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 — Piano Lead Sheet

"Sam Stone" lead sheet with chords, melody, and lyrics. Play the melody while following chord symbols above. Perfect for sing-along or accompaniment. Key of Bb, 100 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “Sam Stone

Where are the chord symbols for "Sam Stone" displayed?
Lead Sheet shows chord symbols (like Am, G7, C) above the melody line with lyrics below. Every chord change highlights in real time as the song plays, so you can play the melody with the right hand and follow chord shapes with the left. "Sam Stone" is in Bb.
What key is "Sam Stone" by John Prine played in?
Sam Stone is arranged in the key of Bb on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Sam Stone"?
The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Sam Stone" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Sam Stone"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Sam Stone"?
"Sam Stone" was originally performed by John Prine. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Sam Stone"?
This arrangement uses 8 chords: Bb, Bbmaj7, C, C7, Dm, F, G7, Gm.
What other songs by John Prine can I play here?
Try "IN SPITE OF OURSELVES", "HELLO IN THERE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Does "Sam Stone" have chords and lyrics?
Yes! The Lead Sheet shows the melody with chord symbols (like Am, G, C) and full lyrics. Perfect for singing along or playing with a band. "Sam Stone" is in the key of Bb at 100 BPM.
What chords are in "Sam Stone"?
Open the Lead Sheet to see all chord symbols displayed above the melody line. The song is in the key of Bb, so you'll find chords common to that key. Each chord highlights in real time as the song plays.

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