Mercy Mercy Me
Barry White - Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh things ain't what they used to be, no no
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east (Father)
Whoa mercy, mercy me (oh mercy)
Oh things ain't what they used to be, no, no (mercy Father)
Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas, fish full of mercury
Ah, oh mercy, mercy me
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no (help us, Father)
Radiation underground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying (help us, help us, Father)
Oh mercy, mercy me (mercy Father, please help us)
Oh things ain't what they used to be (mercy Father)
What about this overcrowded land (oh, have mercy Father)
How much more abuse from man can she stand? Ooh
Oh, no, no, no, nah, nah, nah (Ooh-ooh my sweet Lord)
My sweet Lord, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah (my, my sweet Lord)
My, my Lord, my sweet Lord, ooh-ooh (help us Father, please help us)
The lyrics to "Mercy Mercy Me" by Marvin Gaye is a lamentation about the state of the environment in the 1970s. The song speaks about the degradation of the natural world due to human activities - pollution, deforestation, and radiation. It is a cry for help to the Father for mercy to save the planet. The first verse establishes the connection between the past and present through the metaphor of the blue skies. Things have changed so much that the sky has lost its blue color. The second verse of the song speaks about the devastating impact of oil and mercury on the oceans and fishes. The third verse is about the dangers of radiation on underground and sky, causing death to the animals and birds.
The last verse of the song talks about the problem of overpopulation, which has led to increased exploitation of the planet's natural resources. It also suggests that human beings have a responsibility to protect the environment from further destruction. The chorus 'mercy, mercy me,' is an appeal to the almighty to help rectify the wrongs done to the planet.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa, ah, mercy, mercy me
Expressing despair and seeking compassion and mercy
Oh things ain't what they used to be, no no
The state of things has changed drastically from how it used to be
Where did all the blue skies go?
Expressing concern about the disappearance of clear blue skies
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east (Father)
Referring to the harmful air pollution that is spreading from all directions
Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas, fish full of mercury
Denoting the wastefulness and pollution caused by oil spills and the hazardous impact it has on aquatic life
Radiation underground and in the sky
Expressing concern about the harmful effects of radiation on the earth
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying (help us, help us, Father)
Conveying a plea for help and seeking divine intervention to save the lives of the animals and birds affected by the environmental degradation
What about this overcrowded land (oh, have mercy Father)
Expressing concern and seeking divine help to resolve the issue of overpopulation and its impact on the environment
How much more abuse from man can she stand? Ooh
Highlighting the destructive impact of human activities on the environment and questioning how much more can it take before reaching a breaking point
Oh, no, no, no, nah, nah, nah (Ooh-ooh my sweet Lord)
Expressing dismay and desperation and seeking divine help
My sweet Lord, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah (my, my sweet Lord)
Seeking reassurance and comfort from a higher power
My, my Lord, my sweet Lord, ooh-ooh (help us Father, please help us)
Seeking divine intervention and aid to alleviate the environmental plight of the earth
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marvin Gaye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carolnicholson6634
I’m 74 today! I will always love this music, the artist. He was and still is amazing❤
@LOVEHAS1JOYRAINS2
🎉Mother Father God is here on earth!!! Playing this song and reaching out to all of you who read this divine message. Phone home today. Our creators luv you from the beginning these are very urgent moments to contact our parents ❤🎉 Luna
@shampoobottle2264
I'm 18 and love this artist
@xbrandi12345x
Happy Belated Birthday!!
@IsabelMartinez-ow5hd
Something about this song, makes me cry. It’s so beautifully written.
@victoriapassiflower2482
Me too 🫂❤️
@MsThebeMoon
Cry for the earth - the planet ---- abused by man and money.
@JamusChristus
You are much more macho than me because EVERYTHING about this piece makes me cry. I suppose this is how Marvin cried too. That's painful and beautiful.
You see, Tammi Terrell was his soulmate and he had to witness her leaving here. I reckon that catalyzed an existential moment. When he died, my mother cried hard for some days. DAYS. I was 9. I told her that if it would help, I'd be Marvin Gaye. I just didn't want her in that much pain. My father couldn't access her. I'm the de facto favorite child. She laughed. My kid sister was born at home and I made Mom laugh when I aped her labor breathing. They kicked me out of the room for good reason. So that Marvin thing, 6yrs later was pithy.
All of that to say Marvin was a siren in that he could grab our senses by the nuts. He was a beautiful comet. He came. He saw. He lived. He loved. We saw we learned. He got outta here like Hendrix, Dolphy, Joplin, Cobain... the list is too long. But he touched us. He knew how we felt. So it's hard not to cry
@cadenadams6592
Parents got married to this song ❤
@nativesonya1865
Yep, me too 😢 touches my soul