Mercy

Album: Illuminate (2016)
Charted: 15 15
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Shawn Mendes sings on this brooding power ballad of a girl who has grabbed his heart. However, he is unsure if his feelings are reciprocated and the uncertainty is tearing him apart.
  • I'm a puppet on your string
    And even though you got good intentions
    I need you to set me free


    Shawn wants to be free from this girl's influence over his emotions. The use of a puppet to illustrate how one can be controlled by such intense feelings has been used in pop music since the 1960s when James & Bobby Purify admitted "Darling you've got full control of your puppet" and Elvis Presley described himself as helpless as "a puppet on a string." More recently Daya sung of not wanting to "be the puppet that you're playing on a string."
  • Shawn co-wrote the song with four other songwriters.

    Teddy Geiger and Danny Parker who previously co-penned and co-produced "Stitches" for Mendes along with Daniel "Daylight" Kyriakides.

    Ilsey Juber, who other credits include Major Lazer's "Powerful."

    Robin Weisse who also co-wrote Pitbull & Ne-Yo's "Time Of Our Lives."
  • The video was directed by Jay Martin ("Stitches") and filmed in Toronto. It shows Shawn struggling to escape a sinking car.

Comments: 1

  • Siahara Shyne Carter from United StatesIf you don't have Any feeling and your just using the person for your own ITS BETTER TO LEAVE Than faking a love with someone and
    Playing someone’s feelings is "Not Cool" Thats why I don't any boyfriend since birth heheh,,,,,,, Many wants to be with me but I NEVER GIVE IN lmao besides They are NOT MY TYPE :-D

    Let's just be friends.

    The right person will come in right time No need to hurry!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.