"My initial meeting with Rocco - It was pure and centered and seemed to have a sense of purpose, and I felt that there was something burning in his heart that I could be helpful to. It had that kind of truth in it that I decided to run with. I like the street corner aspect of working with Rocco, it woke up a certain part of my renegade ways I’m trying to keep alive these days. I fully believe in DeLuca. I think that he’s got the power to be a contemporary troubadour, as I see it, and I hope I can be his friend for a long time, whether I am operating in the same limelight, ahead of him, behind him, in his shadow, whatever it takes, I’ll be there. The one thing that I love about Rocco DeLuca is he is driven by his own heart." - Daniel Lanois
Rocco Deluca (born December 27, 1975 in Torrance, California) was born in the winter in Southern California. Like other Angelenos he was surrounded by local literature, latino art, motorcycles, film and music. His early years were spent studying the likes of Billy Holiday and Nina Simone as well as the darker and raw Delta Blues heroes of the 1920's. At the age of seven, he taught himself to play listening to these records. By the time he was a teenager, Rocco had developed the skills and the confidence to start performing for others. For the first few years, he played only specific instruments. It wasn't until later he discovered he had a voice. Street busking, clubs, theatres and and festivals, Rocco has performed around the world many times over with his 1931 National by his side.
His authentic and unusual lyric and voice has since garnered him international attention and acclaim.
Rocco has had the good fortune to cross paths with and gain inspiration from various legends. John Lee Hooker gave DeLuca the opportunity to support his live shows. And later, Johnny Cash and June Carter were kind enough to invite him into their Hendersonville home, where values and excellence were displayed. Most recently, Deluca was recorded by and toured with Daniel Lanois, where he learned great lessons in work and experimentation.
After extensive travel from Kingston to London to the deserts of Texas and California, Rocco has placed his recent stories into a collection called Drugs 'n Hymns. Sifting through failures, cities, friendships, and geographic shapes, Rocco conjured images that were documented live in a room no bigger than a closet, with some help from the Echo Park Jubilee Tambo Flower Unsung Heroes Choir.
Drugs 'n Hymns is the culmination of detailed moments inspired by both the illuminated and the disturbed, unfolding into a drug deal that takes place during the Sacred Service- Always in conflict with salvation and sin, the cerebral and the bestial, light and shade. Rocco's love of contradiction is ever present.
Inspired by 'religion', literature and experience, DeLuca takes the listener on a pilgrimage, a forever evolving search for salvation.
Mercy
Rocco DeLuca & The Burden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm waiting for the sun to shine
Mercy
I'm waiting for the sun to shine
Standing here against the night
But there's beauty upon our sight
If it don't kill you it'll hurt you some
If it don't kill you it'll hurt you some
Yours to give and yours to take
And when the world tries to call you away
You say
Mercy
I'm waiting for the sun to shine
Mercy
I'm waiting for the sun to shine
And all this cathedral that you have in your eyes
Is violent revealing from the ground to the sky
Is it warm or is it cold
Is it young or is it old
And if you can't touch the naked body of her soul
She will fall asleep on you
The world will tell you what to do
Till the hands and guns and hearts and songs
They say mercy
Mercy
I'm waiting for the sun to shine
Mercy
I'm waiting for the sun to shine
Mercy
I'm waiting for the sun to shine
Mercy
I'm waiting for the sun to shine
To shine.
The lyrics in Rocco DeLuca And The Burden's song Mercy are imbued with deep emotions and express the struggle of waiting for something to change. The repeated refrain of "Mercy, I'm waiting for the sun to shine" creates a sense of longing for relief from pain or suffering. The singer is standing against the darkness of the night, but they still see beauty around them. The line "If it don't kill you it'll hurt you some" suggests that life can be difficult and painful, but one has to endure it.
The lyrics seem to suggest that mercy is a powerful force that can both build and break. The line "Yours to give and yours to take" emphasizes the idea that mercy is something that can be given, but it can also be received. When the world tries to "call you away," the singer says "Mercy," as if it's a refuge or a reminder to stay strong.
The final verses of the song describe a person's inner world, where the "cathedral" they have in their eyes is revealed to be violent, chaotic, and unpredictable. The person's soul is compared to a naked body that cannot be touched, and the world around them is telling them what to do. But despite this, the hands, guns, hearts, and songs say "Mercy," as if it's a rallying cry to resist the forces that are trying to control them.
Overall, the lyrics to Mercy are a poignant reminder that life can be challenging, but mercy can be a source of strength and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Mercy
A plea for kindness or forgiveness
I'm waiting for the sun to shine
I'm hopeful for a better future, but it hasn't arrived yet
Standing here against the night
Enduring hardships and facing difficulties head-on
But there's beauty upon our sight
Despite the hardships, there is still beauty in the world to be appreciated
If it don't kill you it'll hurt you some
Life is full of struggles and pain, but they make us stronger
Mercy build and mercy break
Kindness can build people up or tear them down
Yours to give and yours to take
We have the power to show mercy or to ask for it
And when the world tries to call you away
When life distracts you from what's important
You say
Stand firm and remind yourself of the importance of mercy
And all this cathedral that you have in your eyes
Your perspective is like a grand cathedral, with beauty, depth and awe-inspiring height
Is violent revealing from the ground to the sky
It is a powerful and revealing force that spans from earth to heaven
Is it warm or is it cold
Is the perspective you hold on the side of compassionate warmth or unfeeling coldness?
Is it young or is it old
Does your perspective hold an optimistic outlook of youth or reflect the wisdom of age?
And if you can't touch the naked body of her soul
If you can't connect with someone's true self
She will fall asleep on you
The relationship will become lifeless and uninspired
The world will tell you what to do
Society may pressure you to conform or live up to certain expectations
Till the hands and guns and hearts and songs
Until people come together and use their collective power (through both violent and peaceful means) to demand mercy
They say mercy
Together, we ask for kindness and compassion
To shine.
To bring light and hope to a dark world
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rocco Deluca
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind