Steve Earle - Have Mercy lyrics

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

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
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

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

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

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

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

God knows that mercy ain't free
Have mercy on me