Sam Stone

John Prine

About Sam Stone

"Sam Stone" is a song written by John Prine about a drug-addicted veteran with a Purple Heart and his death by overdose. It appeared on Prine's eponymous 1971 debut album. The song was originally titled "Great Society Conflict Veteran's Blues". The most familiar refrain in the song is "There's a hole in daddy's arm, where all the money goes." The song is usually interpreted as a reference to the phenomenon of heroin or morphine addiction among Vietnam war veterans. (An identical surge of addiction followed the Civil War, where morphine addiction was known as 'Soldiers Disease'). The song does not mention the Vietnam War, saying only that Sam returned from "serving in the conflict overseas." There is a single explicit reference to morphine but Prine alludes to heroin on several occasions including the use of the term "habit," slang commonly associated with heroin use, and the line "he popped his last balloon," very likely referring to one of the ways in which street heroin is commonly packaged – in small rubber balloons. 


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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 knees
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

Sam Stone's welcome home
Didn't last too long
He went to work when he'd spent his last dime
And Sam, he took to stealing
When he got that empty feeling
For a hundred dollar habit without overtime
And the gold roared 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

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
There was nothing to be done
But trade his house that he bought on the GI bill
For a flag-draped casket on a local hero's 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

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John Prine

John Prine (born October 10, 1946, in Maywood, Illinois) is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a composer, recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s. more »

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Written by: John Prine

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Musical Style
"Sam Stone" falls into the folk and country music genres. It showcases a unique blend and crossover, which is a hallmark of John Prine's musical career.
Release
The song was first released in 1971 as part of the album "John Prine" under Atlantic Records. It was John Prine's debut album and made significant waves in the music industry.
Lyrics
The song portrays the tragic story of a drug-addicted war veteran, where Prine uses powerful, poetic language and imagery to evoke emotions.
Controversy
In its initial release, the line "Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose" in the song caused some controversy among listeners due to its perceived cynicism.
Inspiration
"Sam Stone" is thought to be inspired by the experiences of Vietnam War veterans, a recurring theme in Prine's work as he often empathized with the struggles of ordinary people.
Recognition
"Sam Stone" is considered one of John Prine's most famous and significant songs. It is frequently covered by other artists and has been cited as an influence by many subsequent songwriters.
Impact
The song was noted for increasing public awareness of the struggles faced by military veterans, such as substance abuse and difficulties in adjusting to civilian life upon their return from war.
Songwriting
“Sam Stone” is celebrated for its songwriting craft. Prine's poignant and laconic lyrics present an unvarnished look at the human cost of war, which was daring for its time.
Censorship
During the early '70s, radio stations were known to censor "Sam Stone" because of its discussion about drug addiction.
Legacy
British music magazine 'Mojo' included "Sam Stone" in their list of 'The 100 greatest drug songs ever' in 2002, which cemented the song's iconic status.

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