1. The Buckinghams is an American sunshine-pop band from Chicago formed in 1966. They went on to become one of the top-selling acts of 1967, charting their only five Top 40 hits in the U.S. that year. The band dissolved in 1970, but re-formed in 1980 and as of 2019 they continue to tour throughout the United States.
If everyone on the northwest side of Chicago who claims to have hung out with the Buckinghams during their heyday had faithfully bought all their releases, the rock group might have sold more records than the Beatles. Popular attractions while still in high school, the quintet changed its name from the Pulsations to the Buckinghams to reflect the British Invasion craze and signed with Chicago's USA Records in 1966. Backing Dennis Tufano's buoyant lead vocals with prominent harmonies and punchy soul-styled brass, the group came across the wistful "Kind of a Drag," and in short order, The Buckinghams had a million-selling pop chart-topper on their hands. They quickly graduated to recording for Columbia. As long as songwriter Jim Holvay supplied more material of the same high quality as "Kind of a Drag," the Buckinghams were sitting pretty. Holvay co-wrote "Don't You Care," "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)," and the pseudo-psychedelic "Susan," and they all proved to be major hits for the band. The group's R&B roots surfaced on a vocal adaptation of Cannonball Adderley's jazz standard "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," their second-biggest hit.
But the Buckinghams' fortunes soon changed drastically -- one of the top-selling rock groups of 1967, they managed only one hit after early 1968. Two original members, guitarist Carl Giammarese and bassist Nick Fortuna, have since revived the Buckinghams and began touring full-time again in 1982.
2. Not to be confused with the more famous Chicago hit-makers, The Buckinghams were a 1960s pop/beat band from Islington, North London, United Kingdom. They released two 45s on Pye Records: 'I'll Never Hurt You No More' b/w 'She Lied' (may 1965), quickly followed by 'To Be or Not To Be' b/w 'I Was Your First Guy'.
Mercy Mercy Mercy
The Buckinghams Lyrics
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Like one of those bunnies out of a Playboy Club
But she got somethin' much greater than gold
Crazy 'bout that girl 'cause she got so much soul
I said she got the kind of lovin'
Kissin' and a-huggin'
Sure is mellow
That she knocks me off my feet
Have mercy on me
'Cause she knocks me off my feet
There is no girl in the whole world
That can love me like you do
My baby when she walks by
All the fellows go, ooooooo, and I know why
It's simply 'cause that girl she looks so fine
And if she ever leaves me
I would lose my mind
She got the kind of lovin'
Kissin' and a-huggin'
Sure is mellow
Glad that I'm her fellow and I know
That she knocks me off my feet
Have mercy on me
'Cause she knocks me off my feet, hey
There is no girl in the whole world
That can love me like you do
Yeah, everybody in the neighborhood
Will testify that my girl she looks so good
And she's so fine
She'd give eyesight to the blind
And if she ever leaves me I would lose my mind
She got the kind of lovin'
Kissin' and a-huggin'
Sure is mellow
Glad that I'm her fellow and I know
That she knocks me off my feet
Have mercy on me
'Cause she knocks me off my feet
There is no girl in the whole world
That can love me like you do
Baby, yeah, you got that soulful feel
Yeah, it's all right
Mercy, mercy, mercy
The Buckinghams's song, Mercy Mercy Mercy, is a love song that speaks to the depths of the singer's passion for his woman. He professes that she may not look like a "bunny out of a Playboy Club" but she has got a deeper quality- her soul. So much so that he's crazy about her. The wordplay in the song's title is evident when the singer asks for mercy because she "knocks him off his feet." The chorus is an ode to the woman's love where he sings, "there is no girl in the world that can love me like you do."
The second verse continues in the same vein where he talks about the woman's beauty, which is so captivating that all the fellows in the neighborhood are in awe of her. Her loveliness is such that she'd "give sight to the blind." The singer's fear of losing her is palpable as he claims he'd "lose his mind" if she ever leaves him. In the end, he reiterates his love for her, and the song ends with a plea for mercy and the refrain "Mercy, mercy, mercy."
Line by Line Meaning
My baby she may not a-look
My partner may not fit conventional beauty standards
Like one of those bunnies out of a Playboy Club
She doesn't look like a typical centerfold model
But she got somethin' much greater than gold
She possesses a quality that is even more valuable than material wealth
Crazy 'bout that girl 'cause she got so much soul
I'm in love with her because of her inner qualities and character
I said she got the kind of lovin'
Her love is unique and special
Kissin' and a-huggin'
Her affectionate actions make me feel loved
Sure is mellow
Her love is relaxing and calm
Glad that I'm her fellow and I know
I'm happy to be her partner and I'm grateful for it
That she knocks me off my feet
Her presence and love have a strong impact on me
Have mercy on me
I need help dealing with the intensity of my feelings for her
'Cause she knocks me off my feet
She has a profound effect on me and my emotions
There is no girl in the whole world
No other woman can compare
That can love me like you do
No one else can give me the same type of love as she does
My baby when she walks by
When my partner passes by people take notice of her
All the fellows go, ooooooo, and I know why
Men are drawn to her beauty and personality
It's simply 'cause that girl she looks so fine
Her attractiveness is what captures people's attention
And if she ever leaves me
The thought of losing her would be devastating
I would lose my mind
I would be overwhelmed with emotions and unable to function
Yeah, everybody in the neighborhood
Those who know us both
Will testify that my girl she looks so good
Will confirm that my partner is attractive
And she's so fine
She is beautiful and appealing
She'd give eyesight to the blind
She is so amazing that she could perform miracles
Baby, yeah, you got that soulful feel
You possess an inner quality that makes me feel connected to you
Yeah, it's all right
It's wonderful and perfect
Mercy, mercy, mercy
An expression of the singer's strong emotions and feelings of love
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Gail Fisher, Josef Zawinul, Vincent Lopez Levy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind