Mercy Mercy Me
Strokes Featuring Eddie Vedder and Josh Homme The Lyrics
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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
Woo mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no, no
Our seas fish full of mercury, ah. oh
Ah things ain't what they used to be
What about this over crowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Oh mercy, mercy me.
Ah things ain't what they used to be.
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Animals and birds who live near by are dying oh,
Oh mercy, mercy me.
Ah things ain't what they used to be.
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Animals and land how much more abuse from man can she stand?
The Strokes Featuring Eddie Vedder and Josh Homme's version of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" tackles the theme of environmental degradation and the catastrophic consequences of human actions. The lyrics express sorrow and lamentation over the state of the planet, referencing issues like pollution, oil spills, overfishing, and radiation. The opening lines of the song, "Woo ah mercy, mercy me, Ah, things ain't what they used to be" set the tone for a nostalgic yearning for a better past, one where nature was still pristine and human greed had not yet caused irreparable harm to the environment.
The reference to "poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east" highlights the devastating impact of air pollution, which not only endangers human health but also causes environmental deterioration. The "oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas fish full of mercury" line is a powerful indictment of the oil industry's reckless disregard for the environment and the consequences it has for marine life. The song also touches on the issue of overpopulation and the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, asking "What about this over-crowded land, how much more abuse from man can she stand?"
Line by Line Meaning
Woo ah mercy, mercy me
Expressing anguish and concern for the state of the world
Ah, things ain't what they used to be.
The current situation is far from what it once was
No, no, where did all the blue skies go,
Wondering where the clear, pollution-free skies have disappeared
Poison is the wind that blows
The air is polluted and harmful to breathe
From the north and south and east
The pollution is widespread, affecting all directions
Woo mercy, mercy me
Reiterating the plea for mercy and help
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon
The ocean is being contaminated with oil unnecessarily
Our seas fish full of mercury, ah. oh
The fish in the seas are filled with mercury, causing health hazards
What about this over crowded land
Drawing attention to the problem of overpopulation and its effects
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Questioning the limit of nature's ability to tolerate human abuse and exploitation
No, no, no, radiation underground and in the sky;
Highlighting the pervasiveness of dangerous radioactive material in the environment
Animals and birds who live near by are dying oh,
Observing the devastating impact of radiation on the wildlife
Animals and land how much more abuse from man can she stand?
Repeating the question about the capacity of nature to endure human maltreatment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mariaalejandrarebazabartra8450
I can't believe how much I love Eddie's voice
@El_Andru
For me I adore that the Strokes collabed with Eddie, they were inspired by Pearl Jam. Their voices work so well together for some reason.
@kidbronson6374
Wish Eddie would make more music with The Strokes :D
@jackedkerouac4414
Feelin this song so much lately. Nature is sending us a clear message. Will we listen, 50 years later?
@JoeMama-ez4tp
Always when it's too late
@jackedkerouac4414
@Joe Mama Do you think it's pointless of us to recycle, drive EV's, live minimally etc? Not a rhetorical question. Genuinely asking your opinion
@Yankee4ever2
@Joe Mama beeg yoshi
@snail353
i wish this was available on spotify in my region :/ it’s so good.
@milfutopia
It finally is!
@yuzan7885
Nada como esta versión he escuchado esta canción con otros artistas y definitivamente esta es la mejor la amo el ritmo la nostalgia q impresa la voz y todo complementan es mejor esta versión