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Mercy Mercy Me
Jon B. Lyrics
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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?
In Jon B.'s song "Mercy Mercy Me," the lyrics explore the current state of the world and express concern about the impact of human actions on the environment. The first verse speaks of the disappearance of blue skies and the presence of toxic winds blowing from all directions. The refrain "mercy, mercy me" is a plea for mercy and help to address these issues. The second verse alludes to the 1970s oil spill in the ocean and its impact on marine life, with fish being poisoned by mercury. The third verse raises the issue of overpopulation and the amount of abuse that the earth can withstand. The final line states that animals and birds are dying due to underground and atmospheric radiation.
The song is a social commentary on the careless and harmful actions of humanity towards the environment. It not only speaks of specific issues of the '70s but also remains relevant today as climate change and global warming continue to be major concerns. The lyrics offer a plea for mercy and a call to action to address the issues before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo ah mercy, mercy me
Oh my, oh my mercy, please show compassion to the current state of the world
Ah, things ain't what they used to be.
The world has changed significantly, and not for the better
No, no, where did all the blue skies go,
The clear blue skies of days past have disappeared
Poison is the wind that blows
The air we breathe is contaminated and dangerous
From the north and south and east
The toxic wind comes from all directions
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no, no
The world is greatly changed from what it once was
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon
The world wastes valuable resources, such as oil, into the ocean
Our seas fish full of mercury, ah. oh
The fish in the ocean are contaminated with mercury
What about this over crowded land
The world is facing overpopulation and lacks adequate space
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
The world is burdened by the actions of mankind and cannot handle more
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
The world is now suffering from radiation both above and below ground
Animals and birds who live near by are dying oh,
The radiation is causing the death of nearby animals and birds
Animals and land how much more abuse from man can she stand?
The world is exhausted from the abuse inflicted upon the environment by humans
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marvin Gaye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind