Depeche Mode – Mercy In You

General Commentpankstank, don't be so black & white, especially when it's pretty much a fact that Martin tends to deal with a lot of religious themes in his lyrics.

I think this song is open to interpretation as to whether it's about relationships or God;
but I don't thinks it's a "master and servant" relationship that's portrayed here. And I definitely don't see a hunger for punishment even mentioned anywhere, it's mercy they're talking about! To me, it sounds more like the mercy & forgiveness of the "you" of the song is so great that the speaker is ready to lose his way just to experience it again, the positive feeling that he gets in the end of the hard process of falling from grace and begging to be forgiven again.

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  @brilliantdays

General CommentThis song is about forgiveness. No matter how many things you do wrong and how many times you fall into temptation to be a bad boy/girl. Someone is always there for you, to have mercy on you and forgive your sins.

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  @DMBLISS

General CommentDefinitely my favorite track from Songs of Faith and Devotion. The lyrics themselves are pretty self-explanitory, but the music has that great dirty/dance sound to it that Depeche Mode does so well. As usual, David has the perfect vocal delivery for the desperate lyrics.

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  @Shoegazed

General CommentSongs of Faith and Devotion is a very touchy-feely album. I was at FYE a while back and the guy working there even said "That album is good for getting it on".

It has already been established that Martin Gore is submissive (think Master and Servant, Behind the Wheel, etc.). The specific words in this song make it more profound and spiritual, but none the less, this is a sexual song. Its about a master/slave relationship. The slave is saying that they are disobedient because they love the punishment. They love having to beg for mercy and forgiveness. They love being so vulnerable.

At least thats how I took it.

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  @MrsO426

General CommentThis song is definitely not about Jesus. The title SoFaD is in reference to relationships, not religion (not one member of the band is religious).

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  @pankstank

General CommentHe knows no matter how wrong or selfish he is she will take him back if he appeals to her mercy and love. At the same time he feels bad cause he takes advantage of that and keeps being selfish, taking her for granted, ect.

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  @starfire

General Comment

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I believe this song is really up to whatever the listener is going through, whether it be a bf or gf taking you back or (how i view it) Jesus Christ forgiving us of our sins. i dont think its a veil of stubbornness flashback1983, but more of a way that Christians view things in life. And I think thats the beauty of DM you can perceive it to be sexual or spiritually uplifting,and that all depends on where you are in life.

Also not to be rude or anything, but the whole point of Christianity isn't to love Jesus and try forcing it down other people's throats and hating them if they dont accept it, its about loving thy neighbor no matter what and hoping that they find Christ in their life.Im not saying to not be evangelical but to use discretion so us Christians don't get the bad stereotype of being,as flashback1083 put it, " literary illiteracy, lack of significant life experience, and/or the veil of ignorance cast over the eyes of most religious people."

i accidentaly just put this whole thing as a reply to flashback1983's post. whoops

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  @XatoX7

General CommentI usually wouldn't bother adding a comment, but after reading the Christianity oriented sentiments here, I could not contain my need to chime in before the need to vomit became too strong. It would take complete delusion to think that anything written by Martin Gore would be any kind of an endorsement of Christian thought. If you can't believe me, please listen to Blasphemous Rumors, Personal Jesus, Breathe, and John the Revelator, to get the party started, and then tell me how this is about the Lord Jesus Christ.
The song is about the emotional catharsis gained from being shown mercy by another person. A powerful feeling gained, when punishment or rejection is expected (and perhaps even deliberately provoked) but is then replaced with something far more tender and compassionate. And honestly, I would not think most people, especially emotionally balanced individuals, would understand what is being described. It is a complicated, strange, and nearly addictive proclivity with its roots somewhere deep in unusual psycho-sexual relationship dynamics. It's part of what I've always admired about Martin Gore; he writes songs that give voice to some truly offbeat tendencies that most people would find hard to discuss.

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  @AnnEllspeth

General CommentIt is blatantly obvious by the name of the album this song is on (Songs of Faith and Devotion) that this song is about the forgivness and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, he talks about how good feels having the mercy of Christ, he says he would fall away again just to come back to Christ because it feels that good to be forgiven of your sins and to live a life where you know you will be going to Heaven.

This song is not about master and slave.

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  @Gotteskrieger