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Death Don't Have No Mercy (R. Gary Davis)

from Terraplane by Scott Ainslie

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One of Gary Davis' many masterpieces, combining gospel and piedmont blues into a shockingly powerful hybrid. Love this tune for all it's darkness and power.

lyrics

Death Don't Have No Mercy (Rev. Gary Davis)

Death don’t have no mercy in this land.
Death don’t have no mercy in this land.
Well he’ll come to your house, but he won’t stay long.
Look in the bed and somebody’ll be gone.
Death don’t have no mercy in this land

Death’ll go in any family in this land.
Death go in any family in this land.
Well, he’ll come to your house and he won’t stay long
Well, you look in the bed and one of your family will be gone.
Death don’t have no mercy in this land.

Well, he never takes a vacation in this land.
Old Death never takes a vacation in this land.
Well, he’ll come to your house and he won’t stay long
Well, you look in the bed and your mama be gone.
Death don’t have no mercy in this land.

INSTRUMENTAL #1

Well, he’ll leave you standin’ and cryin’ in this land.
Well, Death’ll leave you standin’ and crying in this land.
Well, he’ll come to your house but he won’t stay long,
Look in the bed and your father will be gone.
Death don’t have no mercy in this land.

Oh, Death always in a hurry in this land.
Death—always in a hurry in this land.
Well, he’ll come to your house, but he won’t stay long
Look in the bed and one o’ your family will be gone.
Death don’t have no mercy in this land.

Well, they won’t give you time to get ready in this land.
No, they won’t give you time to get ready in this land.
Well, he’ll come to your house but he won’t stay long,
Look in the bed and somebody will be gone.
No, they won’t give you time to get ready in this land.

credits

from Terraplane, track released September 22, 1997
Scott Ainslie, guitar and voice

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Scott Ainslie Brattleboro, Vermont

A long history with older black blues and gospel players in the mid-South marks Ainslie's work deeply. He transcribed all of Robert Johnson's recorded songs for "Robert Johnson/At The Crossroads" (Hal Leonard, 1992) and has a teaching DVD on Johnson's music. A fine songwriter with a social conscience and a belief in the power of music to move and inspire, Ainslie's voice is a great force for good! ... more

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