We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Old Brown Hat

from Never Completely by Richard MacLemale

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 USD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 4 Richard MacLemale releases available on Bandcamp and save 50%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Attack of the 80s Synths, Every Single Day, Never Completely, and Florida Songs. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $18.50 USD or more (50% OFF)

     

  • Buy Disc

about

Based on a true short story written by my father, Robert MacLemale.

lyrics

When I was a kid my Uncle Bill
would always show up late
At family gatherings he'd sit by himself
and then to compensate,
He'd call me over, I'd sit on his knee
He always thought so highly of me
But everyone else ignored him
as far as I could see

They'd smell the alcohol on his breath
the smell was always there
But I was a kid and I paid it no mind
you know I didn't care
They said he spent all of his time at the bars
as far as they could tell
and he knew every bartender in town
and they all knew him well

Chorus

And Uncle Bill and his old brown hat
where the outcasts of the family
and they'd say "Don't grow up to be like that"
Yeah Uncle Bill and his old brown hat
where the outcasts of the family
and they'd say "Don't grow up to be like that"
Like Uncle Bill and his old brown hat


And then one year, at about six o'clock
The day before Christmas eve
He asked my parents if it was alright
If he could borrow me
And I thought we'd probably stop at some bar
(and) that's just what we did
And everyone stared as we walked in the door
Bill and this little kid

He took off his brown hat and passed it around
and everyone put money in
and when he left he gave them a smile
and they all smiled at him
And we went to clubs and bars all over town
at when closing time was near
It dawned on me why no questions were asked
The hat went around every year

Chorus

And so the next day he and I
we went downtown again
And we bought all kinds of different toys
and we 'til dark and then
we left presents on porches of families
who didn't have much to their name
And thinking of how bad that he had been treated
I started to feel ashamed

I wanted to run home and tell everyone
About the wonderful thing that we'd done
But he kinda smiled and shook his head
And this is what he said
"The spirit of Christmas is givin'
Not braggin' about what you give"
So he made me promise that I wouldn't tell
As long as we both should live

Chorus

credits

from Never Completely, released November 7, 2006
Written, performed, and recorded by Richard MacLemale

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Richard MacLemale image

Richard MacLemale New Port Richey

The 80s called, and they want Richard to keep making great 80s inspired music!

contact / help

Contact Richard MacLemale

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Richard MacLemale, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Fabiana Palladino stops by to talk about her mesmeric debut LP.
listen now