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