SAM STONE
John Prine


Sam Stone came home to his wife and family
After serving in the conflict overseas
And the time that he served had shattered all his nerves
And left a little shrapnel in his knees
But the morphine eased the pain
And the grass grew 'round his brain
And gave him all the confidence he lacked
With a purple heart and a monkey on his back

Chorus:

There'e a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes
Jesus Christ died for nothin' I suppose
Little pitchers have big ears
Don't stop to count the years
Sweet things never last too long on broken radios, uhm...

Sam Stone's welcome home didn't last too long
He went to work when he'd spent his last dime
And soon he took to stealing when he got that empty feeling
For a hundred dollar habit without overtime
And the gold rolled through his veins
Like a thousand railroad trains
And eased his mind in the hours that he chose
While the kids ran around wearin' other peoples clothes

Chorus

Sam Stone was alone when he popped his last balloon
Climbing walls while sitting in a chair
Well, he playes his last request while the room smelled just like death
With an overdose hovering in the air
But life had lost it's fun
There was nothing to be done
But to trade his house that he bought on the GI bill
For a flag-draped casket on a local heroe's hill

Chorus



(Contributed by Andy & Mogg - June 2003)