Have mercy, I'm in a world of trouble now I'm being held by the State Patrol I am charged with traffic of the forbidden And I almost finished doing my parole Now, I'm on my way back down town Somebody help me, have mercy on my soul
I go to court tomorrow morning And I got the same judge I had before Lord, I know he won't have no mercy on me 'Cause he told me not to come back no more He'll send me away to some stoney mansion In a lonely room and lock the door
Ow! Have mercy on my little Tulane She's too alive to try to live alone And I know her needs And although she loves me She's gonna try to make it While the poor boy's gone
Somebody should tell her to live And I'll understand it And even love her more When I come back home