Sinner's Prayer
Ray Charles with B.B. King Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me.
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me.
Well if I've done somebody wrong, Lord, have mercy if you please.

I used to have plenty of money, the finest clothes in town,
But bad luck and trouble overtaken me, bound to get me down.
Please have mercy, Lord have mercy on me.
Well if I've done somebody wrong, Lord, have mercy if you please.

Keep on working now, child.
Lord every morning.

Well if I've been a bad boy, baby, I declare I'll change my ways.
I don't want bad luck and trouble to follow me all my days.

Please have mercy, Lord have mercy on me.
Well if I've done somebody wrong, Lord, have mercy if you please.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Sinner's Prayer" by Ray Charles and B.B. King are a plea for mercy from God. The lyrics express remorse for past wrongdoings and a desire to change one's ways. The song's opening lines, "Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me," are an invocation for forgiveness. The singer acknowledges that they have done wrong to someone but asks for forgiveness.

The second stanza of the song reveals that the singer was once prosperous, but the tide has turned against them. They attribute their misfortunes to bad luck and trouble that have overtaken them. The lines "bound to get me down" suggest that the singer is struggling to keep their head above water. The singer pleads with God to have mercy on them and forgive their transgressions.

The final stanza of the song expresses the singer's commitment to changing their ways. They declare that they do not want bad luck and trouble to follow them for the rest of their life. Their plea for mercy is heartfelt and sincere, and the song is a powerful reminder of the redemptive power of forgiveness.

Line by Line Meaning

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me.
Asking for God's forgiveness and mercy for the singer's wrongdoings.

Well if I've done somebody wrong, Lord, have mercy if you please.
Acknowledging that the singer may have harmed others and asking for forgiveness from God and those they have wronged.

I used to have plenty of money, the finest clothes in town, But bad luck and trouble overtaken me, bound to get me down.
Reflecting on a time when the singer had wealth and success, but now faces hardship and misfortune that is overwhelming them.

Keep on working now, child. Lord every morning.
An encouragement for the listener to keep striving and working towards their goals with faith in God's support.

Well if I've been a bad boy, baby, I declare I'll change my ways. I don't want bad luck and trouble to follow me all my days.
Admitting fault and committing to making amends by changing one's ways to avoid negative consequences in the future.

Please have mercy, Lord have mercy on me. Well if I've done somebody wrong, Lord, have mercy if you please.
Reiterating the plea for God's mercy and forgiveness for any harm caused to others, with a sincere hope for redemption.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LLOYD C. GLENN, LLOYD C., SR. GLENN, LOWELL FULSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

More Albums Load All

No Tracks Found

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@theseweatheredfeathers1902

27w↑5

🩷God bless you all🩷
Lord have mercy, Lord please have mercy on me
Hey Lord please have mercy, Lord please have mercy on me
Well if I've done somebody wrong
Lord please have mercy if you please

You know B.B. (yeah)
I used to have plenty of money yeah, finest clothes in town
Bad luck and trouble overtaken me, bound to get me down
Oh have mercy please, please have mercy on me, yeah
Well if I've done somebody wrong
Lord won't you have mercy if you please, yeah alright

Well if I've done somebody wrong, I declare I'll change my ways
You know B.B., I don't want bad luck and trouble worry me all my days
Oh Lord have mercy please, Lord have mercy on me
Please don't, please don't
Well if I've done somebody wrong (yeah)
Have mercy if you please, oh Lord

All comments from YouTube:

@theseweatheredfeathers1902

27w↑5

@bebewilliams

40w↑4

Ray Charles and b.bking you guys are legend your voice is amazing

@iankamuri9090

2y↑10

This is the BEST collaboration in music, period!

@RobEJC

2y↑4

Monsters DO exist - here are two monsters of American music - Lord have MERCY!

@Kevothadabber

2y↑6

BB king 👑 ray charles I may only be 18 but these two are the kings of American music🤘💪🏼

@charleschapman473

1y↑3

Ray Charles..B.B. King...NUFF SAID!!

@dianeanthony1381

1y↑4

Ray's music opens and touches the heart and allows the feeling of love to be felt .and as it flows it makes one moves and connect with that sound.

@totsie2891

2y↑9

True legends Just remarkable, the playing and vocals, just feel the vibe and get into the groove.

@nathalielepeltier1243

19w

😂❤❤❤❤❤❤

@nathalielepeltier1243

19w

❤😂

@nathalielepeltier1243

19w

🎉

@nathalielepeltier1243

19w

🎉

@nathalielepeltier1243

19w

🎉 3:01

@rodneywilliams7789

2y↑2

Now this what I am talking about Mr Ray Charles and BB King.

@stephenrobertson217

1y↑2

This is as good as it gets

@oaktree71able

42w↑3

Lord have Mercy, I believe Jesus you died on the cross for my sin was buried and rose again. Thank you for shedding your blood for me, please forgive me, come into my heart and save me, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

@oaktree71able

41w

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

@billyhines4091

19w

Never to late to ask for mercy.

@dm6877

19w↑1

If i had a time machine i would like to go to bb king s live in africa 1974,and checkerboard in chicago 1981 on rolling stones and muddy waters, and live aid 1985,and any of ray s live performance.

@johnbutvvtgcutfur5tyhybyby923

2y↑2

Have mercy if you please.

@luciavanolli

1y↑3

Outstanding Gorgeous Ray Charles and BB King! Remarkable Song and Duet! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🙋🏼‍♀️🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

@borjewahlen6917

17w

Bb king and other orginal especially black bluesartist give there soul and play dirty without tones of distortion.
Many use a lot of distortion in lack of real feelings and skill.
Rest in peace. Both BB and Ray.

@sandroferreira3827

2y↑6

2 monstros da musica🎼🎼🤘🤘🤘

@user-bk7lq8st5h

30w

2 monsters of music

@kristinamarie2470

1y↑1

Anyone ever thought about a sinner prayer to a blessing prayer? I think we need some

@rogeriosousa9474

13w

A versão da Beth Hart é muito boa e foi cantada com muito espírito. Foi uma homenagem. E essa versão aqui é simplesmente sensacional

@31spring

19w

Wonderful

@brucefindlay

3y↑1

Yeah man.....

@francoisekanga9202

13w

HOW?HOW?HOW?

@bonaventuremengon5304

Formidable

@RustyScout

3y↑1

My song.

@DougEnlow-vk1xt

1y↑1

😢😢

@doinageorgescu8335

3y↑1

♥️

@abhishekjakhar4868

Merciless lord.

@teresapuppo1388

Paradisiaci

@francoisekanga9202

13w

NEWTHEMAN?

@talastra

2y↑10

I was listening to Clapton's (From the Cradle) of this and needed an antidote to the hollow vacuity of his version. And one of the things that stands out at the front of the song is how Clapton's "big growl" cadences on "if I've done somebody wrong," whereas here Charles and King at the front both keep emphasizing the word "please." And there's your difference. The song is a plea, so it's "PLEASE" have mercy on me. That's the heart of the howl. Clapton doesn't understand that, as he has never understood the "inner life" of the blues.

@bradleybollhagen2752

1y↑1

@bodoor8172

41w

This is originally a Lowell Fulson song, Erics version was based on that one, my advice to you stop listening to the blues, because never ever in my life I have witnessed a bigger misinterpretation about a cover song than yours, lmao.

@talastra

41w↑1

@@bodoor8172 What do you think of Ray's version then? Also, the fact of my description of the hollow vacuity of Clapton's version being the biggest misinterpretation doesn't change the hollow vacuity of it. But lastly, you are saying I have a limited understanding of the blues. Of course, I do. And I'm more than willing to learn from those who know more; that's how one grows in understanding, yeah?. You'd do well to wield your greater (but still) partial knowledge with more humility and pedagogy than condescension, if you're up to it. Thanks.

@67065682

31w↑1

???????????..........😯

@sovkiller

30w↑2

If Clapton doesn't understands blues....nobody does...please stop talking BS...blues like any other musical type can be mastered by anybody...is just music, art, and as such there are always the subjective perception of it...I like a lot of other versions of blues song that Clapton plays as well, but this is one thing and another is to say he doesn't understands blues....

3 More Replies...