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. but he