How he has ended up singing and playing professionally is a story of romance and conflict.
Paolo in fact has been into music since his preteen years, longer than he has been into anything else. For much of his life, however, he kept at it guardedly, even secretly, lest he upset elders who did not think music the proper career for him and who fed him tales of disappointments, of penury, of tragedy of one sort or another suffered by sons who did not listen.
He still asked to go to music school. Once decidedly unable to have his way, he contented himself with learning and practicing music on his own - reading, listening, watching, and, then, doing. He sang and accompanied himself on his father’s old hobby guitar, hoping yet to be able one day to muster the courage to follow his heart.
‘The tug of music was just so strong it was tearing me apart inside,’ he says.
The courage came in calculated amounts before breaking into one explosion of happy abandon. First, he sang and played to himself. Next, he tried his music on audiences of partying, non-paying friends. Then, finally, he just quit corporate existence and plunged himself headlong into a life and career of acoustic music.
To his own surprise, Paolo took the contemporary scene by storm. It has been only his fourth professional year, and already his face and sound have become familiar nationwide.
He has brought out several albums, each landing at the top of the charts. He has shared the stage with international artists like Duncan Sheik, Jason Mraz, and Keith Martin.
He was a guest performer at two concerts on the American West Coast - one in San Francisco, the other in Los Angeles – with Jasmine Trias, the Filipino-Hawaiian discovery on American Idol, the popular talent-hunt television show in the United States. Further American performances are being arranged for him.
Mercy Mercy Me
Paolo Santos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Oh, mercy, mercy me
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no
Fish full of mercury
Oh, oh, mercy, mercy me
Ah, things ain′t what they used to be, no, no
Radiation underground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
Oh, mercy, mercy me
What's going on?
Things ain't what they used to be
Oh, and what about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
La-la-la-na-na-na
What′s going on?
La-la-la-la-la
La-li-la-li-pa-pa, pa
Mother, mother
There′s far too many of you cryin'
Brother, brother, brother
There′s far too many of you dying
You know you got to find a way
To bring some loving here today
And father, father
There's no need to escalate
You see
War is not the answer
For only love can conquer him
You know we′ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
And a bigot lies
And a bigot sights
Don't you punish me with brutality
Come on, talk to me
And you can see, oooh
What′s going on?
What's going on?
Yeah, what's going on?
Oh, what′s going on?
La-la-la-la-la
La-li-la-li-pa-pa-pa
La-li-la-li-pa-pa-pa
La-li-la-li-pa-pa-pa
The lyrics to Paolo Santos's song "Mercy mercy me" address the destructive impact of human actions on the environment and the need for love, understanding, and change. The song begins by lamenting the state of the world, emphasizing that things are not how they used to be. The reference to the disappearance of blue skies highlights the deterioration of nature and the pollution-filled air that now surrounds us.
The lyrics then delve into specific environmental issues, such as oil spills in the oceans and seas, leading to fish contaminated with mercury. The mention of radiation underground and in the sky suggests the presence of nuclear power and its detrimental effects on both animals and birds, resulting in their untimely deaths. The repeated plea for mercy signifies the urgency for change to address these ecological crises.
The song transitions to a call for societal change and unity. It implores mothers and brothers to recognize the abundance of pain and suffering in the world and to work towards finding a way to bring love and compassion into society. The mention of fathers alludes to the idea that war is not the solution, and only by fostering understanding can we overcome conflicts. The lyrics condemn bigotry and brutality, urging for communication and dialogue instead. The song concludes with the questioning of what is truly going on and the need for collective action and awareness.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa, oh, mercy, mercy me
Oh, please have mercy on me
Ah, things ain′t what they used to be, no, no
Oh, things have changed and not for the better
Where did all the blue skies go?
I wonder where the clear skies have disappeared
Poison is the wind that blows
The wind carries toxic substances
From the north and south and east
From all directions, the toxic wind blows
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas
Oil is being carelessly dumped into our waters
Fish full of mercury
Fish are contaminated with mercury
Radiation underground and in the sky
Radiation exists both below the ground and in the atmosphere
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
The wildlife in the vicinity is perishing
What's going on?
What is happening?
Oh, and what about this overcrowded land?
What can we do about this overcrowded territory?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
How much more mistreatment can the Earth endure?
Mother, mother, there's far too many of you cryin'
Mothers are mourning in great numbers
Brother, brother, brother, there's far too many of you dying
Brothers are losing their lives in large numbers
You know you got to find a way to bring some loving here today
We must discover a method to spread love in this world
And father, father, there's no need to escalate
Fathers, there is no need to worsen the situation
You see, war is not the answer
War is not the solution
For only love can conquer him
Only love can conquer the troubles
You know we've got to find a way to bring some understanding here today
We must discover a method to promote understanding in this world
And a bigot lies
And someone with prejudice spreads falsehoods
And a bigot sights
And a prejudiced person discriminates
Don't you punish me with brutality
Please, do not subject me to cruelty
Come on, talk to me
Please, let's have a conversation
And you can see, oooh
And then you will understand
Yeah, what's going on?
Yes, what is happening?
La-la-la-la-la
N/A
La-li-la-li-pa-pa-pa
N/A
La-li-la-li-pa-pa-pa
N/A
La-li-la-li-pa-pa-pa
N/A
Writer(s): Marvin Gaye
Contributed by Nathan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.