This song is about war. Like an earlier Iron Maiden song, the story is told from the point of view of a soldier. He witnesses horrors and wonders if what he’s doing is the right thing.
[Verse 1]
Sitting, waiting in the falling rain
Getting ready to begin again
Wounded, lying, crying
Bodies moving, dying
All around, there is the smell
Of death and fire
Here, the planes are coming
Hear the soldiers running
Killing on a scale to comprehend
[Verse 2]
Why are we here?
In this place... here to kill
Please, God, forgive us
For what we have done
I always thought I was doing right
As of now, I'm not feeling so sure
I'm at a place of where
I give no grace
I'm a soldier of war
[Verse 3]
I sit, waiting for my darkest hour
To come
I cannot think about the things
That I have done
It shouldn't take a fool to see
That I believe
Accept the consequence
Repent for what I've done
[Pre-Chorus 1]
You tell me what is certain
But I'll tell you what is true
You tell me what is honesty
When all around is death and cruelty
The making of man is fire
Not giving in to our desires
Within the truth that lies
Within the only thing
[Chorus]
Mother of mercy
Angel of death desire
Mother of mercy
Taking my last breath of fire
Mother of mercy
Angel of pain
Mother of mercy
Taking my last breath
[Bridge]
Some say you are a lost cause
Some say you're a saint
Just being here's an act of
Suffering and restraint
Walk down the long dark road
To ruin, panic not
I'll die a lonely death
Of that, I'm certain of
[Verse 4]
Rivers flow with blood
There's nowhere left to hide
It's hard to comprehend
There's anyone left alive
Sick of all the killing
And the reek of death
Will God tell me
What religion is to man?
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I don't hold with bad religion
Understand what's underneath it
Now I come to think of it
I just don't hold at all, you know it
You say you are a holy man
But what is it you do?
From where I stand is nothing
But a hollow man I see
[Chorus]
Mother of mercy
Angel of death, desire
Mother of mercy
Taking my last breath of fire
Mother of mercy
Angel of pain
Mother of mercy
Drawing my last breath
Mother of mercy
Angel of death, desire
Mother of mercy
Taking my last breath of fire
Mother of mercy
Angel of pain
Mother of mercy
Drawing my last breath
[Outro]
I'm just a lonely soldier
Fighting in a bloody, hopeless war
Don't know what I'm fighting
Who it is, or what I'm fighting for
Thought it was for money
Make my fortune
Now I'm not so sure
Seem to just have lost my way
Mother of Mercy was written by Adrian Smith & Steve Harris.
Mother of Mercy was produced by Steve Harris & Kevin Shirley.
Iron Maiden released Mother of Mercy on Tue Aug 13 2013.