Mercy

My February 2012 Song of the Month

This year I’m picking out a new favorite song for each month. New to me, that is, not necessarily new to the world! Last month it was Florence’s Shake It Out.

In February I discovered Duffy’s song Mercy and absolutely LOVE it and recommend the entire Deluxe Edition of the Rockferry album from which it came in 2008. Here’s the official video:

I first heard it while sitting in a booth at Garfield’s, finding my shoes flitting back and forth and my head bobbing and nodding uncontrollably. My iPhone’s SoundHound app identified the song for me, which I downloaded on the spot from iTunes and began pounding in the car as I drove away.

I’m recommending the whole album, which is chock full of retro-pop breakup songs penned by Duffy with several different talented songwriters. Mercy is by far the snappiest song of the bunch, but others also show Motown and other rhythm and blues influences along with echoes of Dusty Springfield, Carole King, Phil Spector, and more. Personal favorites are I’m Scared, Stepping Stone, Rain on Your Parade, Stop, Serious, and Distant Dreamer. The title track, Rockferry, is a bit overwrought for my tastes, however.

Mercy

(Hit the beat and take it to the verse now)

Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah

I love you
But I gotta stay true
My morals got me on my knees
I’m beggin’ please
Stop playin’ games

I don’t know what this is
Cause you got me good
Just like you knew you would

I don’t know what you do
but you do it well
I’m under your spell.

You got me beggin’ you for Mercy (yeah yeah yeah)
Why won’t you release me (yeah yeah yeah)
You got me beggin’ you for mercy (yeah yeah yeah)
Why won’t you release me (yeah yeah yeah)
I said release me (yeah yeah yeah)

Now you think that I
Will be somethin’ on the side
But you got to understand that I need a man who can take my hand
yes I do

I don’t know what this is
but you got me good
just like you knew you would

I don’t know what you do
But you do it well
I’m under your spell

You got me beggin’ you for mercy
Why won’t you release me
You got me beggin’ you for mercy
Why won’t you release me
I said you better release me (yeah)

(overlay)
(You look at me and think we’re the same kind
Cause you don’t know what I’ve got in mind
I want a bit more than I’m asking for
But I just don’t want to waste my time
You think that I’ll be the other girl
Just like there’s nothing in this world
I wanna have fun, go get me some
I just don’t know where you’re comin’ from)

I’m beggin’ you for mercy
Why won’t you release me
I’m beggin’ you for mercy
You got me beggin, you got me beggin’, you got me beggin’

Mercy
Why won’t you release me
I’m beggin’ you for mercy
Why won’t you release me

You got me beggin’ you for Mercy
I’m beggin’ you for Mercy
I’m beggin’ you for Mercy
I’m beggin’ you for Mercy
I’m beggin’ you for mercy

Why won’t you release me yeah
yeah
break it down