creaky porch swing, the sun dipping low, and someone’s strumming a guitar while telling you a story that’s equal parts grit and heart. This song, written by Jake Brooks and first brought to life by Chris LeDoux in ’82, ain’t just about a hat. It’s about what that hat means—a cowboy’s pride, his battles, his roots, all weathered and worn right there on his head.

What makes this tune stick with you is how it paints a picture. The lyrics aren’t flashy; they’re raw, like a conversation with an old friend who’s seen some things. It’s got this slow, steady rhythm that feels like a horse’s trot across open country, and when the chorus hits, you’re right there with the cowboy, defending that hat like it’s his whole world. Why? Because that hat’s been through bar fights, blizzards, and heartbreak. It’s more than leather and brim—it’s a badge of who he is.

I love how the song doesn’t preach. It just lays it all bare: a guy standing up for what’s his, not because it’s worth a fortune, but because it’s his. You can feel the dust on your boots, hear the creak of the saloon door, and sense the tension when someone tries to mess with that hat. It’s got this quiet defiance that makes you wanna nod along, like, “Yeah, man, I get it.” Haven’t we all got something we’d fight for, something that tells our story?

And let’s talk about Chris LeDoux for a sec. The guy wasn’t just singing about cowboys—he was one, a rodeo champ who lived the life he sang about. That authenticity? It bleeds through every note. You don’t just hear the song; you feel the weight of the life behind it. Even if you’ve never touched a saddle, this song makes you understand why that hat matters so damn much.

So, next time you’re cruising down a backroad or just need a song to ground you, throw on “This Cowboy’s Hat.” Let it remind you of the things you carry, seen or unseen, that make you who you are. What’s your version of that hat?

Video

Lyrics

Well, I was sittin’ in a coffee shop, just havin’ a cup to pass the time
Swappin’ Rodeo stories, with this ol’ cowboy friend of mine
When some motorcycle riders started snickerin’ in the back
They started pokin’ fun at my friends hat
And one ol’ boy said, “Hey, Tex, where’d you park your horse?”
My friend just pulled his hat down low, but they couldn’t be ignored
One husky fella said, “I think I’ll just rip that hat right off your head”
That’s when my friend turned around, and this is what he said
“You’ll ride a black tornado ‘cross the western sky
You’ll rope an ol’ blue northern, and milk it ’til it’s dry
Bulldog the Mississippi and pin its ears down flat
Long before you take this cowboy’s hat”
He said, “Partner, now this ol’ hat it’s better left alone
You see, it used to be my daddy’s, but last year he passed on
My nephew skinned the rattler that makes up this ol’ hat band
But back in ’69, he died in Vietnam”
“Now the eagle feather was given to me by an Indian friend of mine
But someone ran him down somewhere around that Arizona line
And a real special lady gave me this hat pin
But I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again”
“You’ll ride a black tornado ‘cross the western sky
You’ll rope an ol’ blue northern, and milk it ’til it’s dry
Bulldog the Mississippi, pin its ears down flat
Long before you take this cowboy’s hat”
“Now if your leather jacket means to you what this ol’ hat means to me
Then I guess we understand each other, and we’ll just let it be
But if you still think it’s funny, my back’s against the wall
But if you touch my hat, you gotta fight us all”
Right then I caught a little sadness in that gang leader’s eyes
He turned back to the others, and they all just shuffled on outside
But when my friend turned back towards me, I noticed his ol’ hat brim
Well, it was turned up, in a big ol’ Texas grin
You’ll ride a black tornado ‘cross the western sky
You’ll rope an ol’ blue northern, and milk it ’til it’s dry
Bulldog the Mississippi, pin its ears down flat
Long before you take this cowboy’s hat
You’ll ride a black tornado ‘cross the western sky
You’ll rope an ol’ blue northern, and milk it ’til it’s dry
Bulldog the Mississippi, pin its ears down flat
Long before you take this cowboy’s hat
You’ll ride a black tornado ‘cross the western sky
You’ll rope an ol’ blue northern, and milk it ’til it’s dry

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