Mercy

The Song

“Mercy” was written in two stages.  There was a completed song (it’s title escapes me now, but it definitely wasn’t Mercy because that chorus lyric didn’t yet exist).  We worked on it for quite a while, but it never quite gelled.  After being shelved for quite a while, the song was resurrected with an entirely new chorus and bridge, and a new overall feel.  I’m not sure if demos still exist for the original version, but if one turns up we’ll post it the Clumsy Download Club for comparison’s sake sometime down the road.

The song appears on the “After The Flood” album.  When Nettwerk Records reissued the CD, they chose “Mercy” as the first single.  It also appears on the “Party Of Five” Season 2 DVD (in case you’re wondering where you heard it before).

The Lyrics

All the children met
In daycares and night clubs
Discussed finger paints and bodyrubs
They embraced it all

It hasn’t happened yet
But pretty soon they will fall flat
Alcohol will take the edge off that
Ease the pain if not the fall

You gotta take off your hat
Force a bow
Wipe that sweat right off your brow
Look her in the eye
And try
For mercy

And so the story grows
I got kind of wired and
I drove the snakes from Ireland
And then I broke for lunch

If you want a small nose
Give honesty a try
But if you have to lie
You may as well lie a bunch

You gotta take off your hat
Force a bow
Wipe that sweat right off your brow
Look her in the eye
And try
For mercy

Hello, how are you
I like you plenty well
If you get bored here
There’s always the hotel
We can order in
And turn off the ringer
And you can have your choice
The song or the singer

All the children met
In daycares and night clubs
Discussed finger paints and bodyrubs
They embraced it all

You gotta take off your hat
Force a bow
Wipe that sweat right off your brow
Look her in the eye
And try
For mercy

You gotta take off your hat
Force a bow
Wipe that sweat right off your brow
Look her in the eye
And try
For mercy

Why don’t you try for mercy