The Mercy Seat (5:08)

“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 phrase “the mercy seat” is a reference to Milton’s Paradise Lost and 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 yearning To be done with all this measuring of 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.

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.