Have Mercy On The Criminal

[BiteUrLip]

Music: Elton John

Lyrics: Bernie Taupin

Piano: Elton John

Bass: Dee Murray

Drums: Nigel Olsson

Electic guitar: Davey Johnstone

Orchestral arrangements: Paul Buckmaster

Have you heard the dogs at night

Somewhere on the hill

Chasing some poor criminal

And I guess they're out to kill

Oh there must be shackles on his feet

And mother in his eyes

Stumbling through the devil-dark

With the hound pack in full cry


Have mercy on the criminal

Who is running from the law

Are you blind to the winds of change

Don't you hear him any more


Praying Lord you got to help me

I am never gonna sin again

Just take these chains from around my legs

Sweet Jesus I'll be your friend


Now have you ever seen the white teeth gleam

While you lie on a cold damp ground

You're taking in the face of a rifle butt

While the wardens hold you down


And you've never seen a friend in years

Oh it turns your heart to stone

You jump the walls and the dogs run free

And the grave's gonna be your home

[BiteUrLip]

Never been a huge fan of this song. It sounds too massive, and I don't want to have mercy on the criminal.

4 stars.

[rocketman]

5 stars...a fixture in my all-time Top 5. Absolutely transcendent climax, with Elton's soaring vocal coming on the heels of an all-time great guitar solo by Davey and the memorable string arrangement by Paul Buckmaster. This song cooks a slow build into one of the greatest moments in Elton's catalog.

The song itself appears to be about a contrite, repentant criminal ("Sweet Jesus, I'll be your friend") being hunted down with the aid of a pack of dogs. Whether his repentance is genuine or not, I could care less - I just enjoy this song immensely.

[Commodore Orpington]

A very good message, but this song seems melodramatic to me. A sort of dry run for Danny Bailey, which is much better.

[newloneranger]

One of my favorites from this album. It may seem a little over dramatic but Elton pulled it off pretty good with the help of Buckmaster.

5+ stars