In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she made a return to the stage and, although bald from chemotherapy, performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song "Piece of My Heart". Etheridge's performance was widely lauded, with India.Arie writing "I Am Not My Hair" about Etheridge. Later that year, Etheridge released her first compilation album, Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled. The album was a huge success, peaking at #14 on the Billboard 200, and going Gold immediately. Her latest release is 4th Street Feeling.
Etheridge is known for her mixture of "confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals." She has also been an iconic gay and lesbian activist since her public coming out in January 1993.
Mercy
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics
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And ten and ten again
I have seen too much to pretend
Then you wanted to come in
I have survived all of the lies
They made me wise
The locks and walls and the peace it buys
Still when I look into your eyes
It's gonna be all right
It's gonna be okay
Just hold on tight
Let it all go away
Oh mercy mercy baby
What do you want from me
Well I plead mercy mercy baby
I do not know what this all means
It's been awhile since I been stylin'
In just my jacket and my jeans
It hurts to walk it hurts to talk
It hurts to think about it
Shout about it
Could I be sure without a doubt
That you could never live without me
I want to fall in you crawl in you
Surrender all in you now
Could I be sure in you pure in you
Finding the cure in you
Now I plead have mercy on me
Now I am kneeling at the alter
In the temple of your eyes
And I am asking for a miracle
I have been too long paralyzed
When you say get up and stand up
And climb the rope of hope
And open up again
Oh the peace you say is promised me
Seems too much to comprehend
The opening lines of the song "Mercy" by Melissa Etheridge signify her strength and wisdom that she has gained through her life experience of ten years plus ten and ten and ten again. She has seen too much in life to pretend and then the person she refers to in the song wants to come in. The persona has survived all the lies that have been told to her, which has made her wise. The locks and walls are there, but they were bought at the expense of peace. When she looks into the eyes of the person, she is surprised they can say that it's going to be alright and okay, and she begs mercy, what they want from her.
The second verse shifts to the persona's vulnerability as she pleads for mercy and admits to not knowing the meaning of everything that has happened. It's been a while since she has been in style, just wearing her jacket and jeans. She feels immense pain and is unsure of everything, but she's willing to surrender and be sure in the person. The persona pleads for mercy as she kneels and asks for a miracle at the alter in the temple of her eyes. She has been paralyzed for too long, and the peace promised seems too much to comprehend.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I have lived ten years plus ten
And ten and ten again
I have seen too much to pretend
Then you wanted to come in
I have lived a long life and have seen and experienced much. I am not one to pretend. Despite all of this, you have come into my life.
I have survived all of the lies
They made me wise
The locks and walls and the peace it buys
Still when I look into your eyes
It's a surprise when you say
I have overcome many challenges and learned from the deceit that I have encountered. Protecting myself only brings a temporary peace. However, when I look at you, I feel comforted and surprised when you reassure me.
It's gonna be all right
It's gonna be okay
Just hold on tight
Let it all go away
Oh mercy mercy baby
What do you want from me
You tell me that everything is going to be alright when everything feels like it's falling apart. What do you want from me in return for your reassurance?
Well I plead mercy mercy baby
I do not know what this all means
It's been awhile since I been stylin'
In just my jacket and my jeans
I beg for your mercy and do not understand what this relationship means to me. It's been a while since I have felt comfortable just being myself.
It hurts to walk it hurts to talk
It hurts to think about it
Shout about it
Could I be sure without a doubt
That you could never live without me
This relationship is painful and challenging for me. I am uncertain if you truly need me in your life.
I want to fall in you crawl in you
Surrender all in you now
Could I be sure in you pure in you
Finding the cure in you
Now I plead have mercy on me
I want to be utterly consumed by our love and trust that it is genuine and pure. Can I rely on you to find the cure for what ails me? I beg you for mercy.
Now I am kneeling at the altar
In the temple of your eyes
And I am asking for a miracle
I have been too long paralyzed
When you say get up and stand up
And climb the rope of hope
And open up again
I am pleading for a miracle in the depths of your soul because I have been unable to move forward. Your words of encouragement are the only things that have allowed me to move on from my past.
Oh the peace you say is promised me
Seems too much to comprehend
The peace you promise me is hard to believe, but I am willing to trust that it is possible.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JON CRAIG TAYLOR, MELISSA L ETHERRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind