"When I Die, I Want To Die Like My Grandfather Who Died Peacefully In His Sleep. Not Screaming Like All The Passengers In His Car."
The Southern African-American culture, which knew something about both death and mercy, pass this along:
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.
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. (Rev. Gary Davis)
