He was standin' on the corner

A hundred dollar bill in his hand

Said I could feed a lot of these people with this

But that ain't the business at hand

Ain't but one reason for a white boy to be

Over on this side of town

He gave that money to the man and he

Bought a little mercy for now

Have mercy on me

Have mercy on me

I'm a sinner Lord can't you see

Have mercy on me



Old Joe don't know how it got started

I guess it was the fire in her eyes

He loved his wife and children

And he wasn't into telling all these lies

But she gave herself so freely

In that room at the top of the stairs

He'd go to her in hope he'd find a little mercy there



Tears were made to fall

Hearts made to break

Sometimes it feels

Like they just want to know

How much you can take

She was all alone that evening

What was she thinking about

Her mind was made up and

I guess it was the only way out

There's a pistol in a pawn shop window

Made of cold, blue steel

She took it home to find out

How warm a little mercy could feel

God knows that mercy ain't free

Have mercy on me