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                               F 
When it came to talking, he was always on the run 
Cm                             Cm 
Everyone knew what the man had done 
G         G        F     Cm 
Oh, he'll take you for a ride 


[Verso 1]

Cm                                 Cm  Bb  Ab 
Jimmy believed in the American way 
                                                     Ab   F 
A prison guard, he worked hard and made the minimum wage 
                                           Cm 
He found his freedom like a man in a cage, oh 
Cm                                        Cm  Bb  Ab 
Jimmy loved Bonnie and he fathered a kid 
                                                  Ab   F 
A baby boy, but the mother had other reasons to live 
                                      Cm 
She left the baby with a note on the bed, oh 
                                     Cm  Bb  Ab 
It was a struggle just to cover the rent 
                                              Ab   F 
His jail cut hours and hours little baby was sick 
                      Eb         Dm   Cm 
He needed money and he needed it quick 
       Cm 
It was 3 am 


[Refrão]

      Ab            G     Cm 
Oh, my love, oh, my love 
                    Ab             G      Cm 
Could you spare my blood, spare my blood? 


[Verso 2]

Cm 
Jim woke his son and buckled him in the car 
Cm 
They drove an hour from town and found a gambling hall 
F                                           Cm 
The waitress babysat the boy at the bar, oh no 
Cm 
After an hour, Jimmy doubled his cash 
G 
He took his kid and his winnings as the dealer just laughed 
F                                  Ab         G               Cm 
He said they leave, but then they always come back, that's a 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                             Ab         G               Cm 
Jim said you never give a hitcher a ride 'cause it's us or them 
Cm 
It was 3 am 


[Refrão]

       Ab           G     Cm 
Oh, my love, oh, my love 
                    Ab              G      Cm 
Could you spare my blood, spare my blood? 


[Verso 3]

Cm 
20 years gone and now the boy is a man 
Ab 
Broke Jimmy's habits, got in mountains and mountains of debt 
F                           Ab        G               Cm 
And now the sharks are coming back to collect, oh-oh 
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                          Ab        G    Cm 
Eight miles from home and only 18 degrees 

It was 3 am 


[Refrão]

       Ab           G     Cm 
Oh, my love, oh, my love 
                    Ab             G      Cm 
Could you spare my blood, spare my blood? 

Solo Cm  Ab  G 
       Ab  G  Cm 
       Cm  Ab  G  
       Ab  G  Cm 


[Verso 4]

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                             Ab     G 
He sees an old man walking barefoot alone 
       Cm 
It was 3 am 
Cm 
His old man waved his hands with tears in his eyes 
 Ab 
But Jimmy's son just sped up and remembered daddy's advice 
F                                                Ab     G 
No, you don't ever give a hitcher a ride 'cause it's us or them 
Cm 
Cause it's me or him 
       Cm 
It was 3 am 
Cm 
3 am