album cover
Tom Ames' Prayer
5,429
Country
Tom Ames' Prayer was released on February 28, 1995 by Warner Records as a part of the album Train a Comin'
album cover
Release DateFebruary 28, 1995
LabelWarner Records
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM101

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Vocals
Roy Huskey
Roy Huskey
Acoustic Bass Guitar
Norman Blake
Norman Blake
Guitar
Peter Rowan
Peter Rowan
Mandolin
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Producer
Mack Evans
Mack Evans
Mastering Engineer
Wayne Neuendorf
Wayne Neuendorf
Recording Engineer
William Alsobrook
William Alsobrook
Producer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Everyone in Nacadoches just knew Tom Ames
Would come to some bad end
Well the sheriff had caught him stealing chickens and such
By the time that he was ten
[Verse 2]
And one day his daddy took a ten dollar bill
And he tucked it in his hand
He said, "I can tell you're headed for trouble, son"
"And your mama wouldn't understand"
[Verse 3]
So he took that money and his brothers old bay
And left without a word of thanks
Fell in with a crowd in some border town
Took to robbin' banks
[Verse 4]
Well, outside the law your luck will run out fast
And a few years came and went
Until he's trapped in an alley in Abilene
With all but four shells spent
[Verse 5]
And he realized prayin' was the only thing
That he hadn't ever tried
Well, he wasn't sure he knew quite how
But he looked up to the sky
[Verse 6]
Said, "Ya don't owe me nothin' and as far as I know
Lord, don't owe nothin' to you
And I ain't askin' for a miracle, Lord
Just a little bit of luck will do
[Verse 7]
And you know I ain't never prayed before
But it always seemed to me
If prayin' is the same as beggin', Lord
I don't take no charity"
[Verse 8]
Yeah, but right now Lord with my back to the wall
Can't help but recall how they nearly hung me for stealin' a horse
In Fort Smith, Arkansas
Judge Parker said, "Guilty", and the gavel came down
Just like a cannon shot
And I went away quietly and I began to file and plot
[Verse 9]
Well they sent the preacher down to my cell
He said, "The Lord is your only hope"
He's the only friend that you goin' to have
When you hit the end of Parker's rope
[Verse 10]
Well, I guess he could have kept on preachin' till Christmas
But he turned his back on me
I put a home made blade to that golden throat
And asked the deputy for the key
[Verse 11]
Well, it ain't the first close call I ever had
I'm sure you already know
I had some help from you Lord and the Devil himself
It's been strictly touch and go
[Verse 12]
Yeah, but who in the hell am I talkin' to?
There ain't no one here but me
And then he cocked both his pistols and he spit in the dirt
And he walked out in the street
Written by: Steve Earle
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