During the week leading up to the release, Shawn released a snippet of the song every day, similar to the strategy he used for Illuminate’s lead single “Treat You Better”.
On Instagram, Shawn also published shots from the photoshoot for the album cover as a way to promote “Mercy.”
Mercy
Shawn Mendes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mhm, mhm
You've got a hold of me
Don't even know your power
I stand a hundred feet
But I fall when I'm around ya
Show me an open door
Then you go and slam it on me
I can't take anymore
I'm saying, baby
Please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
Please have mercy, mercy on my heart
Mhm, mhm
I'd drive through the night
Just to be near you, baby
Heart open, testify
Tell me that I'm not crazy
I'm not asking for a lot
Just that you're honest with me
My pride is all I got
I'm saying, baby
Please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me
I'm a puppet on your strings
And even though you got good intentions
I need you to set me free
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
Please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
Consuming all the air inside my lungs
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I would gladly do it twice
Consuming all the air inside my lungs
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I would gladly do it twice
Oh, please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me?
I'm a puppet on your string
And even though you got good intentions
I need you to set me free
I'm begging you for mercy, mercy on my heart
Please have mercy, mercy on my heart
Please have mercy, sing, mercy on my heart?
Would you please have mercy, scream it, mercy on my heart?
Have mercy, mercy on my heart?
Would you please have mercy, no, mercy on my heart?
Mhm, mhm
Mhm, mhm
In "Mercy," Shawn Mendes sings about being in a toxic relationship where he is being controlled by the other person. He admits that the other person has a strong hold over him and that he falls for them even though he knows they are hurting him. He pleads with the other person to be kinder to him and to stop tearing him apart. He even says that he would sacrifice his life for them, but he needs to be set free from their control.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is in a very vulnerable position and is willing to do anything to keep the other person in his life, despite the harm they are causing. He expresses his desire for honesty and openness from the other person, and his plea for mercy implies that he has been hurt badly in the past. The line, "Consuming all the air inside my lungs, Ripping all the skin from off my bones," is particularly descriptive of the emotional and psychological pain he is experiencing.
In summary, "Mercy" is a powerful song that deals with the theme of control and vulnerability in relationships. It highlights the destructive nature of toxic relationships and the importance of being honest and kind to those we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got a hold of me
You have an emotional hold on me
Don't even know your power
You may be unaware of the control you have over me
I stand a hundred feet
I try to be strong, but I feel vulnerable around you
But I fall when I'm around ya
You weaken my resolve and cause me to give in to you
Show me an open door
Give me a sign of hope
Then you go and slam it on me
But then you take away that hope
I can't take anymore
I've reached my limit
I'm saying, baby
I'm asking you, my love
Please have mercy on me
Be gentle with my heart and emotions
Take it easy on my heart
Don't do anything that will harm me emotionally
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
I know you don't intend to hurt me, but you do
You keep tearing me apart
You keep causing emotional pain and distress
I'd drive through the night
I'd do anything to be with you
Just to be near you, baby
To be close to you, my love
Heart open, testify
I am willing to be vulnerable and honest with you
Tell me that I'm not crazy
Assure me that my feelings for you are real and not imagined
I'm not asking for a lot
I don't need much from you
Just that you're honest with me
Just be truthful with me about your feelings and intentions
My pride is all I got
My self-worth is important to me
Please have mercy on me
Please treat me gently and with kindness
I'm a puppet on your strings
I am under your control
And even though you got good intentions
I know you mean well
I need you to set me free
But I need to be free from your emotional grasp
Consuming all the air inside my lungs
You take away all of my breath, my life force
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
You cause me physical and emotional pain
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I am willing to give everything for your love
I would gladly do it twice
I would do it all over again for you
I'm begging you for mercy
I am pleading with you to treat me kindly
Ooh, I'm begging you, I'm begging you, yeah
I am earnestly asking for your mercy and love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Danny Parker, Isley Juber, Shawn Mendes, Teddy Geiger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@raquelbispo218
You've got a hold on me
Don't even know your power
I stand a hundred feet
But I fall when I'm around ya
Show me an open door
And you go and slam it on me
I can't take anymore
I'm saying
Baby, please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
I'd drive through the night
Just to be near you, baby
Heart open, testify
Tell me that I'm not crazy
I'm not asking for a lot
Just that you're honest with me
And my pride is all I got
I'm saying
Baby, please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me?
I'm a puppet on your strings
And even though you got good intentions
I need you to set me free
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
Consuming all the air inside my lungs
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I would gladly do it twice
Consuming all the air inside my lungs
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I would gladly do it twice
Oh, please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me?
I'm a puppet on your string
And even though you got good intentions
I need you to set me free
I'm begging you for mercy, mercy
(On my heart) I'm begging you, begging you, please, baby
I'm begging you for mercy, mercy
(On my heart) ooh, I'm begging you, I'm begging you
@EvelynnAndCruz
You've got a hold of me
Don't even know your power
I stand a hundred feet
But I fall when I'm around ya
… Show me an open door
Then you go and slam it on me
I can't take anymore
I'm saying, baby
… Please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
… I'd drive through the night
Just to be near you, baby
Heart open, testify
Tell me that I'm not crazy
… I'm not asking for a lot
Just that you're honest with me
My pride is all I got
I'm saying, baby
… Please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me
I'm a puppet on your strings
And even though you got good intentions
I need you to set me free
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart?
… Consuming all the air inside my lungs
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I would gladly do it twice
Consuming all the air inside my lungs
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I would gladly do it twice
… Oh, please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me?
I'm a puppet on your string
And even though you got good intentions
I need you to set me free
… I'm begging you for mercy, mercy
I'm begging you, begging you, please, baby
I'm begging you for mercy, mercy
Ooh, I'm begging you, I'm begging you, yeah
@arissarashid9179
Sometimes just feel like screaming but singing this at the top of my lungs when no one is home just hits better.
@anjalinaidu3964
So true ❤️
@eva.liakos8191
DEFINITELY AGREED😩👍
@bzzebee23gs
Lol
@wendybraswell5304
Me too
@robv7433
I'm doin it rn 😭
@finnspark3178
"Consuming all the air inside my lungs, ripping all the skin from off my bones, I'm prepared to sacrifice my life, I would gladly do it twice." is my favorite and will always be.
@alfiejackson1
True
@ninjaboyhhih
Amazingly true
@Calebpavlick
Fr