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Marvin Gaye — Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Album: What's Going On
Avg rating:
8.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2729









Released: 1971
Length: 3:10
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Whoa, oh, mercy, mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be, no, no
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east

Whoa, 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, oh, mercy, mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be, no, no
Radiation underground 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 she stand?

Oh, no, no, no
My sweet Lord
No, no, no, no, no
My, my, my Lord
My sweet Lord
Comments (225)add comment
Great follow up after Spirit's Nature's Way. 
Posted 1 week ago by cinzia1026    [ Reply ]
what was I thinking giving this a mere 9
Posted 1 week ago by AndyKNS    [ Reply ]
My wife just told me “Sorry, but this song always reminds me of The Love Boat”. That makes me sad for her.
Posted 1 month ago by Talus1    [ Reply ]
...and the angels sing!
Posted 2 months ago by laserace    [ Reply ]
For as long as I've enjoyed the most special music I find day and night on RP, this song was a high 8, low 9 for me. And. It. Never. Gets. Old.  It occurred to me on probably the 1000th time I heard it, by whatever measure, if this isn't a 10, seeiously what is?
Posted 4 months ago by KudaRey    [ Reply ]
More perfecter? Coupling it with the song preceding it: God is Love. It’s this ascendant thing that, as it’s about to end you wonder what could be the culmination? And then this. There is beauty in the world!
Posted 5 months ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
Great song. Great album. But not the No. 1 album of all time, in my opinion.
Posted 11 months ago by fishercat    [ Reply ]
 joejennings wrote:



I  Agree!!

glad someone does
Posted 1 year ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
 jp33442 wrote:

one of these rare songs that i wish would be above 10




I  Agree!!
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
one of these rare songs that i wish would be above 10
Posted 1 year ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
I bow to no one... except Marvin. 
Posted 1 year ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
Another one with still so much to do. Of blessed memory Marvin.
Posted 1 year ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
Always liked Marvin from his early days to Sexual Healing.  Just a great voice and so much soul!
Posted 1 year ago by bachbeet    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:

A tear-inducing classic.  So question: what the f*** is it about the race of brilliant human morons that 50 YEARS later we're still having the same freaking conversation? 




For the longest time, I misheard "Don't punish me with brutality" as "reality".
Posted 1 year ago by deenasteinberg    [ Reply ]
Godlike 12
Posted 1 year ago by ciarataylor    [ Reply ]
These go to 11.
Posted 1 year ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
 Stratocaster wrote:

The 10 people who rated this a "1" should never be allowed out of the house.  Ever.



At least in the past 9 years, only 7 more have added their "1" votes. But you are not wrong!
Posted 1 year ago by tnt_thomas    [ Reply ]
 JayHavvic wrote:

You know, the dinosaurs were lucky. They did not know they were going extinct. 



I'm sure i don't know how you could possibly know that!
We've only ever been told what they want us to believe. How do any of us actually KNOW that ANY of it was actually true?

"We learnt more from a 3 minute record baby, than we ever learned in school" - Bruce Springsteen - 'No Surrender'.
The most important thing i ever learnt was from 'Suspect Device' by Stiff Little Fingers  and it was this - "Question everything you're told"
Best advice i ever heard.

Man will destroy this planet, or this planet will cull us before that happens, to  protect itself from us. We are doomed. Meanwhile, enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Let's party!!!!
Posted 1 year ago by springof63    [ Reply ]
You know, the dinosaurs were lucky. They did not know they were going extinct. 
Posted 2 years ago by JayHavvic    [ Reply ]
Instant time-shift out of body experience. Current time and concerns melt away. For a brief moment the body and spirit float in the original whole-body experience of a pit connection to this song.
Posted 2 years ago by Fergs    [ Reply ]
 Stratocaster wrote:

The 10 people who rated this a "1" should never be allowed out of the house.  Ever.



Now it's 17.  This was posted in 2013, so 9 years later, an additional 7 is not so bad.  Still, that number, like so many others, is trending in the wrong direction.  Have mercy on us.  If those 17 don't get it, they should please eat some pcb's.  (go ahead, look that up, we''ll wait.) 
 
Posted 2 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Land is not over crowded, mis-appropriated maybe

still mercury in fish

eugenicist
Posted 2 years ago by Styopa    [ Reply ]
No other voice like Marvin's. Major personal issues aside, his voice was beautiful (and so was he).
Posted 2 years ago by bialia    [ Reply ]
Should be the constant background theme song at Davos... 
Posted 2 years ago by RazzCat    [ Reply ]
The moment this started, I was transported to that special place in my mind where the best songs live forever. Thanks, RP. A solid eternal 10 😊
Posted 2 years ago by SomersetBob    [ Reply ]
 Stratocaster wrote:

The 10 people who rated this a "1" should never be allowed out of the house.  Ever.



They're already out of their mind so what does it matter!
Posted 3 years ago by johnfiva    [ Reply ]
Oh, oh, mercy, mercy me
Oh, things ain't what they used to be...

As true as that is, we should not use "what used to be" as the baseline for making decisions about our environment because what "used to be" may still have been messed up - just not as messed up as what it is today.  

We should have one goal for judging the environment (and ecosystems): Does it (do they) function naturally? 
Posted 3 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
Timeless
Posted 3 years ago by costoonces    [ Reply ]
bliss
Posted 3 years ago by jkforde    [ Reply ]
 Stratocaster wrote:

The 10 people who rated this a "1" should never be allowed out of the house.  Ever.



So shoot everyone with a different opinion? I don't like the song , not the message.
Posted 3 years ago by Meolla_Reio    [ Reply ]
 bitbanger wrote:

Perhaps because these problems are as old as the species. Although there is much that yet needs to be done, we have come a long way in the last 250 years or so.

And this is a great song, easy 10!
 

Posted 3 years ago by bitbanger    [ Reply ]
Marvin hits us with the truth every time this is played.
Posted 3 years ago by meatmike    [ Reply ]
This guy had it goin on 4 sure....9, no less
Posted 3 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
A tear-inducing classic.  So question: what the f*** is it about the race of brilliant human morons that 48 YEARS later we're still having the same freaking conversation? 
 

apparently we're not so brilliant.  and capitalism.
Posted 4 years ago by lynn01    [ Reply ]
 Tomasni wrote:
Only 7 from me
 
Which goes to show how amazing this song is. Normally when someone doesn't like a song as much as the rest of us, they give it a 1 and tell Bill that he's an idiot, along with the rest of us.

In this case, you give it "only 7", which goes to show how excellent this song is. 
Posted 4 years ago by MLavender    [ Reply ]
Amazing how 90% of the votes are an 8 or above. This song deserves it.
Posted 4 years ago by MLavender    [ Reply ]
A tear-inducing classic.  So question: what the f*** is it about the race of brilliant human morons that 50 YEARS later we're still having the same freaking conversation? 
Posted 5 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Only 7 from me
Posted 5 years ago by Tomasni    [ Reply ]
 cherylg4 wrote:
"fish full of mercury" Damn, I thought that was a recent problem.
 
Heh, recent is a relative term.

"Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata city in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan, in 1956. It was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory, which continued from 1932 to 1968. "

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamata_disease
Posted 5 years ago by bbjordan400    [ Reply ]
I just realized Bill doesn't have You're All I Need on the playlist! One of my favorites!
Posted 5 years ago by stevesaw    [ Reply ]
Yes - Thanks Bill for letting it play to the end! Amazing song, esp in only 2:26! 
Posted 5 years ago by stevesaw    [ Reply ]
This song deserves an 11.
Posted 5 years ago by cavemanleong    [ Reply ]
Shame about the "pock" reverb on the snare. Can't unnotice it.
Posted 5 years ago by MattRudely    [ Reply ]
Can I rate it a 10 again?!
Posted 5 years ago by kimschoice    [ Reply ]
marvin almost completely went by me when he was alive when it seemed we listened to a lot of english or southern lads singing the blues or playing metal. he was a true maestro. trouble man is a masterpiece. so much music . . .
Posted 6 years ago by jambo    [ Reply ]
Another prophetic song from the past that is relevant today, {#Frustrated}
Posted 6 years ago by robotbass    [ Reply ]
 Ulises wrote:
 Stratocaster wrote:
The 10 people ...
 
colt4x5 wrote:
... on a tour of the world.
 
Or maybe the problem is the tyranny of the majority.
 
Nothing else tastes like an onion.
Posted 7 years ago by gmichaelt    [ Reply ]
 Stratocaster wrote:
The 10 people who rated this a "1" should never be allowed out of the house.  Ever.

 
colt4x5 wrote:

Maybe that's the issue. Maybe we should take them on a tour of the world.

 
Or maybe the problem is the tyranny of the majority.
Posted 8 years ago by Ulises    [ Reply ]
 LizK wrote:


Thank you.  I never heard the proper end to this song.  It is, as you noted, haunting.  And thank you to BillG, for fixing it so the song could be heard in its entirety.  {#Jump}

 
😊
Posted 8 years ago by Flip_flops    [ Reply ]
oohhh now I'm dancing a few inches above the floor{#Bounce}
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 olivertwist wrote:

Great song, but this is a shortened version that cuts out the haunting keyboards at the end. Please play the entire song!



 

Thank you.  I never heard the proper end to this song.  It is, as you noted, haunting.  And thank you to BillG, for fixing it so the song could be heard in its entirety.  {#Jump}
Posted 9 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
Timeless music.  Unfortunately, so are the lyrics...

I''m so glad Marvin was able to do what he wanted.  His talent got him to a place where he didn't have to toe the line w/ the record exec's and they let him take a chance.  And people bought it.  40 yrs later it is still relevant.  not to mention awesome. 
Posted 9 years ago by dpvest    [ Reply ]
 Djoy wrote:
All time fave - Marvin sends me.  One of the great albums.
You are on quite a roll & here we go Rolling
 

 
Yes.
I used to sit in front of my record player, playing one side through, playing the other side through, thinking, "So *this* is what is possible. I get it now." 


Posted 9 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
 Stratocaster wrote:
The 10 people who rated this a "1" should never be allowed out of the house.  Ever.

 
Maybe that's the issue. Maybe we should take them on a tour of the world.
Posted 9 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
Still relevant and still class.
Posted 9 years ago by Pike    [ Reply ]
A 10 for me.  Don't understand those low votes.
Posted 9 years ago by senorcerveza    [ Reply ]
Sometimes I ignore the words and just listen to the sweet voice. 

Gone too young.
 
Posted 9 years ago by FrankDebbieCote    [ Reply ]
Me likey like.
But not the outro, but hey, Bill very smoothly merged into 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' by Rolling Stones
So I figured that....
{#Clap} 
Posted 10 years ago by ljoergen    [ Reply ]
All time fave - Marvin sends me.  One of the great albums.
You are on quite a roll & here we go Rolling
 
Posted 10 years ago by Djoy    [ Reply ]
 gigio wrote:
Mercy... but this is good enough to make revisit my past... good memories!

 
Good memories indeed!
Posted 10 years ago by ShaunJ    [ Reply ]
Brilliant artist, Mr. Gaye   fabulous song   even the album's cover photo stirs my emotions    Peace
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Mercy... but this is good enough to make revisit my past... good memories!
Posted 10 years ago by gigio    [ Reply ]
 aaronm wrote:
Oh, so that's what it would sound like if you surgically removed all the melodic effort from "What's Going On".

(EDIT: I didn't really care for the song, as my comment would suggest, but I didn't mean to come off like quite that much an a-hole.)

 
There is a very distinctive and beautiful melody to this song, but apparently, you know more about melody and songwriting than Marvin Gaye did.
Posted 10 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Oh, so that's what it would sound like if you surgically removed all the melodic effort from "What's Going On".

(EDIT: I didn't really care for the song, as my comment would suggest, but I didn't mean to come off like quite that much an a-hole.)
Posted 11 years ago by aaronm    [ Reply ]
The 10 people who rated this a "1" should never be allowed out of the house.  Ever.
Posted 11 years ago by Stratocaster    [ Reply ]
Zzzzzzzzzz..........not in the mood for this, i guess.....psd,,,
Posted 11 years ago by jules44    [ Reply ]
 BillG wrote:

Fixed.  Thanks for the reminder.

 

Thanks, Bill!
Posted 11 years ago by olivertwist    [ Reply ]
 olivertwist wrote:

Great song, but this is a shortened version that cuts out the haunting keyboards at the end. Blasphemy - we need to hear the entire song!

 
Fixed.  Thanks for the reminder.
Posted 11 years ago by William    [ Reply ]
Love the echoing percussion, but it reminds me of the depth-sounding noise in submarines from 60s-era movies and/or "Voyage To The Bottom of The Sea." 

Jesus wept, Bill: that was an absolutely butchered segue into "You Can't Always Get What You Want." Normally you're a genius at this kind of thing, though.   
Posted 11 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]

Great song, but this is a shortened version that cuts out the haunting keyboards at the end. Please play the entire song!


Posted 11 years ago by olivertwist    [ Reply ]
 MiracleDrug wrote:
everybody in EVERY room loves this song...
 

Everybody in my church loves this song...

 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
 jimmpypowder wrote:
Good lord what a talent!

If only most singers could sing with this passion!
 
You got  that right, jimmpy.  He died way too young, right at the peak of his career.
Posted 12 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
I never appreciated this song when it came out, but now I can relate.  Mercy, mercy.
Posted 12 years ago by jberko    [ Reply ]
 AliGator wrote:
Looks like BillG hasn't read the comments about the bad segue to Grant-Lee Phillips. *sigh*
 
In Bill's defense: any song would sound bad after the perfection that is Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Posted 12 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
Very, very nice !
Posted 12 years ago by danoodles    [ Reply ]
 Stratocaster wrote:
Godlike.
 
Yep.


Posted 12 years ago by jimmpypowder    [ Reply ]
Good lord what a talent!

If only most singers could sing with this passion!
Posted 12 years ago by jimmpypowder    [ Reply ]
 On Jan 24, 2010, AliGator wrote:
Looks like BillG hasn't read the comments about the bad segue to Grant-Lee Phillips. *sigh*
 
Aaaaand two years later nothing has changed. 

Posted 12 years ago by AliGator    [ Reply ]
Godlike.
Posted 12 years ago by Stratocaster    [ Reply ]
Damn.
Posted 12 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:

Everybody in my hotel room loves this song...
 
 

everybody in EVERY room loves this song...
Posted 13 years ago by MiracleDrug    [ Reply ]
*classic*
Posted 13 years ago by slr242    [ Reply ]
 cc_rider wrote:
Something about this song makes me well up a little bit. Every single time. Damn.
 
gee, I wonder what it could be.
Posted 13 years ago by Red_Dragon    [ Reply ]
As relevant today as it was "in the day."
Posted 13 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 dmax wrote:

Oh, my yes.

That whole song cycle that this is part of is so incredibly brilliant. It's more than a single pop song. Much more.

 
Roger that.  There's a flow to that album you just gotta hear all the way through.

Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
May 21 will mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the album that held this song, "What's Going On." 

Posted 13 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
 AliGator wrote:
Looks like BillG hasn't read the comments about the bad segue to Grant-Lee Phillips. *sigh*
 
+1 ;)

Posted 13 years ago by OHMish    [ Reply ]
Timeless!
Posted 14 years ago by automaticjack    [ Reply ]
So far ahead of his time and his people.  A prophetic song.  And beautiful to boot.

Obama is just getting on message with the ecology some 40 years later...
Posted 14 years ago by garycha    [ Reply ]
Just AWESOME...
Posted 14 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
Love this man! Great stuff...such a shame he's no longer available to create ear candy like this anymore!
Posted 14 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
Something about this song makes me well up a little bit. Every single time. Damn.
Posted 14 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
classic coolness!
Posted 14 years ago by BowTieDad    [ Reply ]
Yes, it is hard not to like this one!{#Cheers}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 AliGator wrote:
Looks like BillG hasn't read the comments about the bad segue to Grant-Lee Phillips. *sigh*
 
+1

Posted 14 years ago by nichomerri    [ Reply ]
 Propayne wrote:
Brilliant. But skip the "best of" and get "What's Going On". Actually, everyone should already have that in there collections.
 
Absolutely!
https://www.brixpicks.com/uploads/media/2009/04_20-04_26/whatsgoingon.jpg
Posted 14 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
I work hard for a living but this darn single click on my computer takes my brain to an easy spot and I just don't have to thinks so darn much... is that Grant?
Posted 14 years ago by ddbz    [ Reply ]

It's a perfect song.


Posted 14 years ago by david1045    [ Reply ]
Brilliant. But skip the "best of" and get "What's Going On". Actually, everyone should already have that in there collections.
Posted 14 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
One of the greatest songs ever made.
Posted 14 years ago by BeyondZero    [ Reply ]
Looks like BillG hasn't read the comments about the bad segue to Grant-Lee Phillips. *sigh*
Posted 14 years ago by AliGator    [ Reply ]
This is a twelve.
Posted 15 years ago by digger    [ Reply ]
 MM13 wrote:

What a beautiful, beautiful story... Goes to show what a true hero Stevie Wonder is. Thomas Dolby just went up a few knotches in my admiration as well, for telling it so heartfelt.

 
seconded, thank you for that...not something I might have ordinarily sought out, but you had such a great review I couldn't resist :)

...oh...and DAMN if Marvin didn't NAIL it :)  ...sent shivers up my spine


Posted 15 years ago by DigitalJer    [ Reply ]
at the time this was playing ( came out) it was not that good to me

 with time it Marvin just seemed to get better and better
  it's  just sweet

 but that was really a short version

Posted 15 years ago by michaelc    [ Reply ]
Marvin was way ahead of the curve here. = => 10.
Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
 sirrus wrote:

I couldn't find anything about it with a brief Google search, but I did turn up this gem:

Stevie and Marvin

I really do love the internet sometimes...

 
What a beautiful, beautiful story... Goes to show what a true hero Stevie Wonder is. Thomas Dolby just went up a few knotches in my admiration as well, for telling it so heartfelt.

Posted 15 years ago by MM13    [ Reply ]
One of the ALL-TIME GREATS - both Song & (most of all) Artist
Posted 15 years ago by sacton    [ Reply ]
 preineil wrote:
Can someone confirm a story I'd heard about Stevie and Marvin?
Stevie was receiving some music award and upon taking the stage, invited Marvin up, and reminded the judges about Marvin's two recent songs: Mercy Mercy Me and What's Going On. He told the judges that Marvin deserved the award more than he and walked off stage, leaving his award with a slack jawed Marvin. ?? Gotta love Marvin at his best.
 
I couldn't find anything about it with a brief Google search, but I did turn up this gem:

Stevie and Marvin

I really do love the internet sometimes...

Posted 15 years ago by sirrus    [ Reply ]
The Ecology! Perfect song for MAY DAY! {#Mrgreen}
Posted 15 years ago by redstorm    [ Reply ]
 kaybee wrote:
A 7 as it stands and it'll get an 8 or a 9 as soon as it is played in full as it's meant to be. {#Naughty}
 

Is the song rating intended to be for Radio Paradise or the song?
Posted 15 years ago by Jim__Sheila    [ Reply ]
Divine.
Posted 15 years ago by etcarroll    [ Reply ]
 velvetglove wrote:
Cutting off Marvin Gaye in favor of Grant-Lee Phillips. For shame.
 
This hasn't been fixed yet.  Very BAD!  {#Razz} (The cut-off and poor segue, I mean, NOT the song!!!!)

Posted 15 years ago by gekkosan    [ Reply ]
A GREAT Marvin Gaye tribute album to anyone interested: Inner City Blues: The Music of Marvin Gaye

 

Posted 15 years ago by BoneRoller    [ Reply ]
Marvin Gaye Mercy Mercy me (the Ecology) 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,and south, and east
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 under 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 she stand?
My sweet Lord
My sweet Lord
My sweet Lord
Lyrics: Mercy Mercy me (the Ecology), Marvin Gaye

Posted 15 years ago by fuh2    [ Reply ]
Totally strong, how can you sing so sweet, and be so strong? God the concerts you and your fellas must be giving in Heaven!!! Gone way too soon..... RIP, my brother


Posted 15 years ago by redstorm    [ Reply ]
A 7 as it stands and it'll get an 8 or a 9 as soon as it is played in full as it's meant to be. {#Naughty}
Posted 16 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
Sheer, timeless bliss!
Posted 16 years ago by jools    [ Reply ]
This song always reminds me of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. That beat in the background kind of sounds like the sonar bong you always heard.

I'm not complaining! This song is excellent and got a 9 outa me! 
Posted 16 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
And I'll add my voice to the others below. That was a crappy segue. Does someone need to upload the entire song, or what?
Posted 16 years ago by AliGator    [ Reply ]
spumoni wrote:
Marvin Gaye?
Marvin Gaye.
Posted 16 years ago by AliGator    [ Reply ]