[Intro]
Am 
Jimmy Sparks went into bars and opened up his mouth 
Am 
Said some things to wounded men that they could not allow 
Dm                               Dm    Dm     Dm 
When it came to talking, he was always on the run 
Am                            Am 
Everyone knew what the man had done 
E         F       E     Am 
Oh, he'll take you for a ride
[Verse]
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Jimmy believed in the American way 
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A prison guard, he worked hard and made the minimum wage 
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He found his freedom locking men in a cage, oh 
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Jimmy loved Bonnie and he fathered a kid 
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A baby boy, but the mother had other reasons to live 
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She left the baby with a note on the bed, oh 
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It was a struggle just to cover the rent 
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His jail cut hours and hours little baby was sick 
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He needed money and he needed it quick 
       Am 
It was 3 AM
[Chorus]
       F             E     Am 
Oh, my love, oh, my love 
                    F             E      Am 
Could you spare my blood, spare my blood?
[Verse]
Am 
Jim woke his son and buckled him in the car 
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They drove an hour from town and found a gambling hall 
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The waitress babysat the boy at the bar, oh no 
Am 
After an hour, Jimmy doubled his cash 
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He took his kid and his winnings as the dealer just laughed 
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He said they leave, but then they always come back, that's a fact 
Am 
Out on the road, they caught a stranger in the lights 
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His thumb was up and his son asked if the man was alright 
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Jim said you never give a hitcher a ride 'cause it's us or them 
       Am 
It was 3 AM
[Chorus]
        F            E     Am 
Oh, my love, oh, my love 
                    F                E     Am 
Could you spare my blood, spare my blood?
[Verse]
Am 
20 years gone and now the boy is a man 
F 
Broke Jimmy's habits, got in mountains and mountains of debt 
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And now the sharks are coming back to collect, oh-oh 
Am 
They stripped his jewelry and the boots off Jim's feet 
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They kick him out the car and say we'll give you a week 
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Eight miles from home and only 18 degrees 
      Am 
It was 3 AM
[Chorus]
         F            E    Am 
Oh, my love, oh, my love 
                    F             E      Am 
Could you spare my blood, spare my blood?
[Solo]
Am  F Dm  F E Am (x2)
[Verse]
Am 
Now Jimmy's son is trying to make his way home 
F 
His graveyard shift had ended and it was starting to snow 
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He sees an old man walking barefoot alone 
       Am 
It was 3 AM 
Am 
His old man waved his hands with tears in his eyes 
 F 
But Jimmy's son just sped up and remembered daddy's advice 
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No, you don't ever give a hitcher a ride 'cause it's us or them 
Am 
Cause it's me or him 
       Am 
It was 3 AM
[Outro]
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3 AM