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 locking men in a cage 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 It was a struggle just to cover the rent His jail cut hours and now his little baby was sick He needed money and he needed it quick It was three 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 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 the son asked if the man was alright Jim said you never give a hitcher a ride Cause it's us or them It was three AM Oh my love oh my love Could you spare my blood, spare my blood Twenty years gone and now the boy is a man Old Jimmy's habits got him mountains and mountains of debt And now the sharks are coming back to collect They strip the jewelry and the boots off Jim's feet They kick Him out of the car and say we'll give you a week Eight miles from home and only eighteen degrees It was three AM Oh my love oh my love Would you spare my blood, damn 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 three 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 three AM Three AM