Mercy Street

Peter Gabriel - Mercy Street

(6:21)

122,195 plays (33,963 listeners)

rock, progressive rock, peter gabriel, 80s, alternative… see all

This song could be interpreted in a variety of ways. Is someone looking for literal mercy? Are they desperate for human contact? Are they searching for forgiveness? The track’s mood is somber and desperate.

looking down on empty streets, all she can see
are the dreams all made solid
are the dreams all made real

all of the buildings, all of those cars
were once just a dream
in somebody’s head

she pictures the broken glass, she pictures the steam
she pictures a soul

with no leak at the seam

let’s take the boat out
wait until darkness
let’s take the boat out
wait until darkness comes

nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey
nowhere in the suburbs
in the cold light of day

there in the midst of it so alive and alone
words support like bone

dreaming of mercy street
wear your inside out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy’s arms again
dreaming of mercy street
swear they moved that sign
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy’s arms

pulling out the papers from the drawers that slide smooth
tugging at the darkness, word upon word

confessing all the secret things in the warm velvet box
to the priest-he’s the doctor
he can handle the shocks

dreaming of the tenderness-the tremble in the hips
of kissing Mary’s lips

dreaming of mercy street
wear your inside out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy’s arms again
dreaming of mercy street
swear they moved that sign
looking for mercy
in your daddy’s arms

mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
mercy, mercy, looking for mercy

Albums featuring this track

So
Peter Gabriel
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Shaking The Tree
Peter Gabriel
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2003-06-07: Mountain View, CA, USA (disc 2)
Peter Gabriel
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Summer '03 West Palm Beach (disc 1)
Peter Gabriel
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jackalopesforal wrote:
last month

The best/worst pick up line ever used on me was 'come back to my dorm room and I will play you Peter Gabriel's Mercy Street on vinyl.' I didn't go home with the guy, but I certainly still laugh about this line often, although I do love this song tremendously.

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Franky___Turton wrote:
last month

The song is about Anne Sexton, an American poet who killed herself (it says so on the sleeve notes). "45 Mercy Street" was one of her poems.

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urbanrockergirl wrote:
last month

When heard this song for the first time, I thought that this is Sting singing...

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tettigonia wrote:
last month

thanks God (and of coursePG !) for this vibrations !!

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softsoul214 wrote:
last month

Haunting........

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keymoon wrote:
last month

a beautiful song by a fantastic artist.

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kurtstillalive wrote:
August 2008

this, and his 'the book of love' love them...

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jckreuk wrote:
August 2008

Bom pra karaiooooooooo

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mvincenttis wrote:
August 2008

good lyrics, good sound

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waczag wrote:
August 2008

piękny nastrojowy kawałek

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[deleted-user] wrote:
August 2008

"Anne, with her father is out in the boat Riding the water Riding the waves on the sea" - best part of the song
Insvims wrote:
August 2008

Fantastic track from PG!

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danieliorio wrote:
July 2008

Amazing tune...

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SuzyQu70 wrote:
July 2008

wonderful sound ,- zum träumen .....

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rubick3 wrote:
July 2008

One of my favorites fro PG

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gerstar48 wrote:
June 2008

One of his best songs.......on his best album ever........have seen and experienced it during his European tour in Ahoy, Rotterdam.........i'll never forget it...

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wendell3 wrote:
June 2008

Sick-good.

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Aaronstory wrote:
May 2008

One of the greatest 'mood' tracks ever - somewhere there's a great club-mix of this as well...

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emilythecamel wrote:
May 2008

This album is well worth listening to. Some great tracks (including Sledgehammer of course) and PG's acid humour (listen to Big Time).

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variety69 wrote:
April 2008

Packend, vor allem auch der Refrain!

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