i've been lost before and i had to pay   it was never easy but i found a way   well the journey was hard and the road was tough   there were times when i cried lord i've had enough   please don't desert me now   don't you leave me stranded now i need a friend   please don't desert me now   you've gotta show me mercy when i'm helpless   show me mercy when i'm helpless   shine a light in the dark   hold me back when i get reckless   shine a light in the dark   stand me up if i get legless   shine a light in the dark   shine a light in the dark   shine a light in the dark   i've been down and out and i've been fit to drop   but the thought of you wouldn't let me stop   now a man should stand upon his own two feet   because the taste of failure is a bitter sweet   please don't desert me now   i can hear the reaper calling in the wind   please don't desert me now   you've gotta show me mercy when i'm helpless   show me mercy when i'm helpless   shine a light in the dark   hold me back when i get reckless   shine a light in the dark   stand me up if i get legless   shine a light in the dark   shine a light in the dark   shine a light in the dark   where were you when the chips were down   i fell apart when i hit the town   where were you when i couldn't get arrested   where were you when the lights went out   i blew a fuse, did you hear me shout   where on earth do i look for heavens sake   there's a brotherhood that i want to see   gotta take my share of equality   there's no harmony in a one man band   even god almighty needs a helping hand   please don't desert me now   there's no time and i can't fight another day   please don't desert me now   you've gotta show me mercy when i'm helpless   show me mercy when i'm helpless   shine a light in the dark   hold me back when i get reckless   shine a light in the dark   stand me up if i get legless   shine a light in the dark   shine a light in the dark   shine a light in the dark   (repeat to fade)