Have Mercy began in late 2009 after drummer Aaron Alt and guitarist Joey McCusker decided to disembark from their previous band.
Looking for something different, following their formative years in the metal scene, they contacted long time friend Brian Swindle to head the group.
On March 12, 2019, lead singer Brian Swindle announced that founding member and former drummer Aaron Alt had died.
On January 2, 2022, the band teased a new EP via Instagram with a studio photo featuring frontman Brian Swindle former members Andrew Johnson, Todd Wallace, and Nick Woolford.
Have Mercy are described by AllMusic as an indie rock band that combines "warm, melancholic alt-rock with heavy emo and post-hardcore elements".