John Prine - Sam Stone

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"Sam Stone"
Song by John Prine
from the album John Prine
Released 1971
Recorded American Recording Studios, Memphis, Tennessee
Genre: Folk music

"Sam Stone" is a song written by John Prine about a drug-addicted veteran with a Purple Heart and his death by overdose.

The most familiar refrain in the song is "There's a hole in daddy's arm, where all the money goes"

The song can be interpreted as a reference to the phenomenon of morphine addiction among war veterans as a result of its use to treat crippling and painful injuries, and its often lifetime repercussions.

This version is from the album "John Prine: Live"

LYRICS:
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.

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.

Repeat Chorus

(c) 1971 John Prine

Note: the photo depicts an "Army Wife" self-medicating with alcohol at a bar, my contemporary spin on the song.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• Prine
• Sam
• Stone
• Vietnam
• War
• Folk
• Army
• Wife

[gregghelmberger]

I can't hear this song without crying. I don't even try to fight it. It just reaches right down inside of me and squeezes. I don't know of any song that's sadder, or any more precisely drawn depiction of a family destroyed by the impact of violence on the human spirit. It ought to be required listening.

[marybe27]

My father introduced me to John Prine when I was a kid. I can't imagine how I would have grown up without him. I am scared John Prine will pass and never know how much he affected a nine year old girl. I am grown now and I will pass his music to my kids. I love you John prine!!!!!

[Sstoneisawesome13]

my name is sam stone

[oldmanmyers]

Too bad there are so many more Sam Stones coming home from Iraq and Afghanastan...when will it end? The answer, my friend, is...well you know... We all hope the war we were in would be the last one...we never learn do we?

Peace, man

[richie1982what]

the most popular song is the hobo song for our family...but its not on youtube for all u prine fans to listen...if ya get a chance tho....listen to it...amazing song

[richie1982what]

she had a good going away party...love you ma bye...well all be together again. xoxo

[richie1982what]

man i love me some john prine....im only 29...but i learned all of the lyrics to all of his songs before i was a teenager i think...he is my familys anthem,,my mom has 11 brothers and we had a chance to have them all home at the same time when my grandmother was fying...we set up a tent and my grandmother sat under it with us for a few nights while we all sang john prine...she was suffering from dimentia but when we werre all around arm and arm singing...it was like she knew what was going on.

[727chitown]

all that...

[TXROCKHOUND900]

@marybe27 Me too Mary! His music can move you!

[DementedDemi]

John Prine is an amazing artist his songs have been a part of my life since i was a lil girl as well , my mother adored his music and i have played these songs over and over for my children , this is real music when people really had to have talent and had meaning in their music ...keep the music going