In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I stood in the water
In the middle month of winter
My camel skin was torture
I was in a state of nature
The wind, sir, it was wicked
And I was so alone
And just as I predicted
My followers were gone
And I cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
And I got down on my knees
Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
I had mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And I got down on my knees
Thrown into a dungeon
Bread and water was my portion
And faith, my only weapon
To rest the devil's legion
The speak-hole would slide open
A viper's voice would plead
A voice thick with innuendo
Syphilis and Greed
And she cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
I told her to get down on her knees
Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
I have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
I told her to get down on her knees
A garden full of roses
My hands were tied behind me
My cousin's working miracles
I wondered if he'd find me
The moon advanced toward me
Like a platter made of gold
My death, it almost bored me
So often was it told
And I cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy on me (mercy, on me)
I dropped down to my knees (to my knees)
And I cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And then you pushed me to my knees (to my knees)
Mercy (mercy on me)
Have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
And I dropped down on my knees (on my knees)
Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
I had mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And I got down on my knees (on my knees)
Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Oh, have mercy, have mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And I dropped down on my knees
In the middle month of winter
My camel skin was torture
I was in a state of nature
The wind, sir, it was wicked
And I was so alone
And just as I predicted
My followers were gone
And I cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
And I got down on my knees
Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
I had mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And I got down on my knees
Thrown into a dungeon
Bread and water was my portion
And faith, my only weapon
To rest the devil's legion
The speak-hole would slide open
A viper's voice would plead
A voice thick with innuendo
Syphilis and Greed
And she cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
I told her to get down on her knees
Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
I have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
I told her to get down on her knees
A garden full of roses
My hands were tied behind me
My cousin's working miracles
I wondered if he'd find me
The moon advanced toward me
Like a platter made of gold
My death, it almost bored me
So often was it told
And I cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy on me (mercy, on me)
I dropped down to my knees (to my knees)
And I cried "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Have mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And then you pushed me to my knees (to my knees)
Mercy (mercy on me)
Have mercy upon me (mercy, on me)
And I dropped down on my knees (on my knees)
Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
I had mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And I got down on my knees (on my knees)
Crying "Mercy" (mercy, on me)
Oh, have mercy, have mercy on me (mercy, on me)
And I dropped down on my knees
Lyrics submitted by Dressed2Depress
Mercy Lyrics as written by Nicholas Cave
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Really wonderful song,so touching!But could you explain why this has to do with John the Baptist??This relationship is not so obvious to me... Thanks
Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins ("My cousin was working miracles"). He baptised people in water. He was also arrested and killed. Oh yes, apparently his favourite outfit was camel skin.