Lyrics Ella Mae Bowen – His Name Was Sam

We’d sit out in his workshop
He’d strum this thing for hours
Rest his chin right here on the top
Close his eyes and pour his heart out
Singing “Silver Wings”
Now he’s up in heaven looking down
And all I wanna do is make him proud of me
So when I play, I play for him
I feel him in my soul
And I when I pray
I’m thanking him ‘cause there’s one thing I know
He’s guiding me, protecting me
His songs are playing right through my hands
His name was Sam
He was born in Pickens County
In the hills of Carolina
Spent his whole life working hard jobs
Making nothing by the hour
Then he’d drive home and pick these strings
He’d say “first things first, where’s my kiss?”
He’d sing me a song
And how I wish he was here today
So when I play, I play for him
I feel him in my soul
And I when I pray
I’m thanking him ‘cause there’s one thing I know

He’s guiding me, protecting me
His songs are playing right through my hands
His name was Sam
He must be sitting up there talking
To God about my big dreams
Asking him for a favor to send his angels to protect me
Cause when I sing, I sing for him
I feel him in my soul
And I when I pray
I’m thanking him ‘cause there’s one thing I know
He’s guiding me, protecting me
His songs are playing right through my hands
His name was Sam
His name was Sam
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Sam