Their first album was recorded live at Berkeley in 1969. They continued their work with Jefferson Airplane during this project, and even though Jefferson Airplane dissolved, Hot Tuna has continued to tour to this day. Casady is considered by many to be one of the most advanced and innovative in his style.
Their official website is http://hottuna.com and http://hottunatunes.com has music downloads of some of their recent live dates and a few older dates which really capture the spirit of these two very talented musicians.
Joey Covington, a self-taught drummer since the age of 10, (also know in his childhood as Joey Michno) helped found Blues-rock group Hot Tuna in 1969, alongside Jefferson Airplane members Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen, while the latter band was still in its beginnings.
However, the recordings he did for Tuna were unreleased and eventually rejoined Casady and Kaukonen at the Airplane and featured on three studio albums, the first being Volunteers, as he replaced Spencer Dryden midway through the recording process. He wrote and sang the last hit for Jefferson Airplane 1971's "Pretty As You Feel" featured on the Bark Album.
Covington left Jefferson Airplane in mid-1972 to pursue a solo career, starting with Fat Fandango.[3] He subsequently faded from view, only resurfacing sporadically, like in 1976's Spitfire by Jefferson Starship, where he co-wrote the hit single "With Your Love".
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he toured with various configurations as The San Francisco Allstars.
Covington was well-known around the Palm Springs area as a talented musician who delighted his audience by playing free gigs whenever possible. His last performance was for a Marilyn Monroe celebration in Palm Springs June 1, 2013. Covington thrilled his audience and signed autographs following the performance.[4]
Covington was killed in an automobile accident in Palm Springs, California on June 4, 2013. Covington slammed into a wall and was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collison. He was 67.[5]
See also: Hot Tuna at Wikipedia
Death Don't Have No Mercy
Hot Tuna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well now death don't have no mercy in this land
He'll come to your house and he won't stay long
Look 'round the room one of your family will be gone
Death don't have no mercy in this land
Death will leave you standin' and cryin' in this land
Death will leave you standin' and cryin' in this land
He'll come to your house and he won't stay long
Death don't have no mercy in this land
Well death don't give you time to get ready in this land
Well death don't give you time to get ready in this land
He'll come to your house and he won't stay long
Look 'round the room one of your mama will be gone
Death don't have no mercy in this land
Well now death don't have no mercy in this land
Well now death don't have no mercy in this land
He'll come to your house and he won't stay long
Look 'round the room one of your family will be gone
Death don't have no mercy in this land
The lyrics to Hot Tuna's "Death Don't Have No Mercy" can be interpreted as a reflection on the inevitability of death and the sorrow that it brings. The repetition of the phrase "death don't have no mercy in this land" emphasizes the finality of death and its refusal to show any compassion. The line "he'll come to your house and he won't stay long" conveys the sudden and unexpected nature of death and its ability to snatch away a loved one in an instant. The second stanza adds that death will leave behind those who are left standing to mourn and cry.
The third stanza suggests that death gives no warning or time for preparation, further emphasizing its abrupt and unpredictable arrival. The lyric "look 'round the room one of your mama will be gone" is particularly poignant, as it highlights the pain of losing a mother. Overall, the song paints a stark and sobering picture of death as an unavoidable force that brings immense sorrow and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Well now death don't have no mercy in this land
Death is unforgiving and relentless in this world.
He'll come to your house and he won't stay long
Death arrives unexpectedly and takes its victim quickly.
Look 'round the room one of your family will be gone
Death takes loved ones without discretion, leaving the remaining family in grief.
Death will leave you standin' and cryin' in this land
Death causes immense emotional pain for those left behind.
Well death don't give you time to get ready in this land
Death can occur without warning, leaving one unprepared.
Look 'round the room one of your mama will be gone
Death takes mothers, who are often the center of a family's support and love.
Death don't have no mercy in this land
The merciless nature of death is reiterated, emphasizing its power over life.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: GARY DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Lobato
on Half/Time Saturation
I believe it is, "And life's ain't gonna be the way it was before." You can clearly hear him say "ain't", and it sounds like "life". I always hated it there were no lyrics to this inside the record sleeve.