Sam Stone

by John Prine

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Lyrics

Sam Stone

came home

to his (Bb)wife and fam i ly

af ter (C7)serv ing in the con flict o ver seas,

and the time that he served

had (Bb)shat tered all his nerves,

and (C7)left a lit tle shrap nel in his (F)knee.

But the (Bbmaj7)mor phine eased the pain,

and the grass grew ’round his brain,

and (G7)gave him all

the con fi dence he lacked,

with a (G7)Pur ple Heart and a mon key on his back.

There’s a (F)hole in dad dy’s arm

where all the (Gm)mon ey goes,

and Je sus Christ

died for noth ing, (C7)I sup pose.

Lit tle (F)pitch ers have big ears,

don’t (Dm)stop to count the years.

(G7)Sweet songs

nev er last too long on

bro ken ra di os.

Mmm.

Sam Stone’s

wel come home

did n’t (Bb)last too long.

He went to work when he’d spent his last (F)dime,

and Sam my took to steal ing,

when he (Bb)got that emp ty feel ing

for a (C7)hun dred dol lar hab it

with out (C7)o ver time.

And the gold rolled through his veins

like a thou sand rail road trains,

and (G7)eased his mind in the hours that he chose,

while the (G7)kids ran a round wear ing oth er peo ple’s clothes.

There’s a (F)Stone was a lone

when he (Bb)popped his last bal loon,

climb ing walls while sit ting in a (F)chair.

Well, he played his last re quest

while the (Bb)room smelled just like death,

with an (C7)o ver dose

hov er ing in the air.

But (Bbmaj7)life had lost its fun

and there was noth ing to be done

but (G7)trade his house that he bought on the G.

I.

(C7)Bill

for a (G7)flag draped cas ket on a lo cal he roes’ (C7)hill.

There’s a (F)hole in dad dy’s arm

where all the (Gm)mon ey goes,

and Je sus Christ

died for noth ing, (C7)I sup pose.

Lit tle (F)pitch ers have big ears,

don’t (Dm)stop to count the years.

(G7)Sweet songs

nev er last too long on bro ken ra di os.

Mmm,

(F)mmm.

Sam Stone by John Prine — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Sam Stone by John Prine in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of Bb at 100 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Sam Stone" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Sam Stone"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.