Mercy Mercy Me
Boyz II Men(보이즈 투 맨) Lyrics
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Oh mercy, mercy me
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 and so
Oh things ain't what they used to be, no, no
Oil wasted on the ocean and above our seas
Fish full of mercury
Oh mercy, mercy me
Oh things ain't what they used to be
Radiation under ground and in the sky
Animals and birds are dying
No, no, no
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, ooh
Oh mercy, mercy me
Oh things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
My, my, my, my, my, my, my
My, my, my, my, my, my, my
Oh mercy, mercy me
Where did all the blue skies go? No, no
Radiation under ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
What about this overcrowded land?
In "Mercy Mercy Me," Boyz II Men sing about the declining state of the environment due to man's abuse of it. The lyrics are a nod to Marvin Gaye's song of the same name, released in 1971, which was also a commentary on the ecological state of the world at the time. The song opens with the singer lamenting how things are not as they used to be, invoking memories of how the environment was once cleaner and healthier. The blue skies have disappeared, replaced by polluted air from all directions. The wind carries poison, and oil is being wasted in the ocean and sea, causing mercury poisoning in fish.
The second verse of the song delves deeper into the issues the environment faces. There is radiation underground and in the sky, causing the death of animals and birds. Man's abuse of the planet is causing it to become overcrowded, and the question arises of how much more assault can the earth withstand. The chorus repeats the opening lines: "Oh mercy, mercy me / Oh things ain't what they used to be" followed by a lament about the decline of the environment.
"Mercy Mercy Me" was released on Boyz II Men's 1991 album, "Cooleyhighharmony" and was their third single. The song was well-received and rose to fourth place on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track features Nathan Morris's baritone voice accompanied by lush harmonies by the other members of Boyz II Men. The group cites Marvin Gaye as one of their significant influences, and members Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris are known to be fans of his music.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh mercy, mercy me
Expressing concern and seeking mercy for the state of the world
Oh things ain't what they used to be, no, no
The world has changed for the worse and it's not good anymore
Where did all the blue skies go?
Questioning the disappearance of clear and blue skies due to pollution
Poison is the wind that blows
From the north and south and east and so
The wind is carrying harmful pollutants from all sides, affecting the environment
Oil wasted on the ocean and above our seas
Fish full of mercury
Oil spills in the ocean and the consequent mercury poisoning of fish is a major concern
Radiation under ground and in the sky
Animals and birds are dying
Nuclear radiation is posing a threat to all living beings, causing their deaths
What about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Exploring the effects of overpopulation and environmental degradation caused by human activities
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johnnie Newkirk Jr
I really love this version. Don't get me wrong, Marvin is untouchable. However, these guys come a very, very close second. I love the runs. Excellent. What soul!
erik jimene ramire
Hermosa voces, armonía voz-melodia. Preciosa canción, letra de actualidad con conciencia ecológica. Perdón madre tierra
Clovis Oliveira
Uma musica antiga com um arranjo novo, renova nossas emoções, ouçam
Francisco Mariano
Lindo d+ um preito de carinho ao inspirado e eterno Marvin Gaye
Vicksy Nurhayati
they are blessed with their voices! Love the voice, the song, and the band :)
juan carlos guerrero marti
Es tan bonita esta cancion que cualquiera que tenga una dulce y profunda voz puede cantarla bien.
Tania 7
Porfavor versionar al dios Marvin es muy dificil y ellos ,excepcional lo hacen bien. Kiss
Hamilton Silva Rocha Rocha
QUE COISA LINDA.
Ashley P
I got chills at the harmonizing at the end. And I got super chills one time when I was looking at a full moon while listening to it~
Antonio Ednardo Santos Oliveira Santos Oliveira
Sou fã deles canta muito.