Everybody Cryin' Mercy under

NEA JAZZ MASTER MOSE ALLISON IS KNOWN AS A DEFT LYRICIST WHO TACKLES SOME TOUGH SUBJECTS WITHOUT A HINT OF SENTIMENTALITY. HIS SONG "EVERYBODY'S CRYIN' MERCY" ILLUSTRATES THIS.

Everybody Cryin' Mercy up and hot

RUFFIN: BLUES SINGER BONNIE RAITT.

BONNIE RAITT: NOBODY KNOWS THE MEANING OF THE WORD BECAUSE THE SITUATION IN THE WORLD IS SO HEARTBREAKING. BECAUSE WHEN SOMETHING IS PAINFUL, IT'S, YOU'RE ANGRY AND YOU'RE HURT. AND THAT SONG IS VERY CLEAR-EYED ABOUT BOTH.

Bonnie'sEverybody Cryin' Mercy fades into Mose's …

RUFFIN: THIS JAZZ MOMENT ABOUT PIANIST, SINGER, AND SONGWRITER MOSE ALLISON WAS PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

Music Credit: Excerpt of "Everybody's Cryin' Mercy" written and performed by Mose Allison, from the CD, Lessons in Living, used courtesy of Atlantic Records/Rhino, and used by permission of Audre Mae Music Inc. (BMI).

Audio Credit: Excerpt of Bonnie Raitt from the documentary, Ever Since I Stole the Blues, used courtesy of the film's director, Paul Bernays.