Lyrics Great society conflict veteran's blues John Prine

Great society conflict veteran's blues

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