Oh my fair North Star,
I have held to you dearly,
I had asked you to steer me,
Till one cloud-scattered night,
I got lost and in my travels I met Leo the lion,
Met a king and met a giant, with their errant light,
There's the wind and the rain, and the mercy of the fallen,
Who say they have no claim to know what's right.
There's the weak and the strong and the beds that have no answer,
And that's where I may rest my head tonight.
I saw all the bright people,
In imposing flocks they landed,
And they got what they demanded,
And they scratched at the ground.
Then they flew, and the field grew as sweetly for the flightless,
Who had longing yet despite this,
They could hear every sound.
There's the wind and the rain,
And the mercy of the fallen,
Who say they have no claim to know what's right.
There's the weak and the strong and the beds that have no answer,
And that's where I may rest my head tonight.
If your sister or your brother were stumbling on their last mile,
In a self-inflicted exile,
You'd hope they'd meet a humble friend.
And I hope someday that the best of Falstaff's planners
Give me seven half-built manors,
Where half-dreams may dream without end.
There's the wind and the rain, and the mercy of the fallen,
Who say they have no claim to know what's right.
There's the weak and the strong and the many stars that guide us,
We have some of them inside us.
I have held to you dearly,
I had asked you to steer me,
Till one cloud-scattered night,
I got lost and in my travels I met Leo the lion,
Met a king and met a giant, with their errant light,
There's the wind and the rain, and the mercy of the fallen,
Who say they have no claim to know what's right.
There's the weak and the strong and the beds that have no answer,
And that's where I may rest my head tonight.
I saw all the bright people,
In imposing flocks they landed,
And they got what they demanded,
And they scratched at the ground.
Then they flew, and the field grew as sweetly for the flightless,
Who had longing yet despite this,
They could hear every sound.
There's the wind and the rain,
And the mercy of the fallen,
Who say they have no claim to know what's right.
There's the weak and the strong and the beds that have no answer,
And that's where I may rest my head tonight.
If your sister or your brother were stumbling on their last mile,
In a self-inflicted exile,
You'd hope they'd meet a humble friend.
And I hope someday that the best of Falstaff's planners
Give me seven half-built manors,
Where half-dreams may dream without end.
There's the wind and the rain, and the mercy of the fallen,
Who say they have no claim to know what's right.
There's the weak and the strong and the many stars that guide us,
We have some of them inside us.
Lyrics submitted by VampedVixen, edited by IDanielsen
Mercy of the Fallen Lyrics as written by Dar Williams
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
I appreciate all of these comments, and I am fascinated with this song presently, so the insights provided here are just adding to that fascination.
Speaking broadly, I agree that the song is largely about what guidance system one chooses and what means to question and let go of traditional guidance systems. The term "errant" doesn't just mean "in error;" it also means to seek adventure and going to an alternate path.
When the writer agrees to lay her head in a bed that "has no answer," she has found the courage to exist in a world of uncertainty, complexity and struggle.
And as a poster suggested here, terms like "weak" and "strong" are on one axis of thinking about people and are relative. There are indeed other ways, ways that include compassion and mercy for those struggling ("on their last mile"), and humility and friendship would be of higher value there than intellect or individual excellence.
So this song seems to be about advocacy for the good that comes from being lost, seeking non-traditional paths and showing love and support for those who are having a hard time. She seems to say, "certainty is over-rated."
Love it, just adore it. This is my favorite song right now.