Jimmy Sparks

Jimmy Sparks went into bars and opened up his mouth
Said some things to wounded men that they could not allow
When it came to talking, he was always on the run
Everyone knew what the man had done
Oh, he’ll take you for a ride

Jimmy believed in the American way
A prison guard, he worked hard and made the minimum wage
He found his freedom like a man in a cage, oh

Jimmy loved Bonnie and he fathered a kid
A baby boy, but the mother had other reasons to live
She left the baby with a note on the bed, oh

It was a struggle just to cover the rent
His jail cut hours and hours little baby was sick
He needed money and he needed it quick
It was 3 AM

Oh, my love, oh, my love
Could you spare my blood, spare my blood?

Jim woke his son and buckled him in the car
They drove an hour from town and found a gambling hall
The waitress babysat the boy at the bar, oh no

After an hour, Jimmy doubled his cash
He took his kid and his winnings as the dealer just laughed
He said they leave, but then they always come back, that’s a fact

Out on the road, they caught a stranger in the lights
His thumb was up and his son asked if the man was alright
Jim said you never give a hitcher a ride ‘cause it’s us or them
It was 3 AM

Oh, my love, oh, my love
Could you spare my blood, spare my blood?

20 years gone and now the boy is a man
Broke Jimmy’s habits, got in mountains and mountains of debt
And now the sharks are coming back to collect, oh-oh

They stripped his jewelry and the boots off Jim’s feet
They kick him out the car and say we’ll give you a week
Eight miles from home and only 18 degrees
It was 3 AM

Oh, my love, oh, my love
Could you spare my blood, spare my blood?

Now Jimmy’s son is trying to make his way home
His graveyard shift had ended and it was starting to snow
He sees an old man walking barefoot alone
It was 3 AM

His old man waved his hands with tears in his eyes
But Jimmy’s son just sped up and remembered daddy’s advice
No, you don’t ever give a hitcher a ride ‘cause it’s us or them
’Cause it’s me or him
It was 3 AM, 3 AM