Lisa worked with musician and producer Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon, Red House Painters) on her third release, Ordinary Days. From this experience, Lisa learned to shape a more organic soundscape and to explore mood to complement her delicate voice and poetic themes. On We Were All Together, the songs explore these ideas even further. All the musical and lyrical elements work sparingly to speak of those things that sometimes go unsaid but are frequently felt, bringing the listener in close. Since many of the songs were written after the loss of Lisa’s father, Lisa’s songs prove to be a more personal outing than those of the past, yet at the same time, continue to cover universal ground (“Tiny Patch of Earth”, “Change the Ending”). Still, there is also a whimsical quality found in songs inspired by her children (“Mia Noelle”, “Humming”, and “You Are So Loved”). These songs highlight the redemptive nature of life. Whether the songs are joyful or melancholic, or anywhere in between, at the forefront of Lisa’s work is an attempt to hold onto fleeting moments with love and hope.
Lisa currently lives in Maryland with her family and is a professor teaching English as a Second Language when she is not writing.
Mercy
Lisa Cerbone Lyrics
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They push right past her,
Can't see what she's seen,
They don't know that her hands have touched inside the earth,
Felt a heart start and stop beating.
She has mercy.
She's too lost in a daydream,
Legs look so small under the water,
Memory so clear,
She can almost feel him close to her again,
And she's there. Opens her arms, she's there.
Mercy.
Mercy.
She has mercy.
Can you feel it?
She looks into glass sees her young self, pregnant too soon.
They told her her life was ruined, but they never saw what she has made.
She was just another lie marching through their gossip parades.
There are lots of lies you'll have to muddle through.
With mercy.
Mercy.
She has mercy.
The lyrics to Lisa Cerbone's song Mercy are filled with poignant imagery and depth of emotion. The song speaks about a woman who has seen and experienced things that others can't even fathom. When she walks down the street, people don't notice her, they don't see what she's seen. They don't know that her hands have touched inside the earth, felt a heart start and stop beating. These lines suggest that the woman has a deeper understanding of life and death, and perhaps has worked as a healthcare professional, touching the pulse of the earth and the heartbeats of patients.
Despite her depth and experience, the woman is lost in a daydream, perhaps trying to escape the pain she feels from losing her son. The memory is so clear to her that she can almost feel him close to her again. She opens her arms, perhaps imagining embracing her son, seeing him in her mind's eye. The repeated refrain of "mercy" suggests that she is asking for and offering mercy to others, knowing that life can be hard and difficult to navigate.
The lyrics also speak about the woman's past, where she might have faced judgement and criticism from others for becoming pregnant too soon. But despite all the negativity around her, she has made a life for herself and her child, and she has done so with mercy. The song shows that mercy is a powerful force that can help us navigate the challenges of life and find meaning and connection with others.
Line by Line Meaning
When she walks across the street,
As she walks along the street, people ignore her presence.
They push right past her,
People pass by her, without acknowledging her existence.
Can't see what she's seen,
People are unaware of what she has experienced in her past.
They don't know that her hands have touched inside the earth,
People don't realize that she has been close to death and has seen it firsthand.
Felt a heart start and stop beating.
She has experienced the beginning and end of life, a fact that people are oblivious of.
She has mercy.
Despite her harsh experiences, she is compassionate and forgiving.
She's too lost in a daydream,
She is deep in thought and is unaware of her surroundings.
Her son floats towards her,
She imagines her deceased son coming towards her.
Legs look so small under the water,
Her son's body appears diminutive and weightless beneath the surface of the water.
Memory so clear,
She vividly remembers the scene she has created in her thoughts.
She can almost feel him close to her again,
Her fantasy is so realistic that she feels like her son is with her again.
And she's there. Opens her arms, she's there.
In her mind, she hugs her son tightly, and she is present in the moment.
Mercy.
She is a compassionate and forgiving person.
Mercy.
She is merciful towards others, despite experiencing harsh circumstances.
She has mercy.
She is a kind-hearted and compassionate individual.
Can you feel it?
Do you sense her benevolence?
She looks into glass sees her young self, pregnant too soon.
She glances at herself in the mirror and sees a younger version of herself who got pregnant early.
They told her her life was ruined, but they never saw what she has made.
People discouraged her from embracing life, but she has created a beautiful future for herself.
She was just another lie marching through their gossip parades.
People treated her poorly, spreading rumors about her, but those negative opinions did not define her.
There are lots of lies you'll have to muddle through.
In life, people may spread lies, but we must navigate them with strength and character.
With mercy.
In the face of adversity, it is important to act with kindness and forgiveness.
Mercy.
Compassion and forgiveness are vital for a fulfilling life.
She has mercy.
She exemplifies mercy, kindness, and forgiveness even amidst challenging circumstances.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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