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Man With The Big Hat

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Cmajor

90BPM

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[Verse 1]
CIn a bar in Arizona
on a Emsultry summer's day
a Dmcowboy came in off the road
just to Gpass the time away
He Cpulled a stool up to the bar
pushed his Emhat back on his head
I Dmlisten to the stories told
the Gwords the cowboy said
He said
CI can tell you stories 'bout the Bbindians on the plains
Ftalk of Wells Fargo and the Dcoming of the tGrains
Ctalk about the slaughter of the Bbbuffalo that roamed
Fspeak of all the settlers come out Dlooking for a Ghome
[Chorus]
Now the Cman in the Fbig hat is Cbuying
Drink Cup while the Fdrinking is Gfree
Drink Fup to the Bmcowboys a Gdead or a Cdying
Drink Gto my comFpaGdres and mCe
Drink Gto my comFpadGres and Cme
[Verse 2]
CWell, his shirt was brown and faded
and his Emhat was wide and black
and his Dmpants which once were blue were grey
and had a Gpocket gone in back
He Chad a finger missin' from the Emhand he rolled his smoke
He Dmlaughed and talked of cowboy life
but you Gknew it weren't no joke
He said
CI've seen the days so hot my Bbpony could not stand
and Fif your water bag was dry, Ddon't count upon the land
and Cwinters, I've seen winters where your Bbboots froze in the snow
And your Fonly thought was leaving but you Dhad no place to Ggo
[Chorus]
Now the Cman in the Fbig hat is Cbuying
Drink Cup while the Fdrinking is Gfree
Drink Fup to the Bmcowboys a Gdead or a Cdying
Drink Gto my cFompadrGes and Cme
Drink Gto my coFmpadrGes and Cme
[Verse 3]
He Crested easy at the bar his Emfoot upon the rail
And Dmlaughed and talked of times he had while Gliving on the trail
The Csilence never broken as the Emwords poured from his lips
As Dmquiet as the 45 he carried on his Ghips
He said
CI rode the cattle drive from Bbhere to San Antone
FTen days in the saddle you know and Dweary to the bone
CI rode from here to Wichita withBmout a woman's smile
And the Fcampfire where I cooked my beans was the Donly light for Gmiles
[Chorus]
Now the Cman in the Fbig hat is Cbuying
Drink Cup while the Fdrinking is Gfree
Drink Fup to the Bbcowboys a Gdead or a Cdying
Drink Gto my coFmpadrGes and Cme
Drink Gto my coFmpadGres and Cme
[Verse 4]
He Crolled another cigarette as he Emheaded toward the door
I could Dmhear his spurs a jingling as his Gboot heels hit the floor
He Cloosened up his belt a knotch, pulled his Emhat back on his head
And Dmas he turned to say goodbye to me Gthis is what he said
Now the Chigh-lines chase the highways and the Bbfences close the range
To Fsee a working cowboy that's a Dsight that's mighty stGrange
A Ccowboy's life is lonely and his Bblot is not the best
But if it Fhadn't been for men like me there Dwouldn't be no Gwest
[Chorus]
Now the Cman in the Fbig hat is Cbuying
Drink Cup while the Fdrinking is Gfree
Drink Fup to the Bbcowboys a Gdead or a Cdying
Drink Gto my comFpadGres anCd me
Drink Gto my comFpadGres and Cme

All chords in this song (8)

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Man With The Big Hat

by Steven Fromholz

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

In a bar in Arizona

on a sultry summer's day

a cowboy came in off the road

just to pass the time away

He pulled a stool up to the bar

pushed his hat back on his head

I listen to the stories told

the words the cowboy said

He said

C Bb

I can tell you stories 'bout the indians on the plains

F D G

talk of Wells Fargo and the coming of the trains

C Bb

talk about the slaughter of the buffalo that roamed

F D G

speak of all the settlers come out looking for a home

[Chorus]

C F C

Now the man in the big hat is buying

C F G

Drink up while the drinking is free

F Bm G C

Drink up to the cowboys a dead or a dying

G F G C

Drink to my compadres and me

G F G C

Drink to my compadres and me

[Verse 2]

Well, his shirt was brown and faded

and his hat was wide and black

and his pants which once were blue were grey

and had a pocket gone in back

C Em

He had a finger missin' from the hand he rolled his smoke

He laughed and talked of cowboy life

but you knew it weren't no joke

He said

C Bb

I've seen the days so hot my pony could not stand

F D

and if your water bag was dry, don't count upon the land

C Bb

and winters, I've seen winters where your boots froze in the snow

F D G

And your only thought was leaving but you had no place to go

[Chorus]

C F C

Now the man in the big hat is buying

C F G

Drink up while the drinking is free

F Bm G C

Drink up to the cowboys a dead or a dying

G F G C

Drink to my compadres and me

G F G C

Drink to my compadres and me

[Verse 3]

C Em

He rested easy at the bar his foot upon the rail

Dm G

And laughed and talked of times he had while living on the trail

C Em

The silence never broken as the words poured from his lips

Dm G

As quiet as the 45 he carried on his hips

He said

C Bb

I rode the cattle drive from here to San Antone

F D

Ten days in the saddle you know and weary to the bone

C Bm

I rode from here to Wichita without a woman's smile

F D G

And the campfire where I cooked my beans was the only light for miles

[Chorus]

C F C

Now the man in the big hat is buying

C F G

Drink up while the drinking is free

F Bb G C

Drink up to the cowboys a dead or a dying

G F G C

Drink to my compadres and me

G F G C

Drink to my compadres and me

[Verse 4]

C Em

He rolled another cigarette as he headed toward the door

Dm G

I could hear his spurs a jingling as his boot heels hit the floor

C Em

He loosened up his belt a knotch, pulled his hat back on his head

Dm G

And as he turned to say goodbye to me this is what he said

C Bb

Now the high-lines chase the highways and the fences close the range

F D G

To see a working cowboy that's a sight that's mighty strange

C Bb

A cowboy's life is lonely and his lot is not the best

F D G

But if it hadn't been for men like me there wouldn't be no west

[Chorus]

C F C

Now the man in the big hat is buying

C F G

Drink up while the drinking is free

F Bb G C

Drink up to the cowboys a dead or a dying

G F G C

Drink to my compadres and me

G F G C

Drink to my compadres and me

About Man With The Big Hat Chords by Steven Fromholz

Learn how to play Man With The Big Hat by Steven Fromholz with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Man With The Big Hat chords”, “Man With The Big Hat guitar chords”, or “Steven Fromholz Man With The Big Hat chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Man With The Big Hat chords and for experienced players who want accurate Man With The Big Hat lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Em, Dm, G, Bb, F.

FAQ — Man With The Big Hat by Steven Fromholz

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The chords for "Man With The Big Hat" show the original chord names (including C, Em, Dm, G, Bb, F). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.