Have mercy

"Have mercy baby,
I'm descending again.
Open your eyes baby,
'cuz this time its sink or its swim."- Black Crowes

That's one of my favorite lines from the Black Crowes. What is he saying with this? What's he talking about? I think about it...

Forgive me, I know I was wrong.
I'm going down, feeling bad. Or maybe I'm coming off a high, even though I know you don't want me using.
Open your eyes, can't you see I need help?
I know I said I would stop, but this is when I need you the most.
If I can't stop this time, will I ever be able to?

"So have mercy baby,
And hand me down.
It was just a few years ago,
You'd hand me up and a map right out of town."

So forgive me please. If you can.
Something in you has changed since we met.
Was it me that changed you?
You would have thrown me out a long time ago, but we're both different now.

Curses, curses and clues.
Just a feast, feast for fools.