Sweet Mercy
Michael Pritzl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In dark, dark lands
So close to me is hell
I could reach out, take her hand
And I'm bleeding
Cause the world she pierced my soul
And I'm dreaming
Of days with my first love
I want to go back again
Sweet, sweet mercy
Shine on me,
Sweet mercy
You, never turned away
You'd call out my name
Even though I would walk away
If I fall down
Will you help me?
If I fall down
Will you love me?
Crying, in the loneliness of the night
Dying, in the emptiness of this life
Sweet, sweet mercy
Shine on me.
Can you hear me?
Please, be near me
In Michael Pritzl's song "Sweet Mercy", the singer is standing in a dark, desolate place that feels close to hell, and yet, he is dreaming of days with his first love. The world has pierced his soul and he is bleeding, but he still holds onto hope for mercy. The repetition of "sweet mercy" acts as a plea and a prayer. The singer acknowledges that they have been distant from mercy in the past ("even though I would walk away"), but now they ask for help and love if they were to fall down. The desperation of the singer is palpable as they cry in the loneliness of the night and feel as though they are dying in the emptiness of life.
The lyrics of the song are a reflection of the human struggle with pain, loss, and the search for comfort and hope. The phrase "sweet mercy" is used throughout the song and can be interpreted in various ways. It could refer to divine mercy, grace, or love that the singer is seeking, or it could be an expression of the mercy they hope to receive from their loved ones. The song is a reminder of the human vulnerability and the need for mercy and compassion towards oneself and others.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing
The singer is in a state of existence and not moving.
In dark, dark lands
The singer is surrounded by darkness and negativity.
So close to me is hell
The negativity and darkness surrounding the singer is overwhelming.
I could reach out, take her hand
The artist is tempted by the darkness and evil surrounding them.
And I'm bleeding
The pain from the darkness and negativity is affecting the artist emotionally.
Cause the world she pierced my soul
The pain from the darkness and negativity is deep and affecting the singer’s identity.
And I'm dreaming
The singer is hoping for a better reality.
Of days with my first love
The artist is thinking nostalgically of a time when they felt loved and happy.
I want to go back again
The artist wishes to go back to a happy time in their life.
Sweet, sweet mercy
The artist is begging for help and forgiveness.
Shine on me, Sweet mercy
The singer wants mercy and forgiveness to lift their darkness and negativity.
You, never turned away
The artist believes that mercy and forgiveness will never turn away from them.
You'd call out my name
The singer believes that mercy and forgiveness will always be there to help and support them.
Even though I would walk away
The singer has previously turned away from mercy and forgiveness, but they believe it will still be there for them.
If I fall down
The singer is asking for help when they are at their lowest point.
Will you help me?
The artist is begging mercy and forgiveness to help them when they are at their lowest point.
If I fall down
The artist is asking for help again.
Will you love me?
The singer is asking for mercy and forgiveness to love and support them through their lowest points.
Crying, in the loneliness of the night
The singer is feeling emotional and alone at night.
Dying, in the emptiness of this life
The artist is struggling with the purpose and emptiness of their life.
Sweet, sweet mercy
The artist is again begging for help and forgiveness.
Shine on me.
The artist wants mercy and forgiveness to bring light into their life and remove the darkness.
Can you hear me?
The singer is begging for mercy and forgiveness to listen and help them.
Please, be near me.
The artist wants mercy and forgiveness to be present in their life and support them through hard times.
Contributed by Jackson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheVioletBurning
thanks everyone, yeah the sea in december in california is quite lovely. it's my favorite time of the year for the sea, very quiet, a place to meet God
@RyanLundquist
I just wanted to say I love this song. I remember seeing you guys at the old Anaheim Vineyard somewhere around 1989 or so. Your music had a huge impact on my life. Have a tremendous day!!
@bkarsen
Michael, thank you for making amazing music. I feel God when I listen to it.
@Eyeofthemourning
Crewing for you and other bands was the highlight of my teen years. It literally saved my life. That summer in SoCal all the friends I grew were murdered or died from O.D. This song in particular spoke to me at that time as it still does today. I pray my son will see what I saw on God. Hope to one day see you soon in Colorado.
@bggunny6895
Michael, you are gifted. I love many of the songs you wrote and after growing deeper in God, these lyrics become more meaningful to me! :)
@rebeccahayhurst442
I love this song so much. It has a lot of history for me and says exactly what I have felt many times.
@schoenparnell
Sweet Mercy is my most favorite of all VB/MP songs... and I get to hear it every time I call the Snohomish County District Court - Everett, WA and a clerk puts me on hold. It's music only (no lyrics) and it's been changed slightly, but I can definitely tell it's origins. Hope MP is getting royalties off that but my guess is the phone-tree company changed it just enough so that it's not copyright infringement.
@jacobg1988
Love this little masterpiece.
@chiefdreamer
Thanks for this, Michael. Amazing!
@sylviarivera9223
One of my ultime favorites!!! The words are so true!!!