Everyone in Nacadoches knew Tom Ames would come to some bad end

Well the sheriff had cought him stealin' chickens and such

by the time that he was ten



And one day his daddy took a ten dollar bill

and he tucked it in his hand

He said I can tell you're headed for trouble son

and your momma wouldn't understand



So he took that money and his brothers old bay

and he left without a word of thanks

Fell in with a crowd in some border town

and took to robbin' banks



Outside the law your luck will run out fast

and a few years came and went

'Till he's trapped in an alley in Abilene

with all but four shells spent



And he realized prayin' was the only thing

that he hadn't ever tried

Well he wasn't sure he knew quite how

but he looked up to the sky



Said you don't owe me nothin' and as far as I know

Lord don't owe nothin' to you

And I ain't askin' for a miracle Lord

just a little bit of luck will do



And you know I ain't never prayed before

but it always seemed to me

If prayin' is the same as beggin' Lord

I don't take no charity



Yeah but right now Lord with my back to the wall

Can't help but recall

How they nearly hung me for stealin' a horse

in Fort Smith Arkansas



Judge Parker said guilty and the gavel came down

just like a cannon shot

And I went away quietly

and I began to file and plot



Well they sent the preacher down to my cell

He said the Lord is your only hope

He's the only friend that you gonna have

When you hit the end of Parker's rope



Well I guess he coulda' kept on preachin' 'till Christmas

b