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

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.