Mercy
Feel So Bad · Tender Prey [1988]
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
I was so alone
Just as I predicted
My followers were gone
And I cried 'Mercy'
Have mercy upon me
And I got down on my knees
Thrown into a dungeon
Bread and water was my portion
Faith - my only weapon
To rest the devil's legion
The speak-hole would slide open
A viper's voice would plead
Thick with innuendo
Syphilis and Greed
And she cried 'Mercy'
Have mercy upon me
And I told her to get down on her knees
In a garden full of roses
My hands, tied behind me
My cousin was working miracles
I wondered if he'd find me
The moon was turned toward me
Like a platter made of gold
My death, it almost bored me
So often was it told
And I cried 'Mercy'
I cried mercy on me
Cryind 'Mercy'
Have mercy on me
In the middle month of winter
My camel skin was torture
I was in a state of nature
The wind, sir, it was wicked
I was so alone
Just as I predicted
My followers were gone
And I cried 'Mercy'
Have mercy upon me
And I got down on my knees
Thrown into a dungeon
Bread and water was my portion
Faith - my only weapon
To rest the devil's legion
The speak-hole would slide open
A viper's voice would plead
Thick with innuendo
Syphilis and Greed
And she cried 'Mercy'
Have mercy upon me
And I told her to get down on her knees
In a garden full of roses
My hands, tied behind me
My cousin was working miracles
I wondered if he'd find me
The moon was turned toward me
Like a platter made of gold
My death, it almost bored me
So often was it told
And I cried 'Mercy'
I cried mercy on me
Cryind 'Mercy'
Have mercy on me
Mercy - Feel So Bad
Released on the 1988 album Tender Prey, 'Mercy' stands as a defining track in the discography of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The song exemplifies the band's signature blend of gothic rock and poetic storytelling, characterized by Cave's distinctive baritone vocals and the group's atmospheric instrumentation. As a key component of their late 1980s output, the recording captures the raw emotional intensity and dark romanticism that became central to their artistic identity. Its enduring presence in their catalog highlights its significance within the broader context of their work during this pivotal era of their career.

