Gary Davis (Version 1960):
Death don't have no mercy in this land
N' death don't have no mercy in this land
He’ll come to your house and he won’t stay long
You look in the bed and somebody be gone
Death don't have no mercy in this land.
But Death will go in any family in this land
N' death will go in every family in this land
Oh, well, he’ll come to your house and he won’t stay long
Well, you look in the bed and one of the 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 take a vacation in this land
Well he'll come to your house and he won't stay long
You look in the bed and your mother will be gone
Death don't take a vacation in this land.
Well, he’ll leave you standing and crying in this land
Well, death will leave you standing and crying in this land
Well, he'll come to your house and he won't stay long
You look in the bed and somebody will be gone
Death will leave you standing and crying in this land.
Oh, death's always in a hurry in this land
Oh, death's always in a hurry in this land
Oh, he'll come to your house, and he won't stay long
You look in the bed and your mother will be gone
Death is 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
Oh, well, he come to your house and he won't stay long
Well, you look in the bed and somebody will be gone
Death won’t give you time to get ready in this land.
Version Bob Dylan:
Death don't have no mercy in this land
Death don't have no mercy in this land
And I come in your house someday
And I take your mother away
Death don't have no mercy in this land.
Death don't have no judgement in this land
Death don't have no judgement in this land
And I come in your house someday
And I take your father away
Death don't have no judgement in this land.