Mercy Seat

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Nick Cave

About Mercy Seat

"The Mercy Seat" is a song written by Nick Cave (lyrics and music) and Mick Harvey (music), originally performed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on the 1988 album Tender Prey. The song has been covered by others, including Johnny Cash, Camille O'Sullivan and Unter Null. Rolling Stone editor Toby Creswell lists it as one of the 1001 greatest songs.


Year:
1998
136 
#1

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It began when they come took me from my home
And put me in Dead Row
Of which I am nearly wholly innocent, you know
And I'll say it again
I am not afraid to die

I began to warm and chill
To objects and their fields
A ragged cup, a twisted mop
The face of Jesus in my soup
Those sinister dinner meals
The meal trolley's wicked wheels
A hooked bone rising from my food
All things either good or ungood

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of truth
An eye for an eye
A tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die

Interpret signs and catalogue
A blackened tooth, a scarlet fog
The walls are bad, black, bottom kind
They are sick breath at my hind
They are sick breath at my hind
They are sick breath at my hind
They are sick breath gathering at my hind 

I hear stories from the chamber
How Christ was born into a manger
And like some ragged stranger
Died upon the cross
And might I say it seems so fitting in its way
He was a carpenter by trade
Or at least that's what I'm told 

Like my good hand I
Tatooed E.V.i.l. Across it's brother's fist
That filthy five! 
They did nothing to challenge or resist

In Heaven His throne is made of gold
The ark of his Testament is stowed
A throne from which I'm told
All history does unfold
Down here it's made of wood and wire
And my body is on fire
And God is never far away

Into the mercy seat I climb
My head is shaved, my head is wired
And like a moth that tries
To enter the bright eye
I go shuffling out of life
Just to hide in death awhile
And anyway I never lied

My kill-hand is called E.V.i.l.
Wears a wedding band that's G.O.o.d.
'Tis a long-suffering shackle
Collaring all that rebel blood

And the mercy seat is burning
And I think my head is glowing
And in a way I'm hoping
To be done with all this weighing up of truth
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And I've got nothing left to lose
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is smoking
And I think my head is melting
And in a way I'm helping
To be done with all this twisted of the truth
A lie for a lie
And a truth for a truth
And anyway, I saw no proof
And not a motive why

And the mercy seat is melting
And I think my blood is boiling
And in a way I'm spoiling
All the fun by all this consequence of truth
An eye for an eye
And a truth for a truth
And I've got nothing left to lose
And I'm not afraid to die

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway there was no proof
And not a motive why

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof 
An eye for an eye 
And a tooth for a tooth 
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die 

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof 
A lie for a lie
And a truth for a truth
And anyway there was no proof
And I'm not afraid to die 

And the mercy seat is waiting 
And I think my head is smoking 
And in a way I'm hoping 
To be done with all these looks of disbelief 
An eye for an eye 
And a tooth for a tooth 
But anyway I told the truth 
And I'm not afraid to die 

And the mercy seat is-a waiting 
And I think my head is burning 
And in a way I'm yearning 
To be done with all this measuring of proof 
Of an eye for an eye 
And a tooth for a tooth 
And anyway I told the truth 
And I'm not afraid to die 

And the mercy seat is-a waiting 
And I think my head is burning 
And in a way I'm yearning 
To be done with all this measuring of proof 
An eye for an eye 
And a tooth for a tooth 
And anyway I told the truth 
And I'm not afraid to die 

And the mercy seat is-a waiting 
And I think my head is burning 
And in a way I'm yearning 
To be done with all this measuring of proof 
Of an eye for an eye 
And a tooth for a tooth 
And anyway I told the truth 
And I'm not afraid to die 

And the mercy seat is-a waiting 
And I think my head is burning 
And in a way I'm yearning 
To be done with all this measuring of proof 
Of an eye for an eye 
And a tooth for a tooth 
And anyway I told the truth 
And I'm not afraid to die 

And the mercy seat is waiting 
And I think my head is burning 
And in a way I'm yearning 
To be done with all this measuring of proof 
Of an eye for an eye 
And a tooth for a tooth 
And anyway I told the truth 
But I'm not afraid to lie 

And the mercy seat is-a waiting 
And I think my head is burning 
And in a way I'm yearning 
To be done with all this measuring of proof 
Of an eye for an eye 
And a tooth for a tooth 
And anyway I told the truth 
But I'm not afraid to lie 

And the mercy seat is-a waiting 
And I think my head is burning 
And in a way I'm yearning 
To be done with all this measuring of proof 
Of an eye for an eye 
And a tooth for a tooth 
And anyway I told the truth 
But I'm afraid I told a lie

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Nick Cave

Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, composer and occasional film actor. more »

3 fans

Written by: Nicholas Edward Cave, Mick Harvey

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


14 facts about this song

Artists
"The Mercy Seat" was initially written and performed by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
Cover Performance
Legendary country singer Johnny Cash later covered the song for his 2000 album "American III: Solitary Man", which was met with widespread acclaim.
Literary Reference
The song's title, "The Mercy Seat", is a biblical reference to the golden lid of the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolizes God's divine presence.
Song Theme
Both versions of "The Mercy Seat" depict a protagonist facing execution and maintaining his innocence until the end.
Song Structure
"The Mercy Seat" is known for its repetitive, chant-like structure, which enhances the song's intense and ominous atmosphere.
Critical Acclaim for Cave
Rolling Stone listed Nick Cave's "The Mercy Seat" as one of the 100 greatest songs of the 80s.
Critical Acclaim for Cash
Johnny Cash's cover of the song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 2001.
Interpretation
Nick Cave has described the song as “a sort of God continuum, the ultimate divine decision”.
Live Performances
Despite its dark storyline, "The Mercy Seat" has become a staple song during Cave's live performances.
Music Video
The music video for Nick Cave's version was directed by Nigel Rolfe and features Cave sitting on an electric chair.
Use in Media
Johnny Cash's cover of "The Mercy Seat" has been featured in a handful of TV series, such as "Daredevil" and "Person of Interest".
Popularity
Cash's cover of the song has garnered over 11 million listens on Spotify as of September 2021.
Album Performance
Cash's album "American III: Solitary Man", which includes his cover of "The Mercy Seat", peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200.
Legacy
Nick Cave has expressed that he believes Johnny Cash's version of "The Mercy Seat" to be "unimprovable upon."

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