---------------------------------------------- The Mercy Seat - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds ----------------------------------------------
Note: Every version of the Mercy Seat is different and almost infinitely extendable. The version here is how I play the chords, plus the lyrics that appear in the booklet for the Tender Prey CD (with quite a few changes). In short, this is just an approximation, so choose your own lyrics from the vast selection that appear below. The chords are defined at the end.
The Mercy Seat written by Nick Cave & Mick Harvey
It began when they come took me from my home And put me in Dead Row Of which I am nearly wholly innocent, you know And I'll say it again I am not afraid to die.
B(addE) I began to warm and chill B(addE) To objects and their fields B(addE) A ragged cup, a twisted mop B(addE) The face of Jesus in my soup B(addE) Those sinister dinner deals B(addE) The meal trolley's wicked wheels B(addE) A hooked bone rising from my B(addE) food. All things good or ungood.
And the mercy seat is waiting E5(addB) And I think my head is burning E5(addB) And in a way I'm yearning to be D5(addA) done with all this measuring of D5(addA) truth, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a F5(addC) tooth, And anyway I told the C5(addG) truth, And I'm not afraid to die.
B(addE) Interpret signs and catalogue B(addE) A blackened tooth, a scarlet fog B(addE) The walls are bad. Black. Bottom kind. B(addE) They are the sick breath at my hind B(addE) They are the sick breath at my hind B(addE) They are the sick breath at my hind B(addE) They are the sick breath gathering B(addE) at my hind.
E5(addB) I hear stories from the E5(addB) chamber, How Christ was born into a E5(addB) manger And like some ragged stranger D5(addA) Died upon the cross, And might I D5(addA) say it seems so fitting in its F5(addC) way He was a carpenter by C5(addG) trade, Or at least that's what I'm B(addE) told.
B(addE) Like my good hand B(addE) I tattooed E.V.I.L. across it's B(addE) brother's fist B(addE) That filthy five! They did B(addE) nothing to resist.
E5(addB) In heaven His throne is made of gold E5(addB) The ark of His testament is E5(addB) stowed, A throne from which I'm told all D5(addA) history does unfold, Down here it's D5(addA) made of wood and wire, And my F5(addC) body is on fire C5(addG) And God is never far away.
B(addE) Into the mercy seat I climb B(addE) My head is shaved, my head is B(addE) wired, And like a moth that tries to D5(addA) enter the bright eye, so I go D5(addA) shuffling out life, Just to F5(addC) hide in death a while C5(addG) And anyway I never lied.
B(addE) My kill-hand is called E.V.I.L. B(addE) Wears a wedding band that's G.O.O.D. B(addE) 'Tis a long suffering shackle B(addE) Collaring all that rebel blood
And the mercy seat is waiting E5(addB) And I think my head is burning E5(addB) And in a way I'm yearning to be D5(addA) done with all this measuring of D5(addA) truth, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a F5(addC) tooth, And anyway I told the C5(addG) truth, And I'm not afraid to die.
And the mercy seat is burning E5(addB) And I think my head is glowing E5(addB) And in a way I'm hoping to be D5(addA) done with all this weighing up of D5(addA) truth, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a F5(addC) tooth, And anyway I told the C5(addG) truth, And I'm not afraid to die.
And the mercy seat is glowing E5(addB) And I think my head is smoking E5(addB) And in a way I'm hoping to be D5(addA) done with all these looks of disbeleif D5(addA) An eye for an eye and a tooth for a F5(addC) tooth, And anyway I there was no C5(addG) proof, Nor a motive why.
And the mercy seat is smoking E5(addB) And I think my head is melting E5(addB) And in a way I'm helping to be D5(addA) done with all this twisting of D5(addA) truth, An eye for an eye and a truth for a F5(addC) truth, And anyway I told the C5(addG) truth, And I'm not afraid to die.
And the mercy seat is melting E5(addB) And I think my blood is boiling E5(addB) And in a way I'm spoiling all the D5(addA) fun with all this truth and consequence D5(addA) An eye for an eye and a truth for a F5(addC) truth, And anyway I told the C5(addG) truth, And I'm not afraid to die.
And the mercy seat is waiting E5(addB) And I think my head is burning E5(addB) And in a way I'm yearning to be D5(addA) done with all this measurement of D5(addA) proof, A lie for a lie and a truth for a F5(addC) truth, And anyway there was no C5(addG) proof, And I'm not afraid to tell a lie.
And the mercy seat is waiting E5(addB) And I think my head is burning E5(addB) And in a way I'm yearning to be D5(addA) done with all this measurment of D5(addA) proof, An eye for an eye and a truth for a F5(addC) truth, And anyway I told the C5(addG) truth, And I'm afraid I told a lie.
