Mercy Mercy Me
Marvin Gaye(마빈 게이) 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.
Mercy, mercy me,
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no.
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon
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, mercy, mercy me.
Ah, things ain't what they used to be.
What about this over crowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" is a poignant and powerful protest song that laments the state of the environment and the damage that human beings have inflicted upon it. Gaye opens with the refrain "Ah, mercy, mercy me," surrounding his words with mournful, ethereal harmonies. He then repeats the line "Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no," underscoring his sense of loss and longing for a time when the environment was healthier and more stable.
Gaye uses powerful metaphors throughout the song to convey the scope and severity of environmental degradation. He asks, "Where did all the blue skies go?" and describes poison winds blowing in from all directions, carrying toxins that harm both humans and other living beings. He laments the damage that oil spills have inflicted on marine life, singing of "seas fish full of mercury," and he calls attention to the dangers of radiation from nuclear weapons testing and other sources.
Through all of these powerful images, Gaye makes it clear that the health of the environment is intimately tied to the health and well-being of all living things. He ends the song by asking a question that is just as relevant today as it was when the song was first recorded: "What about this overcrowded land? How much more abuse from man can she stand?" Through his lyrics, Gaye demands that we start taking responsibility for the damage we have inflicted upon the environment and work to build a more sustainable and just future for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, mercy, mercy me,
Oh, how I pray for mercy, mercy on this world,
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no.
The world has changed, and it's not for the better,
Where did all the blue skies go?
I long for the blue skies of the past,
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east.
The wind is no longer refreshing but filled with poison,
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon Our seas fish full of mercury,
Oil spills and pollution have destroyed our oceans and poisoned our fish,
Radiation underground and in the sky;
Radiation is present everywhere, underground and in the sky,
Animals and birds who live near by are dying.
The animals and birds that once thrived are now dying off,
What about this over crowded land?
What about the world, now overpopulated and struggling,
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
How much more can this world take from the constant abuse by man?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carolnicholson6634
I’m 74 today! I will always love this music, the artist. He was and still is amazing❤
@LOVEHAS1JOYRAINS2
🎉Mother Father God is here on earth!!! Playing this song and reaching out to all of you who read this divine message. Phone home today. Our creators luv you from the beginning these are very urgent moments to contact our parents ❤🎉 Luna
@shampoobottle2264
I'm 18 and love this artist
@xbrandi12345x
Happy Belated Birthday!!
@IsabelMartinez-ow5hd
Something about this song, makes me cry. It’s so beautifully written.
@victoriapassiflower2482
Me too 🫂❤️
@MsThebeMoon
Cry for the earth - the planet ---- abused by man and money.
@JamusChristus
You are much more macho than me because EVERYTHING about this piece makes me cry. I suppose this is how Marvin cried too. That's painful and beautiful.
You see, Tammi Terrell was his soulmate and he had to witness her leaving here. I reckon that catalyzed an existential moment. When he died, my mother cried hard for some days. DAYS. I was 9. I told her that if it would help, I'd be Marvin Gaye. I just didn't want her in that much pain. My father couldn't access her. I'm the de facto favorite child. She laughed. My kid sister was born at home and I made Mom laugh when I aped her labor breathing. They kicked me out of the room for good reason. So that Marvin thing, 6yrs later was pithy.
All of that to say Marvin was a siren in that he could grab our senses by the nuts. He was a beautiful comet. He came. He saw. He lived. He loved. We saw we learned. He got outta here like Hendrix, Dolphy, Joplin, Cobain... the list is too long. But he touched us. He knew how we felt. So it's hard not to cry
@cadenadams6592
Parents got married to this song ❤
@nativesonya1865
Yep, me too 😢 touches my soul