The Lumineers - Jimmy Sparks Lyrics

Jimmy Sparks went into bars and opened up his mouth
Said some things to wounded men they could not allow
When it came to talking, he was always on the run
Everyone knew what the man had done
Ooh 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 ooh

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 ooh

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 3AM

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 and 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 its us or them
It was 3AM

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

Twenty 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 of Jim's feet
They kick him out the car and said we'll give you a week
8 miles from home and only 18 degrees it was 3AM

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

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