In this episode of The Semi-Seminarian, we crackle through the static to sit with one of the rawest outlaw ballads ever penned: Tom Ames’ Prayer, written by Steve Earle. This ain't your grandma’s devotional—unless she wore a pearl snap shirt to Wednesday night prayer meeting and whispered grace between drags on a Marlboro.

We take a verse-by-verse deep dive into this Red Dirt gospel confession, treating the song as sacred text. From a childhood mugshot in Nacogdoches to a final whisper in an Abilene alley, Tom’s story is all too familiar for the ones who’ve run out of luck, language, and shells.

The central question we wrestle with: What counts as prayer? Can a man who’s never prayed before—who cusses, bargains, and doesn’t know if anyone’s even listening—still be heard by the God of mercy?

Spoiler alert: yes.

Here's the song. Go listen to it first and listen to it after: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5xhyuCkPBA&t=3s