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