A new album titled The Economy was released in Fall 2011.
Mercury & Lightning
John Mark McMillan Lyrics
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I've been chasing mercury and lightning
And I've been pressing hard
I've been coming up short
Lately, I've been thinking about
What's gonna happen with you and I
I need a new religion
Or I need a new life
I've been on the phone
I've been chasing mercury and lightning
Pressing for the deal to close
I've been coming up short
Lately, I've been thinking about
What's going on between you and I
I need a true religion
Or I need a new life
I swear I've heard the echoes of a voice
Like a dream that you feel, but you don't remember
I've known it ever since I was a boy
Like a word on the tip of my tongue
I swear I've heard the echoes of a voice
Like a dream that you feel, but you don't remember
I've known it ever since I was a boy
Like a word on the tip of my tongue
In John Mark McMillan's song "Mercury & Lightning," the singer shares his inner turmoil, expressing a search for something greater than himself. The lyrics indicate a pursuit of God, but also of transitory things like mercury and lightning. The singer has been working hard to achieve something, but keeps falling short. He also alludes to a troubled relationship, stating that he requires a new religion or life to move forward. The repetition of the need for a new start implies dissatisfaction with his current situation.
The second verse further emphasizes the singer's drive to succeed, even if it means chasing after elusive things. He is on the phone pursuing a deal, but like before is unsuccessful. The second half returns to the theme of the search for meaning and life, this time using the phrase true religion. The phrase suggests a need for authenticity and deep spiritual connection, as opposed to the external rituals of a faith.
The final lines of the song refer to the echoes of a voice, a connection to something greater that the singer has felt since childhood. The voice is like a dream, elusive yet familiar. The image of the "word on the tip of my tongue" suggests a feeling of almost-recognition, an awareness of something just beyond his conscious reach. Overall, the song expresses a longing for a deeper sense of purpose and spiritual meaning, as well as a desire for genuine human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been chasing God
I've been seeking a deeper connection with my faith
I've been chasing mercury and lightning
I've been pursuing fleeting, worldly things that catch my attention but quickly disappear
And I've been pressing hard
I've been coming up short
Despite my efforts, I haven't been successful in achieving what I'm after
Lately, I've been thinking about
What's gonna happen with you and I
I'm pondering the future of my relationship with someone I care about
I need a new religion
Or I need a new life
I'm searching for a fresh approach to my faith, or perhaps a completely different path
I've been on the phone
I've been chasing mercury and lightning
Pressing for the deal to close
I'm consumed with trying to achieve earthly success and making things happen
I swear I've heard the echoes of a voice
Like a dream that you feel, but you don't remember
I've known it ever since I was a boy
Like a word on the tip of my tongue
There's a sense of something familiar and potentially significant that I can't quite grasp, like a distant memory or unspoken idea
Contributed by Jacob G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mark Hollenbeck
I've been chasing God
I've been chasing mercury and lightning
And I've been pressing hard
I've been coming up short
Lately, I've been thinking about
What's gonna happen with you and I
I need a new religion
Or I need a new life
I've been on the phone
I've been chasing mercury and lightning
Pressing for the deal to close
I've been coming up short
Lately, I've been thinking about
What's going on between you and I
I need a true religion
Or I need a new life
I swear I've heard the echoes of a voice
Like a dream that you feel, but you don't remember
I've known it ever since I was a boy
Like a word on the tip of my tongue
I swear I've heard the echoes of a voice
Like a dream that you feel, but you don't remember
I've known it ever since I was a boy
Like a word on the tip of my tongue
Kamil Vyskočil
It is art, but just like in the rest of the fallen world. We can clap on this kind of art, but even the worldly artist can motivate more and help peoples to live a better lifes.
Violence and sexual desires never glorified god.
Do you remember.... Jesus
The best way you will recognized, that you are not addicted, its just removed it from your life.
And if you can't, you are addicted.
Human brain was never created to recieve images like this.
He is holy and his ways are diferent than ours.
Bless you all in the name Jesus,
Which means... Yahwe saves
robhulson
If you’re open to seeing, here’s what it seems reasonable to assume JMM is trying to communicate with the two subjects.
The male is a type of person who has experienced several branches of religion. He was baptized as an infant in one religion, baptized later as an adult, reads the Bible, and wrestled with the suffering of his presumably mother or grandmother whose sickness is suffering he can’t find the answers he’s looking for.
He is chasing the LIGHTNING of a view of God that answers prayer as he understands it, according to the dogma handed down to him. And by the end of the song, he doesn’t have the answer yet. Hence the rest of the album.
The female is someone not raised in a religious environment and is taking advantage of whatever passing moments she might enjoy. She’s very much hedonistic, in the moment, and is heading down the path to nihilism and pointlessness.
She is chasing MERCURY, the world’s system of trading one value for another and trying to get as much as you can for yourself.
And this song does not answer the question; it poses it.
If you’d like to know where JMM starts to answer the question with things you’re more familiar with, look up Death In Reverse, the part of the album that I’m sure you’d have more agreement with.
My personal opinion is that you’re not aware that this is one paragraph or verse in a bigger picture form of communication, an album, that methodically presents questions in one song and tries to answer it as the album progresses. This is the opening song that represents his doubts, disillusionment, and quest to get answers.
When we can’t express our honest doubts and questions, and when those in religious traditions look down on us for having them, we will leave and look to find the answers ourselves, and it usually requires a period of desert wandering.
Lucas Ferrero
I've been chasing God
I've been chasing mercury and lightning
And I've been pressing hard
I've been coming up short
Lately, I've been thinking about
What's gonna happen with you and I
I need a new religion
Or I need a new life
I've been on the phone
I've been chasing mercury and lightning
Pressing for the deal to close
I've been coming up short
Lately, I've been thinking about
What's going on between you and I
I need a true religion
Or I need a new life
I swear I've heard the echoes of a voice
Like a dream that you feel, but you don't remember
I've known it ever since I was a boy
Like a word on the tip of my tongue
I swear I've heard the echoes of a voice
Like a dream that you feel, but you don't remember
I've known it ever since I was a boy
Like a word on the tip of my tongue
Mercúrio e Relâmpago
Eu tenho perseguido Deus
Eu tenho perseguido mercúrio e relâmpago
E eu tenho pressionado fortemente
Eu estive chegando curto
Ultimamente, estive pensando em
O que acontecerá com você e eu
Eu preciso de uma nova religião
Ou eu preciso de uma nova vida
Eu estive no telefone
Eu tenho perseguido mercúrio e relâmpago
Pressionando o acordo para fechar
Eu estive chegando curto
Ultimamente, estive pensando em
O que está acontecendo entre você e eu
Eu preciso de uma verdadeira religião
Ou eu preciso de uma nova vida
Juro que ouvi os ecos de uma voz
Como um sonho que você sente, mas você não se lembra
Eu sabia disso desde que eu era um menino
Como uma palavra na ponta da minha língua
Juro que ouvi os ecos de uma voz
Como um sonho que você sente, mas você não se lembra
Eu sabia disso desde que eu era um menino
Como uma palavra na ponta da minha língua
The Breaking Pattern
JMM is a fearless musician. Easily one of the greatest and most underappreciated artists in our generation. God Bless this man!
Will L
do people realize calling him underrated and under appreciated (which are like 60% of the comments on his videos) is kind of insulting
Nelson Abreu Victoriano
The Breaking Pattern
That's exactly what I think, he is so good but underpreciate
Eduardo Bezerra
Que fotografia,
Que paletas de cores,
Que cenas,
Que letra,
Que música!
PQP John Mark, tu é foda.
magin Ilustrador
jared hogan
Danilo Reis
sensacional demais!
Roni Rocha
mostro mesmo!
Fanny Vieira
SIMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Kiki the pupper
This song needs more views. It's amazing
Sam Sundquist
I discovered this artist about a week ago and I’m speechless.