The Mercy Seat

About The 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:

2003

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Playlists:

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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

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

Nick Cave

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

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