It could be that he was being told a tall tale.
Tall tales are often told so as to make the narrator seem to have been a part of the story.
"As of the 1930's, this was a very popular place for American tall tales."
He also tells some stories that are most likely tall tales.
His childhood friend later said that he told tall tales about himself even in school.
She shook her head as if at a small child telling tall tales.
Also still drifting in deep space is every tall tale ever told.
But who knows what other celebrities think of the tall tales told about them?
And then he led his band in a version like a tall tale.
However, she makes up tall tales to try to blend in to the group.