[Intro]
G C G C
G D G
[Verse 1]
G C G
I was laying on my belly in the middle of the living room floor
Em A Am D
I was watching Howdy Doody so I'm guessing it was right around four
G C C Em
When I saw my baby brother tumbling from the top of the stairs
G D G
He was lying limp and silent and the blood was trickling through his shiny hair
[Verse 2]
G C G
When my mom saw my little brother she said you better run and get your dad
Em A Am D
And her voice was high and she was shaking so I knew this was bad
G C C Em
Well we stood out by the mailbox watching her and dad and brother drive away
G D G
And I didn't waste no time I got down on my knees right there and I began to pray
[Verse 3]
G C G
Well I prayed into the evening, never even took the time to have a bite
Em A Am D
I was sure if I prayed hard enough that God would make it right
G C G Em
We were at the kitchen table long past bedtime when we finally got that call
G D G C
And I knew that it was over when my sister slammed that phone against the wall
[Chorus]
G C G
That night I learned how not to pray
Em A Am D
God does what he wants to any way
G C
And I never did tell my mother,
G C
I kept it from my sisters and all my brothers
G D G C
That was the night I learned how not to pray
[Instrumental]
G C G
Em A Am D
G C G C
G D G
[Verse 4]
G C G
It was 41 years later when I took my brothers picture out of that box
Em A Am D
Hung it on the wall, sat across from him and I began to talk
G C G Em
When the evening started I didn't know what I was going to say
G D G C
But before the night was over I told them all about how I learned not to pray
[Chorus]
G C G
That night I learned how not to pray
Em A Am D
God does what God wants to, don't he any way
G C
And I never did tell my mother,
G C
I kept it from my sisters and all my brothers
G D G C
That was the night I learned how not to pray
G D G C
That was the night I learned how not to pray, Whoa oh
G D G
That was the night I learned how not to pray
