Mercy Mercy Me
Palmer Robert 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
Oh mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be, no no
Ah, fish full of mercury
Ah-ha, ah mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be, no no
Radiation underground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby all die
Whoa mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
I want you the right way
I want you, but I want you to want me too
Want you to want me baby
Just like I want you
Oh I'll give you all the love that you want in return, sweet darling
Your happyness is all I crave
It's too bad, it's just too sad
You don't want me no more
But I'm gonna change your mind
Some way somehow baby
I want you the right way
I want you, but I want you to want me too
I want you to want me baby
Just like I want you, ooh
Well one way love is just a fantasy, ah sugar
To share is precious, pure and fair, ooh
Don't play with something you should cherish for life, baby
Don't you wanna care?
Lonely out there
I want you the right way
I want you, but I want you to want me too
Want you to want me baby
Just like I want you, ooh
"Mercy Mercy Me" by Palmer Robert is a soulful song that speaks to the environmental crisis of the time period. The lyrics capture the frustration and despair felt by many people who were witnessing the harmful effects of human activity on the environment. The first verse laments the disappearance of blue skies due to the toxic air pollution that emanates from all directions, making life more difficult for those who depended on the natural environment to survive. The second verse highlights the damage done to marine life by oil spills and pollution, leading to mercury poisoning and other harmful effects.
The third and final verse of the song turns to the issue of radiation, which was a hot topic during the time period when the song was written. At the height of the Cold War, concerns about nuclear power and the threat of atomic warfare meant that many people were worried about the effects of radiation on the environment and on their health. The lyrics around overcrowding and the abuse of the planet by man speak to the more general sense of despair that many people felt about how humanity was treating the planet they call home.
The second half of the song then moves onto a more personal narrative about love and relationships, contrasting the problems humans have caused in the larger world with the struggles many face in their individual lives. The singer's yearning for love, and the desire for the other person to reciprocate that affection, reflects the way in which many people attempt to find hope and meaning in the midst of difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa, oh mercy mercy me
Expressing sadness and sorrow for the current state of the world
Oh, things ain't what they used to be, no no
The world has changed and people long for the way things used to be
Where did all the blue skies go?
Asking why the purity and clarity of the skies have been lost
Poison is the wind that blows
The wind is now polluted and harmful to living things
From the north and south and east
The wind comes from all directions, spreading pollution everywhere
Oil wasted on the oceans and our seas
Oil spills and other forms of waste are contaminating the oceans and seas
Ah, fish full of mercury
Fish are now filled with the toxic chemical mercury
Radiation underground and in the sky
Radiation is a growing problem that affects all life forms around us
Animals and birds who live nearby all die
Wildlife is suffering and dying because of the pollution and radiation
What about this overcrowded land
The world is becoming too crowded, leading to more pollution and other problems
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Wondering how much damage the planet can handle before it dies
I want you the right way
Expressing affection and desire for someone
I want you, but I want you to want me too
Wanting mutual feelings of desire and affection
Want you to want me baby
Asking for the same level of love and affection as given
Just like I want you
Wanting to reciprocate the same love and affection that is given
Oh I'll give you all the love that you want in return, sweet darling
Promising to love and care for the person deeply
Your happiness is all I crave
The person's happiness is the only thing that matters
It's too bad, it's just too sad
Expressing sadness that the person may not feel the same way
You don't want me no more
Feeling that the person may not love back anymore
But I'm gonna change your mind
Feeling determined to make the person feel the same affection as given
Some way somehow baby
Willing to do whatever it takes to make the person feel loved
Well one way love is just a fantasy, ah sugar
Expressing that love should always be mutual and reciprocated
To share is precious, pure and fair, ooh
Believing that sharing love is valuable, genuine, and just
Don't play with something you should cherish for life, baby
Urging the person not to take love for granted, but rather protect it for a lifetime
Don't you wanna care?
Asking if the person cares about the love that is given
Lonely out there
Feeling lonely and unloved without mutual affection from the person
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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