Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Marvin Gaye
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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
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
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.
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Album AppearanceThe 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.
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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.
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ThemeThe 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.
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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.
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Cover VersionsThe 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.
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Awards and HonorsRolling Stone ranked "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" No. 44 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
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PreservationIn 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.
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Instrumental UseThe 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.
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Collaboration with Other ArtistsWhile 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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Citation
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