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Top Songs By John Prine
Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
John Prine
Vocals
Gene Chrisman
Drums
Reggie Young
Lead Guitar
John Christopher
Rhythm Guitar
Bobby Emmons
Organ
Leo LeBlanc
Pedal Steel Guitar
Bobby Wood
Piano
Heyward Bishop
Percussion
Mike Leech
Bass
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
John Prine
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Arif Mardin
Producer
Dale "Smitty" Smith
Assistant Engineer
Ryan Smith
Mastering Engineer
Stan Kesler
Recording Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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 knee
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's a hole in Daddy's arm
Where all the money goes
And Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose
Little pitchers have big ears
Don't stop to count the years
Sweet songs never last too long
On broken radios, mmm
[Verse 2]
Sam Stone's welcome home
Didn't last too long
He went to work when he'd spent his last dime
And Sammy 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]
There's a hole in Daddy's arm
Where all the money goes
And Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose
Little pitchers have big ears
Don't stop to count the years
Sweet songs never last too long
On broken radios, mmm
[Verse 3]
Sam Stone was alone
When he popped his last balloon
Climbing walls while sitting in a chair
Well, he played his last request
While the room smelled just like death
With an overdose hovering in the air
But life had lost its fun
And there was nothing to be done
But trade his house that he bought on the G.I. Bill
For a flag-draped casket on a local heroes' hill
[Chorus]
There's a hole in Daddy's arm
Where all the money goes
And Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose
Little pitchers have big ears
Don't stop to count the years
Sweet songs never last too long
On broken radios, mmm
Written by: John E. Prine