In 1984, Miles programmed the synthesizers on Marcus Miller's Jamaica Boys and consistently worked with him through 1994. During this fertile period, the two collaborated on eight projects for Vandross and in 1986 provided the classic synthesizer programming for Miles Davis' electronic masterwork Tutu. That project also solidified Miles' relationship with then Warner Bros. executive producer Tommy LiPuma and co-producer and musical arranger George Duke.
The 1990s proved to be a major turning point in Miles' career as a synthesist. Back-to-back projects for such top-name artists as longtime collaborator Michael Brecker's Now You See It...Now You Don't in 1990, Whitney Houston's I'm Your Baby Tonight also in 1990, Vandross' The Power of Love in 1991, and Michael Jackson's HIStory in 1995, among many others, provided the perfect way for his pop and jazz musical accomplishments to be made known to a wider audience. During this time, Miles also made significant forays into other media, including composing the award-winning score for the animated feature film The Snow Queen. In 1995, he produced and co-wrote the music for the Emmy nominated People: A Musical Celebration of Diversity, an animated film for the Disney Channel. In 1997, he and his wife, Kathy Byalick, released Visionary Path, a new age recording with narration by such artists as the then-unknown Diana Krall and award-winning vocalists Roberta Flack and Nona Hendryx, and actor F. Murray Abraham. Miles also produced an award-winning children's video for Phylicia Rashad (Rhymin' Time).
Two solo CDs, World Tour in 1994 and Mr. X in 1995, marked Miles' introduction as a bandleader. He called on his friends and longtime collaborators Grover Washington Jr., Herbie Mann, Steve Ferrone, and Michael Brecker. However, it was Miles' collaboration with the Telarc Jazz record label in the late '90s that provided his big breakthrough as a producer/composer/arranger/performer. In 2000, the label released his highly acclaimed The Music of Weather Report, a star-studded tribute to the innovative and influential fusion group of the '70s. In 2001, Miles won a Grammy award for his production of A Love Affair: The Music of Ivan Lins. Termed "the dream record of my life," the CD features such stellar artists as Sting, Vanessa Williams, Brenda Russell, and the master himself, Ivan Lins. The third tribute CD in that triumvirate was recorded on Q Records and was titled To Grover With Love. The CD was nominated for Record of the Year by the National Smooth Jazz Awards in 2002 and was Miles' heartfelt tribute to the great saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., who died suddenly of a heart attack in December 1999.
Miles believes that the key to his success as a producer is his ability to consistently deliver the goods. "When you do stuff and you make it work, people eventually stop doubting your ability to pull it all together." That integrity and respect level is apparent on his 2002 release for Q Records, Brazilian Nights Featuring Romero Lubambo. Once again, Miles pulls the crème de la crème of the music world together to perform some of Brazil's greatest songs. ~ Paula Edelstein, All Music Guide
Content provided by All Music Guide Copyright © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC
Mercy Mercy Me
Jason Miles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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?
The song "Mercy Mercy Me" is a poignant commentary on the state of the environment during the 1970s when it was released. The song is full of sorrow over the pollution of the air, water, and land. The opening lines, "Woo ah mercy, mercy me/ Ah, things ain't what they used to be" set the tone for the rest of the song. The idea that the world is changing for the worse is emphasized further by the refrain "Ah things ain't what they used to be, no, no."
The song laments the loss of blue skies due to pollution and the poisonous winds that blow from all directions. The lyrics also touch on the environmental issues of oil spills and mercury-filled fish. The overpopulated land and the constant abuse of nature by man are also mentioned in the song. The use of the word 'mercy' in the refrain seems to be a plea for compassion towards the environment.
The final lines, "No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky/ Animals and birds who live near by are dying oh/ Oh mercy, mercy me" emphasize the seriousness of the environmental issues that were prevalent during the 1970s. The song is a call to action for people to take responsibility for their actions and to safeguard the environment for future generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo ah mercy, mercy me
Oh my, have mercy, have mercy on us
Ah, things ain't what they used to be.
Things are not the same as they were before, they have changed
No, no, where did all the blue skies go,
Sadly, the blue skies we had are no longer here
Poison is the wind that blows
The wind is now poisonous and harmful to our health
From the north and south and east
The wind that is blowing from every direction is toxic
Woo mercy, mercy me
Once again, please have mercy on us
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon
We recklessly have wasted oil in the ocean and over seas
Our seas fish full of mercury, ah. oh
As a result, fish in the sea are now contaminated with toxic mercury
What about this over crowded land
Let's not forget about how our land is overly populated
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
How much longer until our planet gives up to the abuse it has gotten from us?
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Radiation is now present below and above ground too, sadly
Animals and birds who live near by are dying oh,
Animals and birds that surround us are dying as a result of all the pollution
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Radiation is now present below and above ground too, sadly
Animals and land how much more abuse from man can she stand?
How much longer until our planet gives up to the abuse it has gotten from us?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marvin Gaye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind