death don't have no mercy........ rev Gary Davis

[GuitarWarrior5150]

5 people know the blues

[kashmir11281]

Haunting...

[FuckVEVOHD]

This is absolutely cool as ice. Terrific.

[HDMMproductions]

This song gives me chills

[clayhorsemusic]

Betcha he must have been pretty dangerous - blind and aways see pictures of him with a lit stogie! Must have been ashed everywhere.

[allenshepard]

@clayhorsemusic If he can play guitar i think he can manage how to take care of his cigar.

[cheeseppuff]

I personally like the Grateful Dead's version better, but you cant beat the origional and you cant beat the Rev, his guitar, and his voice

[buchananstreet]

so thats where jerry and jorma got it from ...

[steveshowse]

@buchananstreet There's a whole host of em'. David Bromberg, Roy Bookbinder, Dave van ronk... It all starts here

[Fruscianteistheman]

its funny cause i remember this like a video by it is just a picture of him. it is because whenever i hear davis i can so easily picture him playing. very real very beautiful music

[boneybeggar7]

greatest blues song ever

[steveshowse]

@boneybeggar7 it's gospel man. :) I like my gospel with a heart of blues too.

[TheDeadhead56]

this is grate

[MrCoOLmaN10001]

just gives me shivers how he plays guitar, and the emotion in the song it's just so sad to think about what would happen back then just because your skin was a different colour, what a shame

[Kekkeyu]

Blues was the howling sound of the black people who stood up fighting for their rights.

And now there's rich guys like John Mayer who think blues is about telling your beautiful girlfriend how super-important she is (which she isn't).

[redsquall5]

@Kekkeyu The Blues is about suffering. It comes from a time when no black men stood up for their rights. If they did, they died. When young players, even John Mayer, take interest in the blues it expands their own knowledge of music and introduces millions of young people to one of the first american art forms. You should be concerned about how few young musicians know about the blues instead of lamenting the fact that some guy who makes pop songs by day plays the blues at night.

[bohemianwriter1]

@Kekkeyu

Blues is every good mans music when going through bad things...

Blues is when on a journey, and being thrown under a brigde by a woman.

Blues is universal..

Blues is a shout to all injustice...

But none played it better than the Mississppi Delta Blues...

[arkee71]

@Kekkeyu dont attempt to define the blues...the blues is

[86victorious]

worlds best song. 

[Beekjones]

My best friends father died yesterday in his 50s.  Listening to this in his honor. So very sad...

[gavocrazy]

the guitar sounds alot like "keep your lamps trimmed and burning" by hot tuna

[sunterracellar]

@gavocrazy Gary Davis recorded a very popular version of that song and it's possible Hot Tuna were covering his version. Hot Tuna covers Gary Davis more than any other artist.

[epicpwnr1]

Listen to that. He doesnt hide behind distortion or processors. Every note is made by him. Fuckin a

[Colmonde]

Fantastic piece! I can play this, but not anywhere near as well as the Rev Gary Davis himself!

[psvvac2]

I just can't but can't believe... But just can't understand, that someone couldnt be pulled toward this and like it. Why the fuck do we need Justin Bieber! We want more "Bluesman"!!!!!

[zzy66613]

goosebumps



[MikeOrlowski]

Thanks for posting this.. And the black screen at the end .. death.. this is brilliant !

[VulturesAwait]

my god its brilliant!

[Harpgrindin]

I think Roy "Book" Binder was the last guy to be taught by this Genius. And I think it was Roy who asked him, "What key are you playing in?" The Rev says, "I don't know, I"m just all over the place." Think about that answer for a moment. It's so far above even the very accomplished guitarists that it's mindblowing.

[DonTerhune1200cc]

Stephan Grossman took lessons from this cat. Though Rev Davis seems to have used a flat pick here, I clearly recall reading one of Stephan Grossman's "Guitar Workshop" advertisement flyers, It was a short comic strip starting w/ him getting a ride from his parents to a squallow. Stephan goes in & hands Rev Davis $5 for a lesson. During the lesson Stephan said "hey stop, .. how do you play all those notes"?? To which Rev Davis replied; Heh heh, .... "YA GOTTA HAVE A SPORT'IN RIGHT HAND BOY".

[MuIdoon]

Anyone know an accurate tab for this? Or where to get legit music for it?

[DonTerhune1200cc]

@MuIdoon : Very possible. Check out "Stephan Grossman's Guitar Workshop". I don't work 4 him, though I sure got a bunch of his instructional VCR vids w/ tab booklets I purchased from him years back. I simply ended up not playing guitar anymore, that's all. Basically trying to tell u that I'm not plugging him, but as far as finger picking lessons go, I've yet to see anything that comes close to the large lineup of guitar instructors that he's got, & 4 all different skill levels. Hope this helps.

[Musiyak]

Great "spookie" feeling.....

[freeunion]

@kjaks -- because one expects a minor chord, instead of a major chord, especially when moving up a half step

[theOGslagster127]

YES THIS IS BRILLIANT

BLUES

LYRICS

GUITAR

REVEREND

[CoolKwstas123]

All you need is the truth and 4 chords...

[LedZeppelinisgod100]

@CoolKwstas123 the idiot pop artists have the 4 chords. they will never ever have a chance at trying to find the truth, though.

[CoolKwstas123]

@LedZeppelinisgod100 well surely pop is trash. My brother listen to jonas brothers (JESUUUUUUUUUS) and all their song are life meaningless, childish and totaly the perfect excuse to put your finger to the eye and twist it. But as long as i heard them play those 4 chords(i know their not pop but really close) its definately not the same. I think whatever they do they suck. The way Gary plays the chords brings you shivers down your spine and the way jb play the chords make you commit suicide

[LedZeppelinisgod100]

@CoolKwstas123 totally agree with all of that.

[Fruscianteistheman]

Knowing the Rev's history makes this song so brutal and heart wrenching.

He was the only surviving one of his 7 other brothers and sisters that made to adult hood and his father was even shot when he was only 10. If anyone knows the blues, its the Rev.

[rk28984]

I personally would consider myselfe as a "metalhead" but this kind of music is so amazing that it moves me like nothing else

[MadAndronicus]

@rk28984 After all, metal is just the blues sped up.

[Apocalypticpl]

Thank you god for 'It Might Get Loud", I know this song from this movie, and now I love blues!

[TWFilmz]

@Apocalypticpl

God had nothing to do with it.

[melikenoother]

@Apocalypticpl You definitely want to check our "Lightening in the Bottle: One night of Blues 2004". Way better than "It might get loud", but it's different too, so it's a new perspective.

[Apocalypticpl]

@melikenoother Thank you : ) 

[kudlow39]

Every thing start's with this,,,,,,,,

[runawaymotor]

nope

[Musiyak]

i gonna learn to play it.

[freeunion]

among the many remarkable things about this masterpiece is the use of [given the piece is in E minor] or the C major chord -- it provides the spookiest an scariest effect

[kjaks]

@freeunion why should that give a spooky effect?

[basdemos]

This is just one of the most amazing things I've ever heard. This song and 'When a Blind Man Cries' from Deep Purple are the only blues songs I know with such a sad tune. Does anybody know more sad blues songs?

[justme2nu3]

rev aint got no mercy..... on the goods.!!!! THANXALOT

[MRecceNtrICK]

er's a curse on the ground..

[srtliam]

Does anyone know where i can find a tab for this song?

I would kill my own mother for someone to show me how he plays this, and the tuning he uses.

just jokin' LOVE U MOM!

[OrganGrindersSwing]

Obviously the four people who hit the dislike button were intoxicated by the devil!

[TatorBits]

Shivers down my spine.

[mickfoley]

i dont want my mother to die ):

[KingCrimson776]

This rules mercilessly, Blues about death > Blues about wimminz

[FlashingFountain]

@KingCrimson776 wimminz

[Jesusthespartan]

Fantastic song.

[wm64wm]

zarąbiście swietne

[kirzykowski]

Real BLUES !!!!!!!!!!!!

[cdubs4real]

@kirzykowski opposed to fake blues

[Jonsonsugar]

Uau!

[mckennar]

My pants just pissed themselves!

[ReggieSears]

YES!!

[Q8soldiersOFdeath]

he'll leave stand cryin in this song

amazing

[bluepez57]

Great post zenguitar - thanks for sharing this.

[SIMONAVR]

not enough words for this song!

[Kashmir1089]

I just discovered this song the other day from a greatful dead cover. The original is definitely better. Just an amazing song i cant believe ive never heard it.

[BigChiefFan]

Absolutely beautiful.

[jaybals]

this song is just amazing, hardly any other words to describe it. It's just so haunting, deep and raw. This is how music should be

[bitchetslick]

well death dont have no mercy in this land, come to your house and he wont stay long, you'll look in the bed and find your mother gone.

Rev really knew how he felt. and he had such an amazing way to tell it. he's right though....

this man has got to be in my top ten blues. for sure.

[TheMaggotmasher]

HE IS A LEGEND AND IF ANYONE SAYS OTHERWISE IS A FILTHY LIAR

[pipewatcher]

@TheMaggotmasher right you are, ol' son. my dad knew and played music with Rev. Gary in the early '60's!

[TheMaggotmasher]

@pipewatcher I was taught to play old school blues and ragtime by my grandad "RIP" and he told me "There are people who can play the blues, but they don't have the blues"

[70stergios]

simply great...

[CubeableGame]

What is that he is smoking in the picture? Is is a cigar through a filter or something else?

This is music. Blues is truth...

[fretlessfrailer]

@CubeableGame It's just a stogie in a cigar holder

Wish I had one

[spadge321]

awesome song and a beautifull cat performing it

the great REV GARY DAVIS

[tradotvis]

fuck you three people

[skeletor1993]

i dont like this high quality version im trying to find the version played in the movie it might get loud any help would be greatly appreciated

[kudlow39]

Awesome delta blues......txs

[phantomgreen]

Dax Riggs does a really good cover of this song.

[wheresrichie]

たまらんですなーーー　すごくかっこいいです。

目が不自由でもこの画像本人に見せてあげたい、おそらく天国から­­見ているんだろうけどね・・・・　音楽セ WHAT THE FUCK HAHAHAhAhAhHA

[Uber3eye1]

Blind Gary Davis! Raw blues.

[micscottjr]

dedicated to marc ramkissooon .... RIP

[mezol1zee]

they dont make music like this anymore.

[PoeticRenegade]

truly grit genius 

[ieachie]

i love this man..love this version of this song too... i hated the greatful dead's version of this song, it's aweful! anyone with good taste for music would agree with me. To truely appreciate this song like I do..you would have to be a guitar player. Some songs are not ment to be redone, especially if you lack the "soul" of the orignal artist.

[jasonxdarby]

@ieachie you sure are full of yourself.

[HowlinWilf13]

Aaah! There is NO ONE like Gary Davis!

Anyone heard 'Out On The Ocean Sailing' by Gary Davis? Best damn blues song ever! I wish someone would post it on YouTube.

[ronganluv]

chilling

[kronicdeath420]

just picked this up awesome thanx for posting :D

[spadge321]

a beautiful cat

immense soul,,,

[1canyonguy]

I was listening to him this morning-always thinking bout him-

I wonder if anyone has his music covered in a different language?

[MuIdoon]

@1canyonguy Music transcends language, my friend. They'll understand what he means even if they can't understand what he says. Music needs no translation.

[Horwitz86]

I see that this was recorded at the Newport blues festival in Newport rhode island but do we know what year?

[leftyjcw]

I tell you the truth, it's been over 45 years since I learned this song, but I think I learned it by ear. It is a very easy song to learn and play. The may be a tab source ( when I was learning to play, There was no such thing as TABS. I learned to read MUSIC. Anyway, it is fairly easy compared to a lot of the Rev.'s music. Some of his instrumentals were, and are, quite difficult. Good luck to all who jump into the song. It will change your life to play it.

[TuffGhost3149]

i didnt even know they made songs like this

[MrBagel5]

Facking leeathal...10 stars in a 5 star bag.

[JimmyPageification]

INCREDIBLE song!!!

[sublimeruca27]

check out my page if you dig this stuff,. thanks

[heavymetel96]

you just dont hear this kind of stuff anymore......and thats a bad thing

[RobertZepeski]

wow awsome truly awsome

[lemurianfrog]

Does anybody knows in what year this song came out?

[saullouis]

I first heard it on a Davis album around 1962 or so. Im sure he had been playing it for many years before that.

[sublimeruca27]

hey click my page and watch me perform songs like this that most people have forgotten and traded for fools like lil wayne. well, just click my page and help a poor boy keep this music alive. thanks.

[vialalbo]

Muy negra la weá. Le falta vuelo. Jerry García es mucho mejor

[explosivejohnny]

@vialalbo leave it to a spaniard to not get american music. what the fuck is a wea? do they think soccer is a sport where you come from?

[archimedesnation]

The very first blues tune i ever heard and the main reason i 'm still hooked after 30 years.

Thanks zenquitarbluesman.

[TheBlackrobin]

Anyone have "you better get right"

[blindvulcan]

Thank you!!!!

[Colmonde]

Absolutely fantastic!!!!

[explosivejohnny]

that intro is tremendous!

[acidcasual07]

I love this song and hate the blues, but no matter where I go the blues follows me.

[brokentoedspoon]

omg omg dude so true man

[powchang]

oh yes i will follow you forever

[AllKindsaGirls]

this kid hates the blues. NO THUMBS DOWNS? haha come on, the blues is choice music! just playin man, everybody has their own taste.

[acidcasual07]

I never meant I hate blues music. just the blues in general i.e. everything that is bad lol. I love this shit.

[scotchbonnet2]

Rev Gary Davis was a great musician this song is very haunting it is one of my Favourite song, never fails to stir my emotions, we all know every word of this song is true regardless of your colour or creed "death does not discriminate":

[whauffend]

A while ago there was a version of this song titled 'Gary Davis - In this land'. It was a version with more signatory hollering by the man and the film footage was of troubled streets with troubled people and hard times. It ends with Gary referring to his mothers death. I can't find it anywhere on youtube anymore. Help anyone!?

[PinkOld]

Yes, that clip is on here right now.

You will find it if you put "reverend gary davis death don't have no mercy" in the search box.

Look for the clip that says "This absolutely cuts you to the bone."

It is simply stunning.

The woman really does cry, and it is genuine, since she quickly drops her head to conceal her face under her hat brim out of embarrassment.

The sound on this Newport recording is superior, and his performance may be a bit better, but the clip with the woman is still better.

[corticalmass]

Actually, whauffend is asking about a different video which was filmed from a moving car in black and white, showing the faces of black people on the street in what looks like the late '50's, while "Death Don't Have No Mercy" plays. It disappeared some time ago from Youtube. Some "owner" must have pulled it, so I'm sure almost no one can see it. Too bad, because it was brilliant and haunting.

[saullouis]

Yes. I remember seeing the video you refer to.

[PinkOld]

I believe he often favored a twelve string, although this sounds like a six.

Tremendous soul to this, though.

The voice of Blind Lemon Jefferson, echoing nearly a century hence.

[frenzexperiment]

absolutely AMAZING

[zenguitarblues]

i totally agree!!!

[johnjtheoriginal]

i knew hot tuna versione that is beautiful, but this original is more than music! what a soul!

[dohertykaki]

speaking as a hospice nurse.... we can help make it easier:-)

[psychopolka]

beautifull..

[lenny121]

thumbs up to you for putting this up !

[saullouis]

One of a kind.

[leftyjcw]

This is the first blues song I ever learned, 40 years ago. It don't get no better than this. I have learned to play hundreds of songs over the years, but this is still the most, "haunting" I ever heard. Thank you.

[behram87]

@leftyjcw dude where did u get the tabs n all?? ive wanna learn this song as well!!

[blinddoghowl]

Thanks for this, I've heard so many lame versions of this song. This is the real deal for sure.

[sleeplessintokyo]

a formidable guitarist.

[zenguitarblues]

thats for sure!

[marsupilami76]

thanks for posting

[zenguitarblues]

thanks for watching