Marvin Gaye, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), (1971)

Marvin Gaye, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), 1971

From What’s Going On



Apparently this song was covered on Earth Day 2007, understandably so, as there is a strong environmental theme to the lyric content. I missed that bit though; all I can remember is poor Roger Hodgson! Marvin Gaye was not the first artist to write a pop song about the environment but he had to be one of the first Motown artists to do so. It’s a good song, but I think it is too similar to “What’s Going On”, also on the same album. I have to imagine that Marvin Gaye probably wrote the song in the spirit of Earth Day 1970, and the environmental movement, which were gaining momentum around that time. The lyrical content and delivery are bleak and weary, also a radical departure from the typical Motown style. This song sounds acceptable now, but there was no way of knowing if it would be accepted back then. This song along with the song and album “What’s Going On” literally changed Motown. It is often cited that Gaye’s artistic and individualistic triumphs helped give Stevie Wonder the courage to demand creative control, leading to his unapproachable string of mid-70s classic albums. So this is an important song, as well as a good song, but an imperfect song, because it is still too much like “What’s Going On”

Piano, rhythm guitar, drums, bass and triangle open the song. The rhythm of the song is quite clever. The drum beat is a slow 4/4, which leaves room for a fairly active bass drum beat. The guitar actually carries a loose sixteenth beat and most of the funkiness comes from the accentuated off-beat guitar chords. The piano mostly lays down the chord changes on the one beat. The bass guitar is the star in this song. Since the guitar is keeping time the bass is fairly free to walk up and down the scales and provide a lot of color to the song.

There is a string arrangement that enters the song near the second chorus, and a fairly brassy sax solo closes out the single version of the song. The album version of the song contains a wholly new section complete with dissonant ethereal vocalizations and more prominent string orchestra. It is an altogether unhappy end to the song, and I can understand why it was left off the #4 single.

Marvin sings with a two-part harmony for the first verse, but does not return to that. For the rest of the song he sings the main melody alone, and had backing vocals singing a sort of counterpoint or commentary of the main melody. Counterpoint is probably too formal of a term. The backing vocals have a loose spontaneous jazzy feel that is very indicative of the whole album. Also “The Andantes” are featured with their wordless vocals, particularly at the end of the song.

The strangest sound for me is a very odd percussion effect doubling the snare drum. It sounds almost like water dropping from a great height in the middle of a dark cave, or the sound of a horse walking slowly down a cobblestone road. I love it.

Lyrics

Oh, mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be
No, no
Where did all the blue sky go?
Poison is the wind that blows
From the north, east, south, and sea

Oh, mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be
No, no
Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas
Fish full of mercury

Oh, mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be
No, no
Radiation in the ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying

Oh, mercy mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land?
How much more abuse from man can you stand?
My sweet Lord
My sweet Lord
My sweet Lord