THE MERCY SEAT
Originally uploaded by Harry Lock on Flickr
When I saw this image titled “The Mercy Seat” on Harry Lock’s Flickr photo-stream I immediately thought of Nick Cave & The Bad Seed’s signature song with the same title that was released way back when in 1988 on the 'Seeds “Tender Prey” album. Harry Lock used Steve Earle’s lyrics in his striking collage but I think Nick Cave’s song is a better fit.
I’m a great fan of Mr. Cave but never liked his interpretation of this particular song which comes from his punk/alternative rock period where one can hardly make out the lyrics. Johnny Cash, in my opinion did more justice (excuse the pun) to “The Mercy Seat” on his 2000 album American III: Solitary Man. Cash stated he heard the song after seeing the news about executions in Texas, and that more attention should be paid to capital punishment: "If a man's been there 25 years, maybe we should consider whether or not he has become a good human being and do we still want to kill him."
THE MERCY SEAT - JOHNNY CASH COVER LYRICS
It ALL began when they come took me from my home
And put me on Death Row,
a crime for which I am totally innocent, you know.
I began to warm and chill
To objects and their fields,
A ragged cup, a twisted mop
The face of Jesus in my soup
Those sinister dinner deals
The meal trolley's wicked wheels
A hooked bone rising from my food
All things either good or ungood.
And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this weighing of the truth.
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die.
I hear stories from the chamber
Christ was born into a manger
And like some ragged stranger
He died upon the cross
Might I say, it seems so fitting in its way
He was a carpenter by trade
Or at least that's what I'm told
My kill-hand's
tattooed E.V.I.L. across its brother's fist
That filthy five! They did nothing to challenge or resist.
In Heaven His throne is made of gold
The ark of his Testament is stowed
A throne from which I'm told
All history does unfold.
It's made of wood and wire
And my body is on fire
And God is never far away.
Into the mercy seat I climb
My head is shaved, my head is wired
And like a moth that tries
To enter the bright eye
I go shuffling out of life
Just to hide in death awhile
And anyway I never lied.
And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this weighing of the truth.
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die.
And the mercy seat is burning
And I think my head is glowing
And in a way I'm hoping
To be done with all this twisting of the truth.
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway there was no proof
And I'm not afraid to die.
And the mercy seat is glowing
And I think my head is smoking
And in a way I'm hoping
To be done with all these looks of disbelief.
A life for a life
And a truth for a truth
And I've got nothing left to lose
And I'm not afraid to die.
And the mercy seat is smoking
And I think my head is melting
And in a way that's helping
To be done with all this twisting of the truth
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
But I'm afraid I told a lie.
Nick Cave thought that Johnny Cash’s version of “The Mercy Seat” was pure genius;
"Like all the songs he does, he made it his own. He's a great interpreter of songs - that's part of his genius. These are the things that can't be taken away from you. It doesn't matter what anyone says, Johnny Cash recorded my song.”
The Man in Black’s interpretation of “Hurt”, originally written by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor is, for me, one of the bleakest and haunting songs I’ve ever heard. “Hurt” was one of Cash’s last hit releases before his death and one can hear life’s weariness in his voice.
Thanks for the use of the image Harry.
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