Life Through Music: “Mercy” by Dave Mathews Band

Now, I’m not going to lie to you the first few times I put Dave Matthew's newest album “Away From The World” in my CD player (yes, I still have a CD player) I really wasn’t feeling it. In my defense when talking to a coworker who is a huge Dave Mathews fan (who also shared a similar feeling of the album when we spoke) I said, “I’m going to have to play it some more and let it set in”. Well, I have let it set in and this album...*takes a moment to pause* is amazing. I get chills just thinking of what an impact this album has made on me in just a short period of time. Wow. I love music. 

There is so much I have taken from this album I don’t even know where to begin. So, I guess that I will start at the song “Mercy”. On the album there is two version of this song. One version is the album version and the other version is a live version. Both are very moving and I love the song so much its awesome to get to hear it twice before the album finishes. I picked this song in particular because in light of the Boston bombings of a few weeks ago I have been questioning what is the world that we are living in headed too? This is such a big question and to each one of us we all have our own opinion. For me its always necessary to question life. It’s part of how I process life and the craziness that is. What my questions about life always leads me back to is hope and love. 

Always love. 

I can’t predict the future nor would I want to, but I can fill my future with as much love and hope as I can. Oh and how I do these days. Considering this recent situation and all the other ones before & after it we can take the opportunity to change ourselves. We can do this by deciding what things we value that are truly important to us by waking up to reality. Remember for every bad person in this world there are a million more good people. The more people there are in this world however the harder it seems to get along peacefully. We as Americans seemed so shocked by the bombings in Boston when in fact many places in this world deal with this type of threat daily. I remember talking to an old coworker years ago at my last job who lived in Israel during his childhood. He told me whenever you saw someone during the day you always told them everything you needed to tell them because you never knew if that was the last time you would see them. What a way to live. It’s actually very much how I try to live my life everyday. Because regardless of what you tell yourself at night we all will not be here forever. That may sound a little negative, but in actuality if you can wrap your head around that and live every moment to the fullest then you will really begin to live. I truly cherish ever moment I have in life. I try to appreciate those that are in my life as much as possible and love them for who they are no matter what.

Always love.

Reading through the lyrics just now to gather my direct thoughts to the lyrics themselves  and I’m still taken back by how awesome they are. I haven’t had a song speak so close to my heart in a long time. 

Don't give up 

I know you can see 

All the world and the mess that were making 

Can't give up 

And hope God will intercede 

Come on back 

(Some sit around and wait for something or someone to step up to wave that magic wand and make it all better. We all are the magic wand and we are capable of such great things if only we allow it.) 

Imagine that we could get it together 

Stand up for what we need to be 

Cause crime won't save our feet or hungry child 

Can't lay down and hope no miracles change things 

So lift up your eyes 

Lift up your heart 

(Yes, IMAGINE. John Lennon spoke of a similar message. We are the miracles. Every single one of us is just that... a miracle. So, don’t let your head fall. Instead rise up and accept it. Lift up your heart and love.) 

Singing mercy will we overcome this 

Oh one by one could we turn it around 

Maybe carry on just a little bit longer 

And I try to give you what you need 

(One by one we can be the change we want. Change the things you value and you will see that you have everything you need.)

Me and you and you and you 

Just want to be free yeah 

(*points at you and you and you*)

But you see all the world is just as we've made it 

And until we got a new world 

(We are the world we create and we have no one to blame but ourselves.) 

Got to say that love is not a whisper or a weakness 

No love is strong 

(This is probably the most powerful message in this song to me. I remember my sister posting a quote on Facebook that said, “Love is louder”. That thought is truly moving.) 

So we got to get together yeah 

Gotta get gotta get gotta get 

Til there is no reason 

To fight 

(Till there is no reason to fight...god wouldn’t that be awesome. My heart overflows with joy just thinking about it.)

Mercy will we overcome this 

Oh one by one could we turn it around 

Maybe carry on just a little bit longer 

And I try to give you what you need 

One by one....

Yeah... 

Ah... 

Oh... 

Yeah... 

Mercy will we overcome this 

Oh we come to far to turn it around 

Oh and asked too much to be a little bit stronger 

But I want to give you what you need 

Mercy what will become of us 

Oh one by one could we turn it around 

Maybe carry on just a little bit longer 

And I try to give you what you need

We will overcome this....

I know that every time something this bad happens everyone goes back to that Mr. Rogers quote about his mom telling him when something tragic happens to always look for the helpers. The people that rise above the tragedy and with absolute love help others. Well, I don’t want to label myself as such, but I will say that why I write is to help anyone willing to listen. I may not always be right or know the answers, but I give you my whole heart. It is my way of giving back. To move people. To help people. To love. Because in the end I want to be remembered for nothing more than those three things. If for nothing else I hope that you find solace, peace, and above all love in my words. Darkness only makes the light brighter. Be the light. 

One by one...

As always I bring this to you will so much love and pure D-lite. = )