Mercy Mercy Me
Isley Brothers & Santana Lyrics

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Woo ah, oh mercy mercy me
Hh, 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

Oh mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our sea

Fish full of mercury

Oh oh
Oh mercy, mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be, no no
Radiation underground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying

Oh oh mercy, mercy me
Oh things ain't what they used to be
Oh What about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?

Oh oh, yeah
Oh na
Oh oh oh, oh my sweet Lord, no
Yeah, woah

Oh oh oh
Mercy, mercy
The rivers of blood are flowing down the street
(Lord have mercy) From the sisters and brothers, black and brown

Lord have mercy
Love, compassion
Lord, forgiveness
Ain't no future without forgiveness

Mercy
Love, compassion
Lord, forgiveness
Ain't no future without forgiveness

Mercy
Love, compassion
Lord, forgiveness
Ain't no future without forgiveness

Mercy
Love, compassion
Lord, forgiveness
Ain't no future without forgiveness

Mercy
Love, compassion
Lord, forgiveness
Ain't no future without forgiveness

Mercy
Love, compassion

Lord, forgiveness
Ain't no future without forgiveness

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Mercy Mercy Me" by Isley Brothers and Santana tackle the theme of environmental degradation and its impact on humanity. The song begins with a lamentation about how things have changed and how the blue skies have disappeared. The line "Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east" suggests the pervasive pollution and toxins in the environment, highlighting the dire state of the world.

The chorus, "Oh mercy, mercy me, things ain't what they used to be" reinforces the idea that the world has taken a turn for the worse. The lyrics then delve into specific issues, such as oil being wasted in the ocean and mercury-contaminated fish. The song highlights the consequences of human actions, such as radiation underground and in the sky, leading to the death of nearby animals and birds.

As the song progresses, it shifts from focusing solely on environmental concerns to broader issues of social injustice and lack of compassion. The line "The rivers of blood are flowing down the street, from the sisters and brothers, black and brown" references the violence and discrimination faced by marginalized communities. The repeated plea for mercy, love, compassion, forgiveness, and a future without these injustices reflects a cry for a better world.

Overall, "Mercy Mercy Me" is a powerful protest song that addresses both environmental catastrophe and social inequality, calling for change and a more compassionate future.

Line by Line Meaning

Woo ah, oh mercy mercy me
Oh my, mercy is desperately needed in this situation

Hh, things ain't what they used to be, no no
The current state of affairs is far from how they used to be

Where did all the blue skies go?
The once present blue skies seem to have disappeared

Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east
The wind carries harmful and toxic substances from all directions

Oh mercy, mercy me
The plea for mercy intensifies

Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
The situation has deteriorated significantly from its previous state

Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our sea
Oil is being carelessly lost in the ocean, damaging it

Fish full of mercury
The fish are contaminated with mercury

Oh oh
Expressing distress and concern

Radiation underground and in the sky
Harmful radiation is present both underground and in the sky

Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
The nearby animals and birds are experiencing death

Oh oh mercy, mercy me
The desperate plea for mercy continues

Oh things ain't what they used to be
The current state of affairs is far from how they used to be

Oh What about this overcrowded land?
Consider the issue of this overcrowded land

How much more abuse from man can she stand?
The land has reached its limit of tolerating abuse from humans

Oh oh, yeah
Expressing acknowledgment

Oh na
Utterance signifying various emotions

Oh oh oh, oh my sweet Lord, no
Great concern and disbelief is expressed through invoking a divine presence

Yeah, woah
Conveying emotion and agreement

Oh oh oh
Repeated distress and concern

Mercy, mercy
Urgent request for mercy

The rivers of blood are flowing down the street
The streets are filled with blood, symbolizing violence and unrest

(Lord have mercy) From the sisters and brothers, black and brown
Specifically referring to black and brown individuals, who are suffering and in need of mercy

Love, compassion
Emphasizing the importance of love and compassion

Lord, forgiveness
Appealing to the Lord for forgiveness

Ain't no future without forgiveness
Without forgiveness, there is no hope for the future

Mercy
Continuing to request mercy

Love, compassion
Reiterating the need for love and compassion

Lord, forgiveness
Emphasizing the importance of forgiveness from the Lord

Ain't no future without forgiveness
Once again stressing that forgiveness is essential for a hopeful future

Mercy
Continuing to plead for mercy

Love, compassion
Repeating the importance of love and compassion

Lord, forgiveness
Once more appealing to the Lord for forgiveness

Ain't no future without forgiveness
Reaffirming that forgiveness is crucial for a positive future

Mercy
Persistently requesting mercy