The Sad Story Of Sam Stone Lyrics - On The Double - Golden Earring

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 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, 

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.... 

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... 

Repeat Chorus: 

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.