Have Mercy
Mike Gunther Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
they always expire
Their shadows turn ugly
Penitentiary smiles
I wanna be an artist
my own blood
I wanna be a stagehand
Rottin in the mud
Your warning face
I got a bad religion
of burnin fire
oh the shell of my soul
all covered in flies
It's in the base of my brain
in the dark of my eyes
Drop because once your blood cold
before you realize
I drive a team of horses
their eyes all red
They crumble in walls
city of the dead
It's going to be a layout magazine
Porcelin doll with a TV screen
With your wild arms
Your warning face
I got a bad religion
and a burnin fire
oh the shell of my soul
all covered in flies
It's in the base of my brain
in the dark of my eyes
Drop because once your blood cold
before you realize
Dog passed the comfort
and the ringing of hands
The bells have all blistered
in the burning sands
Come on fool me twice
shame on me
I couldn't stop you
now to set me free
With your wild arms
your warning face
I got a bad religion
of burnin fire
oh the shell of my soul
all covered in flies
It's in the base of my brain
in the dark of my eyes
Drop because once your blood cold
before you realize
I take what I need
and I will burn what I want
My sympathy's
in a short box truck
They cut off my ears
lull me to sleep
roll up the carpet
shut the door
Corpus Christi
A ladies song
Corpus Christi
A ladies song
I got a bad religion
and I'm burnin fire
the shell of my soul
all covered in flies
It's in the base of my brain
in the dark of my eyes
Drop because once your blood cold
before you realize
The lyrics of Mike Gunther's song Have Mercy can be interpreted in various ways, and there are different meanings that we can derive from them. At first glance, the song appears to be about a person who is struggling to find their place in the world, and they have a desire to become an artist or a stagehand. However, the lyrics also suggest that the person has a bad religion, which is a metaphor for their own destructive behavior. The person burns what they want and takes what they need, without regard for others.
The lyrics are also about the impermanence of life and the fear of mortality. The person in the song talks about how women always expire, and their shadows turn ugly. They also mention the base of their brain and the dark of their eyes, which suggest that they are haunted by something that they cannot escape. The lyrics "drop because once your blood cold before you realize" imply that life is fleeting and that we should not take it for granted.
The song also has a sense of desperation and sadness, with lines like "roll up the carpet, shut the door". The person in the song seems to have given up hope, and they are resigned to their fate. However, the final lines of the song, "Corpus Christi, a ladies song", suggest that there is still a glimmer of hope, and that the person is looking for salvation.
Overall, Mike Gunther's song Have Mercy is a haunting and emotional piece of music that explores themes of mortality, impermanence, and desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wait for women
I don't rely on or have patience for women, they always end up disappointing me.
they always expire
In the end, women always go bad or spoil.
Their shadows turn ugly
Even the reflection or essence of women becomes unattractive over time.
Penitentiary smiles
The smiles women project are fake and or they put on a false mask or image.
I wanna be an artist
I have a desire to express myself through creative mediums.
my own blood
I want to be authentic and true to myself and use my own creative essence.
I wanna be a stagehand
I aspire to be behind the scenes and involved in the workings of live performances.
Rottin in the mud
I am willing to sacrifice and be in uncomfortable situations in order to chase my artistic aspirations.
With your wild arms
Your uncontrolled actions and movements
Your warning face
Your expression indicates there is danger or impending negative consequences.
I got a bad religion
I have a selfish, destructive belief system that drives my actions.
of burnin fire
My beliefs and actions are driven by a passion for destruction and chaos.
oh the shell of my soul
My inner self is a hollow, empty place with nothing of value inside.
all covered in flies
My soul attracts and is ridden with decay and filth.
It's in the base of my brain
The source of my destructive beliefs is deep within my psyche.
in the dark of my eyes
My beliefs are hidden in the shadows and not visible to the outside world.
Drop because once your blood cold
My destructive actions will ultimately lead to my downfall and defeat.
before you realize
I will not see the negative consequences of my actions until it's too late.
I drive a team of horses
I am in control of a powerful force or group.
their eyes all red
The powerful force I am in control of is wild and not fully controllable.
They crumble in walls
The powerful force I am in control of will eventually fail and fall apart.
city of the dead
The place my force is driving towards is bleak and lifeless.
It's going to be a layout magazine
I will create something that is ultimately disposable and lacks true substance or value.
Porcelin doll with a TV screen
The creation I will make is glossy and fake, lacking any genuine human connection or emotion.
Dog passed the comfort
I have surpassed the point of what is comfortable or safe.
and the ringing of hands
The actions I am doing is causing anxiety or nervousness in others.
The bells have all blistered
The warning signs or precautions have been ignored and are now useless.
Come on fool me twice
I am easily tricked or deceived more than once.
shame on me
I am to blame for falling victim to deception repeatedly.
I couldn't stop you
I am powerless and unable to stop someone or something from causing harm.
now to set me free
I wish to be freed from the negative consequences of my past actions.
I take what I need
I will obtain or take whatever I want regardless of the consequences or impact on others.
and I will burn what I want
I will destroy or demolish whatever I desire.
My sympathy's
My empathy and compassion for others.
in a short box truck
My empathy and compassion for others is limited and confined.
They cut off my ears
I am not willing to listen to others or be open to alternative perspectives.
lull me to sleep
I am in a state of denial or ignoring the truth.
roll up the carpet
Ignoring or hiding something from others.
shut the door
Closing off or blocking out any external influence or change.
Corpus Christi
A religious reference or allusion.
A ladies song
A song or tune meant to appeal to or be associated with women.
Contributed by Elijah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.