Mercy Mercy Me
Marvin Gaye;David Van dePitte Lyrics
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Oh 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 (Father)
Whoa mercy, mercy me (oh mercy)
Oh things ain't what they used to be, no, no (mercy Father)
Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas, fish full of mercury
Ah, oh mercy, mercy me
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no (help us, Father)
Radiation underground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying (help us, help us, Father)
Oh mercy, mercy me (mercy Father, please help us)
Oh things ain't what they used to be (mercy Father)
What about this overcrowded land (oh, have mercy Father)
How much more abuse from man can she stand? Ooh
Oh, no, no, no, nah, nah, nah (Ooh-ooh my sweet Lord)
My sweet Lord, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah (my, my sweet Lord)
My, my Lord, my sweet Lord, ooh-ooh (help us Father, please help us)
Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me” is a powerful protest song that delves deep into themes of environmental degradation, societal decay, and the abject failure of humanity to responsibly steward the natural world. The opening lyrics paint a bleak and desolate picture of a world that has lost its luster, a world in which the once-beautiful blue skies have all but disappeared, replaced by a foreboding and toxic wind that blows from every direction. Against this backdrop, Marvin Gaye begs for mercy, conjuring images of a benevolent Father figure who might step in and save the world from the dark path it has set itself on.
As the song progresses, Gaye’s list of environmental atrocities continues to grow. The oceans are polluted with oil, the fish we eat are filled with mercury, radiation permeates the underground and the sky, and animals and birds are dying off in droves. Throughout, Gaye’s cries for mercy and help become more desperate, his plea to a higher power growing louder and more poignant by the second. The song concludes with one final question: in the face of an overcrowded and increasingly abusive world, how much more can our planet take?
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa, ah, mercy, mercy me
An expression of despair and plea for help
Oh things ain't what they used to be, no no
The world is changing, and not for the better
Where did all the blue skies go?
The pollution has changed the color of the skies
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east (Father)
The pollution is pervasive and widespread
Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas, fish full of mercury
The oil spills and mercury pollution have contaminated the seas and fish
Ah, oh mercy, mercy me
An expression of continued despair and plea for help
Radiation underground and in the sky
The radiation is coming from below and above
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying (help us, help us, Father)
The pollution is causing harm to wildlife
Oh mercy, mercy me (mercy Father, please help us)
A repeated plea to a higher power for help
What about this overcrowded land (oh, have mercy Father)
The overpopulation is leading to a strain on resources
How much more abuse from man can she stand? Ooh
A question as to how long the earth can handle the continued harm and mistreatment
Oh, no, no, no, nah, nah, nah (Ooh-ooh my sweet Lord)
An expression of frustration and prayer
My sweet Lord, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah (my, my sweet Lord)
Reaffirming the plea for divine intervention
My, my Lord, my sweet Lord, ooh-ooh (help us Father, please help us)
Continuing the prayer for help
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marvin Gaye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind