Roger Clyne's lyrics frequently showcase his Southwestern roots, and frequently imply images of cowboys, Federales, and references to Mexico and places in Arizona, amongst other Southwestern references.
After the demise of The Refreshments, a semi-successful rock band of the 1990s whose top radio hit was "Banditos," former frontman Roger Clyne and drummer P.H. Naffah formed a new band that would be called Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers.
The two were joined by former Gin Blossom, Scott Johnson; Steve Larson, former guitarist for another Tempe band, Dead Hot Workshop; and bass player Danny White. They released their first album, Honky Tonk Union in 1999.Honky Tonk Union was released in limited quantities with a bonus live CD, Real to Reel. The next year, they released an extended version of Real to Reel as a stand-alone album.
The musical feel of Honky Tonk Union was a noticeable change from Clyne's previous works with The Refreshments. Whereas The Refreshments had a prominent lead guitar and edgy southwestern rock feel, Honky Tonk Union displayed a heavier country influence along with focusing more on the singer-songwriter aspect of the band.
The Peacemakers' next studio effort, 2002's Sonoran Hope and Madness, explored the deeper themes of returning to the basics of life, of loss and of resurgence. Sonoran Hope and Madness was a tale of the demise of a much-loved way of life.
In 2002, Scott Johnson left the band to rejoin with the Gin Blossoms, leaving the part of lead guitar to Steve Larson.
2004 saw the release of Americano, the band's third, and most streamlined, studio effort. ¡Americano! is a story set not in the dusty Mexican borderlands, like the previous albums, but on a Mexican beach, miles away from the daily grind. This album was conceived and written in a third-world cantina, and canvasses the spectrum of human emotion.
In early 2004, shortly after the release of ¡Americano!, Danny White left the Peacemakers to start his own recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee. He was replaced by Nick Scropos, who was the bassist for another Tempe band, Gloritone. Scropos was slated to join the band when it formed in 1998, but was unable to do so due to his obligation to Gloritone. His playing can be heard on track nine of Honky Tonk Union, Green & Dumb.
In March of 2005, the Peacemakers were asked to play at Billy Bob's Texas, a famous honky-tonk joint that has hosted the likes of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Pat Green. They quickly turned around and sold a live CD featuring songs from that performance entitled Live at Billy Bob's Texas, which sold well enough to make them the only independent band to have five consecutive top-10 albums on the Billboard Internet Sales Chart.
In April of 2006, the Peacemakers released a four song EP, Four Unlike Before, which is currently available only through iTunes.
The band's fourth studio album, No More Beautiful World, was released on March 20, 2007.
The Peacemakers tour heavily, both as a headlining band and opening for national acts such as Sammy Hagar and John Fogerty.
Twice a year, an ever-increasing following of fans from around the globe descend on the Mexican beach town of Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco) for their "Circus Mexicus" bash. Circus Mexicus features a four-hour long concert at the Sunset Cantina. The weekend culminates with a "hangover bash" at JJ's Cantina in nearby Cholla Bay on Sunday at which band members mingle with the fans and sign autographs.
The warm waters and ever increasing recreational opportunities motivate many participants to make "Circus Mexicus" a semi-annual pilgrimage of several days.
http://www.azpeacemakers.com/
Mercy
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don’t look me in the eye
Don’t you do anything
‘Til you break down and cry
Leave your gates unguarded
Let your sentries sleep
You don’t have to give away any secrets
Mercy
Mercy
Mercy May I be your
Mercy
Mercy
Don’t look for the reason
Don’t ask why
I know the season is crawin’ now
Pretty soon it’ll fly
Mercy
Mercy
Mercy May I be your
Mercy
Mercy
Your are surrounded
Already aglow
You already shine
You already shine
You already shine
Mercy
Mercy
Mercy May I be your
Mercy
Mercy
Mercy May I be
Already shine
You already shine...
Mercy
Mercy
Mercy May I be your
Mercy
Mercy
The lyrics to Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers's song "Mercy" seem to be about a person who is urging another person to let down their guard and allow themselves to be vulnerable. The singer is asking the other person to stop avoiding their emotions and to break down and cry. The lyrics "Leave your gates unguarded, let your sentries sleep" suggest that the singer wants the other person to open up and trust them, without holding back any secrets.
As the song continues, the singer tells the other person not to look for a reason or ask why things are the way they are, but to accept the season of life that they are in and acknowledge that it will eventually pass. The repeated plea for "mercy" seems to be asking for forgiveness or understanding from the other person, though it's not entirely clear what transgression the singer feels they need to be forgiven for.
Overall, the song seems to be about the difficulty of opening up emotionally and allowing oneself to be vulnerable, but the importance of doing so in order to fully experience life and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Don’t pick up the phone
Please don't answer my call
Don’t look me in the eye
Please don't make eye contact with me
Don’t you do anything
Please don't take any action
‘Til you break down and cry
Until you let out all your emotions and cry
Leave your gates unguarded
Don't keep your defenses up
Let your sentries sleep
Don't keep any guards on duty
You don’t have to give away any secrets
You don't need to reveal any confidential information
No, those you should keep
Please keep those secrets safe
Mercy
Asks for leniency, compassion or forgiveness
Mercy
Asks for leniency, compassion or forgiveness
Mercy May I be your
Asking to be granted some mercy
Mercy
Asks for leniency, compassion or forgiveness
Mercy
Asks for leniency, compassion or forgiveness
Don’t look for the reason
Don't waste time searching for an explanation
Don’t ask why
Don't question the situation
I know the season is crawin’ now
I am aware that time is passing by slowly
Pretty soon it’ll fly
Soon the time will pass quickly
You are surrounded
Someone/something is around you
Already aglow
You are already shining brightly
You already shine
You are already successful or admirable
You already shine
You are already successful or admirable
You already shine
You are already successful or admirable
Mercy
Asks for leniency, compassion or forgiveness
Mercy
Asks for leniency, compassion or forgiveness
Mercy May I be your
Asking to be granted some mercy
Mercy
Asks for leniency, compassion or forgiveness
Mercy
Asks for leniency, compassion or forgiveness
Mercy May I be
Asking to be granted some mercy
Already shine
You are already successful or admirable
Contributed by Bailey D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.