Eleanor McEvoy (born 22 January 1967) is one of Ireland's most accomplished… Read Full Bio ↴Eleanor McEvoy (born 22 January 1967) is one of Ireland's most accomplished contemporary singer/songwriters. McEvoy composed the song "Only A Woman's Heart", the title track of "A Woman's Heart", the best-selling Irish album in Irish history.

In a world where the word star and the gift of talent are often devalued, McEvoy is neither an overnight success nor a four week wonder. A musician and songwriter of note, the real deal, possessing all of the qualities that go to make up the complete artist. Her career began at the age of four when she took piano lessons, taking up violin at the age of eight. Upon finishing school she attended Trinity College in Dublin where she studied music by day and worked in pit orchestras and music clubs by night.

McEvoy graduated from Trinity and was accepted into the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland where she worked four years before finally taking the plunge to concentrate on her passion for songwriting. After a long hard slog, the girl who spent the year of 1988 busking in Union Square, New York had come a long way, a route that took her through the disciplines of classical music, Irish traditional music and contemporary music to a point where she finally found success in 1992.

It happened when one of her songs "Only a Woman's Heart" inspired the title for, and appeared on, the "A Woman's Heart" anthology album. It has since gone on to become the best selling album in Irish history, staying in the Irish Top 10 for over a year. Since then McEvoy has gone on to become an artist and performer known throughout the world. Her critically-acclaimed canon of work spans six albums, several singles and appearances on numerous compilation albums and is today recognised as Ireland’s most successful female singer songwriter having enjoyed personal chart success and numerous cover versions of her songs. (Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Phil Coulter, amongst others). Her song “All I Have” features in the lastest series of the HBO cult series “Six Feet Under”

Her co-writing song credits have seen her published with fellow writers and performers such as Rodney Crowell, Lloyd Cole, Johnny Rivers, Brad Parker, Henry Priestman and Dave Rotheray.

More info: www.eleanormcevoy.net

Mercy Mercy Me
Eleanor McEvoy Lyrics

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Woo ah mercy, mercy me
Ah, 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
Woo mercy, mercy me

Ah things ain't what they used to be, no, no

Oil wasted on the ocean and upon
Our seas fish full of mercury, ah. oh

Ah things ain't what they used to be
What about this over crowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?

Oh mercy, mercy me.
Ah things ain't what they used to be.
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Animals and birds who live near by are dying oh,

Oh mercy, mercy me.
Ah things ain't what they used to be.

No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Animals and land how much more abuse from man can she stand?

Overall Meaning

In Eleanor McEvoy's song 'Mercy Mercy Me,' the lyrics highlight the devastating impact that humankind is having on the environment. The song begins with the singer passionately lamenting the state of the world and how it has changed for the worse. The lyrics 'Woo ah mercy, mercy me, Ah, things ain't what they used to be,' are an expression of despair that things have changed for the worse and that a call for action is needed. The once clear skies have been replaced by poisoned air, and the ocean has become a site where oil is wasted. What is more, the seas are now filled with harmful substances such as mercury that are killing off the fish.

The second verse of the song continues to highlight the destructive force humankind is having on the planet. The lyrics state 'What about this over-crowded land, How much more abuse from man can she stand?' This line is an indication that the earth is at a breaking point and that without people paying attention, it will continue to get progressively worse. The song concludes on a sombre note with a repeat of the chorus. It is a reminder that the earth is a precious resource that people need to take care of.

Line by Line Meaning

Woo ah mercy, mercy me
The world is in trouble and needs help.

Ah, things ain't what they used to be.
The world is changing and not for the better.

No, no, where did all the blue skies go,
The beauty of nature is fading.

Poison is the wind that blows
The air is polluted and dangerous.

From the north and south and east
The pollution is everywhere.

Woo mercy, mercy me
The world is crying for help.

Oil wasted on the ocean and upon
Oil spills are damaging the ocean.

Our seas fish full of mercury, ah. oh
Fish are contaminated with mercury.

What about this over crowded land
The land is overcrowded with people.

How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Nature cannot take any more damage from humans.

No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Radiation is everywhere.