[Intro]
[Cm]Jimmy Sparks went into bars and opened up his mouth
[Cm]Said some things to wounded men that they could not allow
[F]When it came to talking, he was [F]always on the run
[Cm]Everyone knew what the man had [Cm]done
[G]Oh, he'll [G]take you [F]for a [Cm]ride
[Verse1]
[Cm]Jimmy believed in the American way [Cm] [Bb] [Ab]
A prison guard, he worked hard and made the minimum w[Ab]wage [F]
He found his freedom like a man in a cage, [Cm]oh
[Cm]Jimmy loved Bonnie and he fathered a kid [Cm] [Bb] [Ab]
A baby boy, but the mother had other reasons to li[Ab]live [F]
She left the baby with a note on the b[Cm]bed, oh
It was a struggle just to cover the r[Cm]rent[Bb]ent [Ab]
His jail cut hours and hours little baby was s[Ab]sick [F]
He needed money and he[Eb]he needed it [Dm]quick[Cm]quick
It was [Cm]3 AM
[Chorus]
Oh, my[Ab]my love, oh, my [G]love [Cm]
Could you spare my b[Ab]blood, spare my [G]blood? [Cm]
[Verse2]
[Cm]Jim woke his son and buckled him in the car
[Cm]They drove an hour from town and found a gambling hall
[F]The waitress babysat the boy at the bar, oh [Cm]no
[Cm]After an hour, Jimmy doubled his cash
[G]He took his kid and his winnings as the dealer just laughed
[F]He said they leave, but then they a[Ab]always come [G]back, that's a f[Cm]fact
[Cm]Out on the road, they caught a stranger in the lights
[G]His thumb was up and his son asked if the man was alright
[F]Jim said you never give a hitc[Ab]hitcher a ride [G]'cause it's us o[Cm]or them
[Cm]It was 3 AM
[Chorus]
Oh, my [Ab]love, oh, my [G]love [Cm]
Could you spare my b[Ab]blood, spare my b[G]blood? [Cm]
[Verse3]
[Cm]20 years gone and now the boy is a man
[Ab]Broke Jimmy's habits, got in mountains and mountains of debt
[F]And now the sharks are comin[Ab]coming back to [G]collect, oh-oh [Cm]
[Cm]They stripped his jewelry and the boots off Jim's feet
[Ab]They kick him out the car and say we'll give you a week
[F]Eight miles from home and o[Ab]only 18 deg[G]degrees [Cm]
It was 3 AM
[Chorus]
Oh, my [Ab]love, oh, my [G]love [Cm]
Could you spare my b[Ab]blood, spare my [G]blood? [Cm]
[Solo]
[Cm] [Ab] [G] [Ab] [G] [Cm] [Cm] [Ab] [G] [Ab] [G] [Cm]
[Verse4]
[Cm]Now Jimmy's son is trying to make his way home
[Ab]His graveyard shift had ended and it was starting to snow
[F]He sees an old man walking bar[Ab]barefoot a[G]alone
It was [Cm]3 AM
[Cm]His old man waved his hands with tears in his eyes
B[Ab]But Jimmy's son just sped up and remembered daddy's advice
[F]No, you don't ever give a hitcher a ride 'cause i[Ab]it's us [G]or them
[Cm]Cause it's me or him
It was [Cm]3 AM
[Outro]
[Cm]