Lyrics: Rev Gary Davis
Music: Rev Gary Davis
Played by the Grateful Dead in the 1960s but then dropped
until they revived it a few times in 1989-90.
This is a very early verson from 8 Jan 1966:
Well death don't have no mercy in this landThis is the Live/Dead version, 2 March 1969, again with Garcia singing all the verses:
Well death don't have no mercy in this land
In this land
He come to your house, he don't stay long
Look in the bed, find your mother's gone
I said death don't, death don't have no mercy in this land
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land
In this land
You know he come to your house, and he don't stay long
One of these days, you know your father will be gone
Death don't, death don't have no mercy in this land
Well you know death don't take no vacation in this land
Well death don't take no vacation in this land
In this land
Well he come to your house, and he don't stay long
One of these days you know your family's gonna be gone
I said death don't, death don't have no mercy in this land
Well now death will leave you standing and crying in this land
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land
In this land
I said he come to your house, you know he don't stay long
Look in the bed, you know one of these days, your own self will be gone
I said death don't, death don't, death don't have no mercy in this land
Well now death don't have no mercy in this land
Well death don't have no mercy in this land
In this land
Well, he come to your house, you know he don't stay long
Look in the bed, your whole family's gone
I said death don't, death don't have no mercy in this land
You know death don't have no mercy in this landThis is the version from 9 October 1989, with verses shared among Jerry, Bob and Brent - thanks to Dan Franzen for pointing this out
Death don't have no mercy in this land
In this land
He come to your house, you know he don't take long
You look in the bed this morning children
You find that your, your mother's gone
I said death don't have no mercy in this land
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land
In this land
He come to your house, you know he don't stay long
You look in the bed this morning children
Find that your brothers and sisters have gone (note a)
I said death don't have no mercy in this land
Death will go in any family in this land
Death will go in any family in this land
In this land
Come to your house, you know he don't take long
You look in the bed this morning children
Find that your family's gone
I said death don't have no mercy, no mercy in this land
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land
In this land
He come to your house, you know he don't take long
You look in the bed this morning children
Find that your brothers and sisters have gone
I said death don't, death don't have no mercy in this, in this land
[Jerry Garcia]Notes
Death don't have no mercy in this land
Death don't have no mercy in this land
In this land
He come to your house, and it don't take long
You look in the bed this morning children
You find that your mother is gone
Death don't have no mercy in this land
[Bob Weir]
Death don't take no vacation in this land
Yes and death don't take no vacation in this land
In this land
He come to your house, you know he don't stay long
Look around the room, your whole family will be gone, family will be gone
Death don't take no vacation in this land
[Brent Mydland]
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land (note b)
I tell you, death will leave you standing and crying in this land
Oh Lord, oh lord
He comes to your house, and it don't take long
You look in the bed and you find your mother gone
Death don't have no mercy, death don't have no mercy
No mercy, no mercy, no death don't have
[All - Jerry on lead, with others singing harmony]
Death don't have no mercy in this land
Death don't have no mercy in this land
In this land
He come to your house, don't take long
You wake up one morning, well everybody be gone
Death don't have no mercy in this land
Grateful Dead Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | ||||
studio 1967 | The Grateful Dead (note 1) | ||||
21 Aug 1968 | Grateful Dead Origins | ||||
24 Aug 1968 | Two From The Vault | ||||
26 Jan 1969 | Aoxomoxoa (2019 bonus disc) | ||||
22 Feb 1969 | 30 Trips Around The Sun | ||||
28 Feb 1969 | Fillmore West 1969 - The Complete Recordings | ||||
2 Mar 1969 | Live Dead (note 2) | ||||
24 May 1969 | Road Trips Volume 4, Number 1 | ||||
2 Nov 1969 | Dave's Picks Volume 43 | ||||
29 Sep 1989 | So Many Roads (1965-1995) | ||||
30 Sep 1989 | Long Strange Trip (DVD only, on bonus disc) | ||||
9 Oct 1989 | Warlocks Box | ||||
2 Apr 1990 | Spring 1990 |
Other Recordings | |||||
Date | Album | Recorded By | |||
2017 | Some Climb | SomeRiseSomeFall | |||
2019 | Phantom Ships With Phantom Sails | Live Dead '69 |
Halleluuu-Hallelu, O my Lord, I'm gwine-ter see my mother again
Hallelu-Hallelu, Death come to my house, he didn't stay long
I look on de bed, an' my mother was gone
I'm gwine-ter see my mother again, Hallelu
Hallelu-Hallelu, Death come to my house, he didn't stay long
I look on de bed, an' my father was gone
I'm gwine-ter see my father again, Hallelu
Hallelu-Hallelu, Death come to my house, he didn't stay long
I look on de bed, an' my sister was gone
I'm gwine-ter see my sister again, Hallelu
Hallelu-Hallelu, Death come to my house, he didn't stay long
I look on de bed, an' my brother was gone
I'm gwine-ter see my brother again, Hallelu
Halleluuu-Hallelu, O my Lord, I'm gwine-ter see my mother again
Death don't have no mercy in this land
Death don't have no mercy in this land
He'll come to your house and he won't stay long
You'll look in the bed and somebody will be gone
Death don't have no mercy in this land
Well Death will go in any family in this land
Well Death will go in every family in this land
Well he'll come to your house and he won't stay long
Well you'll look in the bed and one of your family will be gone
Death will go in any family in this land
Well he never takes a vacation in this land
Well old Death never takes a vacation in this land
Well he'll come to your house and he won't stay long
Well you'll look in the bed and your mother will be gone
Death never takes a vacation in this land
Well he'll leave you standin' and cryin' in this land
Well Death will leave you standin' and cryin' in this land
Well he'll come to your house and he won't stay long
You'll look in the bed and somebody will be gone
Death will leave you standin' and cryin' in this land
Old Death always in a hurry in this land
Old Death always in a hurry in this land
Well he'll come to your house and he won't stay long
You'll look in the bed and your mother will be gone
Death always in a hurry in this land
Well he won't give you time to get ready in this land
Well he won't give you time to get ready in this land
Well he'll come to your house and he won't stay long
Well you'll look in the bed and somebody will be gone
Death won't give you time to get ready in this land