Released: January 1, 1969
Songwriter: Rinus Gerritsen
Producer: Fred Haayen
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
©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
more tracks from the album
On the Double
- Remember My Friend
- Song of a Devil’s Servant
- High In The Sky
- I’m A Runnin’
- Angelina
- Pam Pam Poope Poope Loux
- Murdock 9-6182
- The Sad Story Of Sam Stone
- God Bless The Day
- Goodbye Mama
- Hurry, Hurry, Hurry
- Mitch Mover
- The Grand Piano
- Time Is A Book
- Judy
- I Sing My Song
- Backbiting Baby
- Just A Little Bit Of Peace In My Heart
- My Baby Ruby
From the album
- On the Double (1969)
Golden Earring popular songs
- Twilight Zone
- Radar Love
- Going to the Run
- Turn The Page
- Mission Impossible
- I Sing My Song
- Darkness, Darkness
- This Love
- Judy
- Happy And Young Together
- Faded Jeans
- Facedancer
- Wanted By Women
- Yes, We’re On Fire
- Nomad
- Time Is A Book
- The Fighter
- Love Is A Loser (When Lust Comes Around)
- The Vanilla Queen
- On A Night Like You
- I’ll Make It All Up To You
- Gambler’s Blues
- D Light
- Space Ship