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##This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
##song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
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#From: Juddy@aol.com
#Subject: Steve Earle, Tom Ames Prayer.pro
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#Tom Ames Prayer, by Steve Earle
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#appears on Steve Earle, "Train a Comin"
#and Robert Earl Keen, "Gringo Honeymoon"
#
[G]Everyone in Nagadoches knew Tom Ames
would come to some bad [D]end,
Cause the [Em]sheriff had caught him stealing [C]chickens and such from the
[G]time that [D]he was [G]ten.
[G]One day his daddy took a 10-dollar bill
and he tucked it in his [D]hand,
He said [Em]I know you're headed for [C]trouble son,
your [G]mama wouldn't [D]under[G]stand.
[G]So he took his dad's money and his brother's old bay
and he left without a word of [D]thanks,
Fell [Em]in with this crowd in a [C]border town
and he [G]took to [D]robbin' [G]banks.
(solo over)
[Em-C-] [G-] [D] [Em-C-] [G] [-] [D] [-G]
[G]Outside the law his luck a-run out fast,
a few years came and [D]went;
Til he was [Em]trapped up in an alley in [C]Abilene
with [G]all but [D]four shells [G]spent.
[G]And he realized then that prayin' was the only thing
he hadn't ever [D]tried;
He [Em]didn't know quite how to [C]do it
but he [G]looked up [D]to the [G]sky.
[G]He said "You don't owe me nothin and as far as I know, Lord
I don't owe nothin' to [D]you
[Em]I ain't askin for a [C]miracle Lord
a [G]little bit of [D]luck will [G]do.
[G]You know I ain't never prayed before
cause it always seemed to [D]me
that [Em]prayin was just like [C]beggin'
and I [G]don't take [D]chari[G]ty.
break:
[Em]-[C]-[G]-[D] [Em]-[C] [G]-[D]-[G]
[G]Lord, I've had some breaks in my life
as you already [D]know
I've [Em]had some help from the good lord and the [C]devil himself's
been [G]strictly [D]touch and [G]go.
[G]Right here now with my back to the wall
I can't help but re[D]call
how they [Em]nearly hung me for [C]stealin' a horse
in [G]Ft. [D]Smith, [G]Arkansas
[G]Judge Parker said guilty and his gavel came down
just like a cannon [D]shot
I [Em]went away [C]quietly
I beg[G]an to [D]file and [G]plot.
[G]They sent that old preacher down to my cell
he said, "the lord is your only [D]hope,
[Em]he'll be the only friend you [C]have, son
when you [G]hit the [D]end of Parker's [G]rope."
[G]Well, I guess he could've kept on preachin' til Christmas
but he turned his back on [D]me
[Em]I put a homemade blade to that [C]golden throat
and asked the [G]deputy [D]for the [G]key.
[G]Ah, but who in the hell am I talkin to?
there ain't no one here but [D]me
[single strum each chord]
[Em]So he cocked both his pistols, [C]spit in the dirt,
and [G]walked in[D]to that [G]street.
