Mercy's Shore

Album: Out Of Body (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Needtobreathe frontman Bear Rinehart is tired and weary as he battles the difficulties life throws at us all. Wounded, broken and feeling lost, he cries out and is washed up on mercy's shore.

    I see the light but never find the surface
    I don't know if I can swim no more
    White knuckles and wild horses
    One day we'll wash up on mercy's shore


    Rinehart explained to American Songwriter: "The idea of the mercy shore is about giving way to a power that is much stronger and important than us. Despite our struggles, we're all eventually faced with the same understanding that we can't do it alone."
  • Rinehart penned this song with his guitarist friend Tyler Burkum, who was a member of Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline between 1997 and 2007. They write of a kid asleep in a car as a metaphor for how we all need somebody.

    We're a child in the car asleep
    In the driveway at night
    Our mother's gonna slowly sneak
    Our body inside
    We can rest in the arms of trust


    Rinehart explained to Apple Music that he wants to recapture that trust and vulnerability he had as a sleeping child. "When a kid is asleep in their car when they get home, how a parent or loved one takes them inside, there's a complete trust, and they don't wake up," he said. "Everybody either has kids or at least remembers being a kid when that happened and how sweet that was. The song is about the realization that we all need somebody. It's awesome that kids have that innately, and it takes us a lifetime to figure it out."
  • The video features Nashville Ballet's Truman Lemire portraying the song's message of reaching out for help when you find you're at the ends of yourself. Lemire's performance is mixed with clips of the band playing the track. The Out Of Body album cover also features the ballet dancer.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Amanda Palmer

Amanda PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.