Don Covay - Mercy, Mercy

First performance: 16/08/1989


Coverinfo

Bruce used the song only once in full and 7 times as a snipppet:
 
 
1989-08-16 Cheers, Long Branch, NJ 
This song was performed during a guest appearance with Bobby Bandiera. Bruce joins Bobby on stage again for 6 songs 
 
NEW ORLEANS / MERCY MERCY / I'M FREE / FROM SMALL THINGS (BIG THINGS ONE DAY COME) / KEEP A KNOCKIN' / LIGHT OF DAY - LAND OF 1000 DANCES
 
  • Snippets
during MARY'S PLACE
 
2003-08-01 Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
2003-07-27 Giants Stadium, East Rutherford
2003-05-24 Stade De France, Saint-Denis, France
2003-04-18 Corel Centre, Ottawa, ON
2003-04-09 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, CA
2003-03-25 Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
2002-11-03 American Airlines Center, Dallas
 

Songinfo

"Mercy, Mercy" (sometimes referred to as "Have Mercy") is a soul song first recorded by American singer/songwriter Don Covay in 1964. It established Covay's recording career and influenced later vocal and guitar styles. The songwriting is usually credited to Covay and Ron Alonzo Miller, although other co-writers' names have also appeared on various releases. In late 1964, the song became a hit, reaching number one on the Cash Box R&B chart and number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1964, after years of writing and recording songs for several record labels, Don Covay was again in search of a record deal. A recording session was arranged for May 13, 1964, at the A1 Recording Studio in New York City, operated by Atlantic Records co-founder Herb Abramson. New York radio station WWRL disc jockey Nathaniel "Magnificent" Montague provided financing for the session. Covay has given differing accounts about the recording. In one, "Mercy, Mercy" was recorded the day following a well-received performance by Covay and his band the Goodtimers the previous night. For the session, various members of the Goodtimers have been mentioned, including guitarist Ronald Alonzo Miller (also suggested as the bassist), backup singer George "King" Clemons, bassist Horace "Ace" Hall, drummer Bernard Purdie, guitarist Bob Bushnell, guitarist Jimmy Johnson, and a young Jimi Hendrix. 
 
 
  

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

Have mercy, have mercy, baby
Have mercy, have mercy on me
Well, I went to see a gypsy and had my fortune read
She said, "Don, your baby's gonna leave you"
Her back is packed up under the bed and I cry
Have mercy, have mercy, baby, yeah
Have mercy, yeah, have mercy on me
I said, if you leave me baby, girl, if you put me down
Well, I'm a goin' to the nearest river, child
And jump from above to the ground but don't leave me
Have mercy, have mercy, baby
Mercy, yeah, have mercy, have mercy on me
Well, now hey hey baby, hey hey now, what you tryin' to do, huh?
Hey hey baby, hey hey now, please don't say we're through
I said, if you stay, baby, I tell you what I'm gonna do
I'm gonna work two jobs seven days a week
And bring my money home to you
Well, I said mercy, mercy, mercy
Mercy, mercy, mercy