Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

Marvin Gaye

About Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" was the second single from Marvin Gaye's 1971 album, What's Going On. Following the breakthrough of the title track's success, the song, written solely by Gaye, became regarded as one of popular music's most poignant anthems of sorrow regarding the environment. Led by Gaye playing piano, strings conducted by Paul Riser and David Van De Pitte, multi-tracking vocals from Gaye and The Andantes, multiple background instruments provided by The Funk Brothers and a leading sax solo by Wild Bill Moore, the song rose to number 4 on Billboard's Pop Singles chart and number one for two weeks on the R&B Singles charts on August 14 through to August 27, 1971. The distinctive percussive sound heard on the track was a wood block struck by a rubber mallet, drenched in studio reverb. The song also brought Gaye one of his rare appearances on the Adult Contemporary chart, where it peaked at number 34. In Canada, "Mercy Mercy Me" spent two weeks at number 9. In 1991, a music video of the song was released by Motown Records, featuring appearances by celebrities such as Smokey Robinson, Johnny Gill, Big Daddy Kane, Holly Robinson Peete, Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, Rosie Perez, Bell Biv Devoe, Wesley Snipes, Tyler Collins (singer), Malcolm Jamal Warner, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Stephanie Mills, Debbie Harry and Vanessa L. Williams. 


Year:
2001
3:16
23 

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Whoa, ah, mercy mercy me
Oh things ain't what they used to be, no no
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east

Whoa mercy, mercy me,
Oh things ain't what they used to be, no no
Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas, fish full of mercury

Ah, oh mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Radiation under ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying

Oh mercy, mercy me
Oh things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?

Oh, no no, na, na na, na
My sweet Lord, na, na, na
My Lord, my sweet Lord

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Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., was an American singer-songwriter and musician whose career spanned more than two decades. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., he was the son of a storefront minister of a local Pentecostal church sect and grew up singing gospel in church revivals as a young child. Gaye branched out into secular music as a teenager, joining the doo-wop group The Marquees, after returning from an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, before the group was hired by Harvey Fuqua to be Harvey & The Moonglows. Following the band's separation in 1960, Gaye began working as a session drummer for the Detroit music label, Anna, before signing with Motown Records in 1961, adding an "e" to his s… more »

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Written by: Marvin Gaye

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Creation
"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" was written and produced solely by Marvin Gaye. The song does not feature Smokey Robinson; however, he and Marvin Gaye were close collaborators throughout their careers.
Album Appearance
The song was one of the main tracks on Marvin Gaye's groundbreaking 1971 album, "What’s Going On". The album is noted for its themes of social issues, including environmental concerns.
Release and Reception
"Mercy Me (The Ecology)" was released as the B-side to "Inner City Blues" in 1971. However, the song soon gained traction, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Theme
The song is not only a soulful rhythm and blues tune but also a poignant social commentary on the state of the environment, expressing Marvin Gaye's concerns about air pollution, radiation, oil spills, and overcrowded living conditions.
Cultural Impact
"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" is one of the most famous socially-conscious soul songs, addressing the escalating ecological crisis. It helped bring environmental issues into the mainstream conversation.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by many artists, including Robert Palmer, whose version of the song reached the UK Top 20 in 1991, and The Strokes.
Awards and Honors
Rolling Stone ranked "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" No. 44 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Preservation
In 2002, the Library of Congress added "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" to the National Recording Registry, which recognizes "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" American sound recordings.
Instrumental Use
The distinctive saxophone solo on "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" was performed by musician Wild Bill Moore. The song's use of saxophone gave it a unique, moody atmosphere that complemented Marvin Gaye's soulful vocal performance.
Collaboration with Other Artists
While Smokey Robinson was not involved in the creation of "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)", Marvin Gaye did perform the song in a medley with Robinson during Gaye's final concert tour in 1983.

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