Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel & Laurie Anderson
Peter Gabriel & Youssou N’Dour
“Mercy Street” was inspired by the poet Anne Sexton, specifically her poem “45 Mercy Street”, which Gabriel read in one of her anthologies.
The song was recorded in Rio de Janeiro, and is inspired by native Brazilian Forró music. While listening to the song during its recording, the studio’s tape p...
[Verse 1]
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 seams
[Bridge]
Let's take the boat out
Wait until darkness
Let's take the boat out
Wait until darkness comes
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
Dreaming of Mercy Street
Wear your inside out
Dreaming of mercy
In your daddy's arms again
Dreaming of Mercy Street
I swear they moved that sign
Dreaming of mercy
In your daddy's arms
[Verse 3]
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
[Chorus]
Dreaming of Mercy Street
Wear your inside out
Dreaming of mercy
In your daddy's arms again
Dreaming of Mercy Street
I swear they moved that sign
Looking for mercy
In your daddy's arms
[Interlude]
[Outro]
Mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
Looking for mercy
Mercy, looking for mercy
Looking for mercy, looking for mercy
Looking for mercy, looking for mercy
Anne, with her father, is out in the boat
Riding the water
Riding the waves on the sea
Mercy Street was written by Peter Gabriel.
Mercy Street was produced by Daniel Lanois & Peter Gabriel.
Peter Gabriel released Mercy Street on Mon May 19 1986.