Album: So (1986)

Charted: 43

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• Looking down on empty streets, all she can see
  Are the dreams all made solid
  Are the dreams made real
  All of the buildings, all of the cars
  Were once just a dream
  In somebody's head
  She pictures the broken glass, 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
  Where you're 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 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
  Where you're 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 Street
  Looking for Mercy
  Mercy, looking for Mercy
  Looking for Mercy
  Looking for Mercy
  Oh, Mercy
  Looking for mercy
  
  I'm with the father, is out in the boat
  Riding the water
  Riding the waves on the sea Writer/s: Peter Gabriel
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 20

• Dennis Korn from ChicagoI've been a fan of Pete's for many decades... Been blessed to have seen Him with Genesis and solo... Love His work.
• Daubny from Port Of SpainHave been looping the original song plus Miriam Stockley's and Gregorian's covers all night.
• John from DallasThe Storyville cover of this song is incredible. What a voice!
• Linkai from UsaI discovered the Fever Ray cover of Mercy Street first, which lead me to the PG song. Both are excellent.
• AnonymousI listen to it and cry for mu daughter while she waits on mercy street to be in her dad arms again
• José Carlos Rago from Santo André-sp BrazilI love this song. Even if I didn't know its history before, it always sounded like a lament.
  It was used in the soundtrack of the Brazilian TV series "O Sorriso do Lagarto" (The Lizard Smile, in Portuguese).
• Gábor from LengyelBeautiful song, sometimes I just play it again and again and again because I can't stop listening to it. The lyrics is great as well.
• Fred from Laurel, MdThis is very much a clamshell song
  -
  it can pass unnoticed in inconspicuousness
  -
  until you pay attention,
  and actually open up the clamshell,
  and look inside.
  
  Wow!
• Fabio from Rio De Janeiro, BrazilThe rhythm structure of this song is based on a northeastern brazilian popular style called Baião (pronounced by-aun).
• Steve from Chicago, IlThere is a poem she wrote called "Rowing" which seemed to explain the lines at the end where Gabriel talks about "Ann in her little boat".
  "I am rowing,
  though the wind pushes me back
  and I know that that island will not be perfect,
  it will have the flaws of life,
  the absurdities of the dinner table,
  but there will be a door
  and I will open it
  and I will get rid of the rat inside me,
  the gnawing pestilential rat.
  God will take it with his two hands
  and embrace it."
  Wonderful
• Glenn from Na, OnPeter did a great job with this song as far as a tribute to a tormented poet. It has obviously caused people to truly ponder the lyrics and search out more information. I have looked up Anne Sexton and read 45 mercy street. Personally I find the song more powerful now after knowing it's inspiration. After listening I feel sad for Anne and Peter for the sadness they must have felt to write something so powerful - I then feel very blessed to be living a happy life. Simply the most powerful song I've heard.
• Ira from Denver, CoMercy Street is one the most moving songs I have ever heard; I listen to it frequently. Sometimes, I play it over and over again cause I just can't get enough of it. I never get tired of hearing it. I am surprised to learn what it's about, but then again, that just makes the song even better. Wow.
• Mel from Riverbank, CaLOVE this song. Gives me chills each time I listen to it. Great album, I think I've bought 'So' three times in the past 15 years.
• Hunta from St. Louis, Moincredible. I would've never guessed it was about a troubled lady and suicide. still, its moving, i listen to this song when i go to sleep.
• Tim from Cockeysville, MdFar and away my favorite PG song. I have to listen to it alone as it most time brings me to tears.
• Tony from Crewe, EnglandUnbelievable emotions for a simle classic record.
• Nicola from Rome, ItalyOh Jenny, that's exactly it. It brings tears to my eyes each and every time, I don't know why.
• James from Westchester, EnglandWow. I had no idea. Chilling.
• Jenny from Chicago, Ilthis song cuts me to the bone. i can relate to it so very well.
• Mike from Houston, TxI've never understood what this song was about, but the simple, crisp musicality of it has always riveted me whenever I hear it. I can't just let it go in the background; when it comes on, I stop what I'm doing and focus.
  
  After reading that this is inspired by the poetry of a mental patient, I don't feel bad for not understanding the lyrics!

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