Mercy
Lewis Capaldi Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

For every second you been talking
I've been trying to count the lines around your face
'Cause I don't know if I'll ever be this close again

I feel like I'm just wasting time
Before you pull the trigger
It's the drawing of the line
It's my ghost you're gonna give up
Got your made up mind
It hurts to see you're alright
When I'm not alright
So if you're calling it a night

Oh please have, have mercy
Have mercy on me, you're breaking my heart
Oh please have, have mercy
Have mercy on me, I'm falling apart
Have mercy, my heart

I felt you slip away so slowly
I lost my grip a little more each time we touched
I've got no hope I guess I'll never get it back again

Eh, eh, eh felt like I was just wasting time
Before you pulled the trigger
It's the drawing of the line
It's my ghost you're going to give up
Got your made up mind
It hurts to see you're alright
When I'm not alright
So if you're calling it a night

Oh please have, have mercy
Have mercy on me, you're breaking my heart
Oh please have, have mercy
Have mercy on me, I'm falling apart
And I just don't know how we got
So wrong, for so long
Oh please have, have mercy
Have mercy on me, mercy my heart

Somehow I can't let go
But I know I've been holding on too long
Somehow I can't let go
But I know I've been holding on too long

Oh, oh please have, have mercy
Have mercy on me, you're breaking my heart
Oh please have, have mercy
Have mercy on me, I'm falling apart
And I just don't know how we got
So wrong, for so long
Oh please have, have mercy




Have mercy on me, mercy my heart
Have mercy my heart

Overall Meaning

In Lewis Capaldi's song Mercy, the singer is trying to come to terms with a failed relationship. He is analyzing his partner's face and counting the lines to memorize it because he doesn't know if he will ever come this close again. The singer is aware that his partner is about to break up with him as she has made up her mind, which hurts the singer. He is struggling to let go of the relationship as he still feels something for his partner, but he knows he has been holding on for too long.


The singer further describes his partner slipping away from him slowly and losing hope of getting her back. He can't let go of the relationship even though he knows it has been over for long. He pleads for mercy from his partner, who is breaking his heart, and begs her to have mercy on him as he is falling apart. The singer acknowledges that they got things wrong for too long, but he still wants his partner's mercy.


Line by Line Meaning

For every second you been talking
The singer has been observing the person's face while they talk.


I've been trying to count the lines around your face
The singer is trying to figure out the emotions the person is feeling through the lines of their face.


'Cause I don't know if I'll ever be this close again
The singer is afraid they might lose the opportunity to be close with this person.


I feel like I'm just wasting time
The artist feels like their relationship with this person is going nowhere.


Before you pull the trigger
The artist is anticipating a major change in their relationship.


It's the drawing of the line
This change will be a defining moment in their relationship.


It's my ghost you're gonna give up
The singer believes that the person will give up on their relationship with them.


Got your made up mind
The artist thinks that the person has made up their mind about ending things.


It hurts to see you're alright
The artist is sad to see that the person appears to be okay with how things are.


When I'm not alright
The artist, on the other hand, is struggling with their own emotions.


So if you're calling it a night
The singer thinks that the person may be ready to move on.


Oh please have, have mercy
The artist is begging for the person to be compassionate.


Have mercy on me, you're breaking my heart
The person is causing the singer a lot of emotional pain.


Have mercy on me, I'm falling apart
The singer is struggling to hold it together emotionally.


Have mercy, my heart
The singer is asking for compassion from the person towards their heart.


I felt you slip away so slowly
The artist has noticed the person distancing themselves from their relationship.


I lost my grip a little more each time we touched
Each touch from the person brings the artist closer to losing them entirely.


I've got no hope I guess I'll never get it back again
The singer feels like there is no hope for their relationship to get better.


And I just don't know how we got
The singer is reflecting on their past and trying to figure out where things went wrong.


So wrong, for so long
The artist believes their relationship has been struggling for a long time.


Somehow I can't let go
The artist is having a hard time letting go of their relationship.


But I know I've been holding on too long
The artist acknowledges that holding on for too long may be causing more harm than good.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Leonard Nigro, Lewis Marc Capaldi

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@nathanrobinson9554

Lewis Capaldi is the only artist that has given me a 100% satisfaction rate. Every one of the songs he's put out so far are all amazing. We need more!

@laurenjones2791

I agree 110%

@juliettevanvliet5784

Nathan Robituson Same for michl🙏

@jadelouise687

Nathan Robituson so true. 👌

@hina4500

Well he's no the only one for me, but Damn does his music make me feel everything.

@yuliyanikolaivich

Nathan Robituson u should listen to jaymes young and Matt Maeson

23 More Replies...

@Star_girl_333

Big Fans Of Lewis Capaldi: He deserves more followers.
Also Us: We miss when he was our little secret.

@susanacruz5856

TRUE

@biancasilva8172

The contradictions we have to live with hahaha

@savannahvance4526

I know this song is about a girl/guy relationship, but i just cant help but see it differently. I see it as myself, talking to myself. Ive always struggled with my weight and mental health. This song really fits to that. I can go through the lyrics and it just- connects. Ive been at the point where i hated myself. This song just really hits me in a place i cant explain

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