Lord have mercy on me
Was the kneeling drunkard's plea
And as he knelt there on the ground
I know that God in heaven looked down

I went down by an old country church
I saw the drunkard stagger and lurch
And as he reached his mother's grave
I saw that drunkard kneel and pray

Lord have mercy on me
Was the kneeling drunkard's plea
And as he knelt there on the ground
I know that God in heaven looked down

Bring my darling boy to me
Was his mother's dying plea
And as he staggered through the gate
Alas, he came just one day too late

Three years have passed since she went away
Her son is sleeping beside her today
And I know that in heaven his mother he'll see
For God has heard that drunkard's plea

Lord have mercy on me
Was the kneeling drunkard's plea
And as he knelt there on the ground
I know that God in heaven looked down