The Mercy Seat (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds song)

Infobox Single
Name = The Mercy Seat


Artist = Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
from Album = Tender Prey
Released = 1988
Format = CD single, 7", 12"
Genre = Alternative rock
Label = Mute Records
Writer = Nick Cave, Mick Harvey
Last single = "The Singer" (1986)
This single = "The Mercy Seat" (1988)
Next single = "Deanna" (1988)

"The Mercy Seat" is a song written by Nick Cave (lyrics and music) and Mick Harvey (music), originally performed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on the 1988 "Tender Prey" album.

The song tells the story of a man about to be executed by the electric chair. The "Mercy Seat" refers both to the throne of God in the heavens, which the man feels he will soon visit, and to the electric chair. The song is laden with allusions to Christianity; in the Old Testament, the mercy seat is the symbol of the throne of God over the Ark of the Covenant. The sentenced man claims that he is innocent, that he told the truth, and that he is not afraid to die.

The central register follows the structure:

And in a way I'm yearningTo be done with all this measuring of truth.An eye for an eyeAnd a tooth for a toothAnd anyway I told the truthAnd I'm not afraid to die.

Over the course of the song the register is repeated and gradually altered from a defiant statement of innocence to admitting guilt and that he is deserving of death.

Cave's vocals are delivered over a thick backing of guitars, organ, and strings. An acoustic version was also released as part of a bonus CD for the album "The Good Son" entitled "Acoustic Versions from Tender Prey". This version was later reissued to appear on both the "Stripped" EP and "B-Sides & Rarities". The song is a live standard of Cave's, and has been performed at almost every concert since 1988.

Country singer Johnny Cash covered the song on his 2000 album "". Cash's version features a somber guitar and piano accompaniment.

Others have recorded covers of this song. Stromkern released a cover on the 1997 album "Flicker Like a Candle". Anders Manga released a cover on the album "Welcome To The Horror Show". A cover 'Sitz der Gnade' with german lyrics was done by the band Goethes Erben. Camille O'Sullivan performed a cover in her show an accompanying life album Le Fille Du Cirque. Most recently, The Red Paintings released a cover on their 2007 EP, Feed The Wolf. The a cappella group Cantus (vocal ensemble) also covered the song, with bass Tom McNichols singing the lead part.

=Track listing [cite web|url=http://www.fromthearchives.com/nc/discography1.html |title=Nick Cave Discography on "From The Archives" |accessdate=2008-06-09 |publisher=From The Archives] =

*CD
# The Mercy Seat (single version)
# New Day
# From Her To Eternity (film version)
# Tupelo (single version)

*7"
# The Mercy Seat (single version)
# New Day

*12"
# The Mercy Seat (full length album version)
# New Day
# The Mercy Seat (video mix)

Trivia

* "New Day" is "New Morning" mistitled.

ee also

*Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds discography

References