[Verse 1]
He was standing 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

[Chorus]
Have mercy on me
Have mercy on me
I'm a sinner Lord, can't you see?
Have mercy on me

[Verse 2]
Old Joe don't know how it got started
I guess it was the fire in her eyes
He loved his wife and children
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 hopes
He'd find a little mercy there
[Chorus]
Have mercy on me
Have mercy on me
I'm a sinner Lord, can't you see?
Have mercy on me

[Bridge]
Tears were made to fall
Hearts made to break
Sometimes it feels like they just want to know
How much you can take

[Verse 3]
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

[Chorus]
Have mercy on me
Have mercy on me
I'm a sinner Lord, can't you see?
Have mercy on me
[Chorus]
Have mercy on me
Have mercy on me
I'm a sinner Lord, can't you see?
Have mercy on me

[Outro]
God knows that mercy ain't free
Have mercy on me