Great Society Conflict Veteran's Blues - John Prine

Sam Stone came home to his wife and family

After servin' 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

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 stealin' when he got that empty feelin'

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

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, mm

Sam Stone was alone when he popped his last balloon

Climbin' 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 nothin' 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

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