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Tom Ames Prayer

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#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
Tom Ames Prayer
by Steve Earle
GEveryone in Nacodoches
GKnew Tom Ames would come to a bad Dend
'Cause the Emsheriff caught him
Stealin' Cchickens and such by the Gtime Dhe was Gten
One day his Daddy took a ten dollar bill
And tucked it in his hand
He said I know you're headed for trouble son
Your Momma wouldn't understand
So he took his Dad's money and his brother's old bay
He left without a word of thanks
He fell in with this crowd in some border town
And he took to robbing banks
Outside the law his luck a- run out fast
A few years came and went
'Til he's trapped in an alley in Abilene
With all but four shells spent
And he realized prayin' was the only thing
That he hadn't ever tried
Well he wasn't sure he quite knew how
But he looked up to the sky
He said you don't owe me nothin' and as far as I know Lord
I don't owe nothin' to you
I ain't askin' for a miricle Lord
Just a little bit of luck will do
You know I ain't never prayed before
'Cause it always seemed to me
That prayin's the same as beggin' Lord
I don't take no charity
but right now Lord with my back to the wall
I 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
I went away quietly
I began to file a plot
They sent the  preacher down to my cell
He said the Lord's your only hope
He's the only friend you're gonna have son
When you hit the end of Parker's rope
And I guess he could have kept preachin' till Christmas
but he turned his back on me
I put a homemade blade to that golden throat
Asked the deputy for the key
It ain't the first trouble I've seen before
As you already know
I've had some help from you Lord and the Devil himself's
been strictly touch and go
Yeah but who in the hell am I talkin' to
There ain't no one here but me
So he cocked both his pistols and he spit in the dirt
And he walked out into that street

All chords in this song (4)

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Tom Ames Prayer

by Robert Earl Keen

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##

Tom Ames Prayer

by Steve Earle

Everyone in Nacodoches

G D

Knew Tom Ames would come to a bad end

'Cause the sheriff caught him

C G D G

Stealin' chickens and such by the time he was ten

One day his Daddy took a ten dollar bill

And tucked it in his hand

He said I know you're headed for trouble son

Your Momma wouldn't understand

So he took his Dad's money and his brother's old bay

He left without a word of thanks

He fell in with this crowd in some border town

And he took to robbing banks

Outside the law his luck a- run out fast

A few years came and went

'Til he's trapped in an alley in Abilene

With all but four shells spent

And he realized prayin' was the only thing

That he hadn't ever tried

Well he wasn't sure he quite knew how

But he looked up to the sky

He said you don't owe me nothin' and as far as I know Lord

I don't owe nothin' to you

I ain't askin' for a miricle Lord

Just a little bit of luck will do

You know I ain't never prayed before

'Cause it always seemed to me

That prayin's the same as beggin' Lord

I don't take no charity

but right now Lord with my back to the wall

I 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

I went away quietly

I began to file a plot

They sent the preacher down to my cell

He said the Lord's your only hope

He's the only friend you're gonna have son

When you hit the end of Parker's rope

And I guess he could have kept preachin' till Christmas

but he turned his back on me

I put a homemade blade to that golden throat

Asked the deputy for the key

It ain't the first trouble I've seen before

As you already know

I've had some help from you Lord and the Devil himself's

been strictly touch and go

Yeah but who in the hell am I talkin' to

There ain't no one here but me

So he cocked both his pistols and he spit in the dirt

And he walked out into that street

About Tom Ames Prayer Chords by Robert Earl Keen

Learn how to play Tom Ames Prayer by Robert Earl Keen with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Tom Ames Prayer chords”, “Tom Ames Prayer guitar chords”, or “Robert Earl Keen Tom Ames Prayer chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Tom Ames Prayer chords and for experienced players who want accurate Tom Ames Prayer lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, D, Em, C, A.

FAQ — Tom Ames Prayer by Robert Earl Keen

How do I play "Tom Ames Prayer" by Robert Earl Keen on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Tom Ames Prayer" by Robert Earl Keen on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Tom Ames Prayer" by Robert Earl Keen free?

Yes. The chords for "Tom Ames Prayer" by Robert Earl Keen are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Tom Ames Prayer" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Tom Ames Prayer" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Tom Ames Prayer"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Tom Ames Prayer" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Tom Ames Prayer" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Tom Ames Prayer" by Robert Earl Keen with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Robert Earl Keen below.

What key is "Tom Ames Prayer" in?

The chords for "Tom Ames Prayer" show the original chord names (including G, D, Em, C, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.