The Mercy Seat - Johnny Cash

Interpret sign and catalogue

A blackened tooth, a scarlet fog

The walls are bare, black, bottom kind

They are sick breath at my hind

They are sick breath at my hind

They are sick breath at my hind

They are sick breath gathering at my hind

I hear stories from the chamber

How Christ was born into a manger

And like some ragged stranger

Died upon the cross

And might I say it seems so fitting in its way

He was a carpenter by trade

Or at least that’s what I’m told

My good hand tatooed E.V.I.L.

all across it’s brother’s fist

That filthy five!

They did nothing to challenge or resist

In Heaven His throne is made of gold

The ark of his Testament is stowed

A throne from which I’m told

All history does unfold

Down here it’s made of wood and wire

And my body is on fire

And God is never far away

Into the mercy seat I climb

My head is shaved, my head is wired

And like a moth that tries

To enter the bright eye

So I go shuffling out of life

Just to hide in death awhile

And anyway I never lied

My kill-hand is called E.V.I.L

Wears a wedding band that’s G.O.O.D

Tis a long-suffering shackle

Collaring all that rebel blood

And the mercy seat is waning

And I think my head is glowing

And in a way I’m hoping

To be done with all this weighing of the truth

An eye for an eye

And a tooth for a tooth

And anyway I told the truth

And I’m not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is glowing

And I think my head is smoking

And in a way I’m hoping

To be done with all this truth and consequence

An eye for an eye

And a tooth for a tooth

And anyway there was no proof

Nor a motive why

And the mercy seat is smoking

And I think my blood is boiling

Anyway I’m spoiling

All the fun with all this weighing of the truth

An eye for an eye

And a tooth for a tooth

And I’ve got nothing left to lose

And I’m not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is burning

And I think my head is melting

Anyway it’s helping

To be done with all this weighing of the truth

An eye for an eye

And a tooth for a tooth

And I’ve got nothing left to lose

But I’m afraid I told a lie