A man takes all his money, saved for years Gathers up his family, it's time to go At the appointed hour they meet a man with a truck With fifty other pilgrims they're driven down to the coast Have mercy, mercy, mercy Have mercy, have a heart They sneak onboard a freighter, money changes hands But is the ship sea worthy for the journey to the Promised Land? After three calm days at sea a storm begins to blow Passengers and crew pray for their souls Have mercy, mercy, mercy Have mercy, have a heart Who rips the gold and the diamonds from the bosom of Africa? Can you tell me who works the mines in poverty for generations? Who stamps the papers to let a pilgrim in? Everybody wants a good life and for their children Have mercy, mercy, mercy Have mercy, have a heart So when you meet a pilgrim at a corner grocery store You know he's got a story, so anyhow keep an open door Have mercy, mercy, mercy Have mercy, have a heart Have a heart Have a heart