Love and Mercy

Album: Brian Wilson (1988)
Play Video


  • I was sittin' in a crummy movie with my hands on my chin

    Oh the violence that occurs seems like we never win


    Love and mercy that's what you need tonight

    So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight


    I was lyin' in my room and the news came on T.V.

    A lotta people out there hurtin' and it really scares me


    Love and mercy that's what you need tonight

    So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight


    I was standin' in a bar and watchin' all the people there

    Oh the lonliness in this world well it's just not fair


    Oooooo-ooooooo-ooooooo

    Oooooo-ooooooo-ooooooo-ooooooo-ooooooo

    Ahhhhh-ahhhhhh-ahhhhhh-ohhhhhh-ohhhhhh


    Hey love and mercy that's what you need tonight

    So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight


    Love and mercy that's what you need tonight

    Love and mercy tonight


    Love and mercy



    Writer/s: Brian Douglas Wilson
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Gav from LouisianaThe harmonies at the end are incredible. Rest in peace to the immortal Brian Wilson.
  • Jim from Ocean Grove, NjBrian Wilson is a musical genius. He wrote all the great Beach Boys songs that some guys with Mike Love still perform. After finishing the spectacular album Pet Sounds, Brian created the song Good Vibrations and was working on an album called Smile. But, Brian was overwhelmed by Sargent Peppers by the Beatles and felt he could not write songs as good (remember Beatles had 3 songwriters) and he started having psychiatric problems.
    After 20 years, Brian finally began to record again and opened his 1988 solo album with this gem. He is basically talking about how difficult it can be living in this world. When you look around, you see loneliness, people drinking to escape, tragedies shown on TV, violence in movies. But, love and mercy TONIGHT, one day at a time, can help you keep going rather than sink into depression.
    The harmonies are as beautiful and sublime as songs by the Beach Boys in the 1960s.
    See the movie, Love and Mercy. Excellent.
    And, if you get a chance, see Brian live, still performing in 2017 with a great band.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets

Curt Kirkwood of Meat PuppetsSongwriter Interviews

The (Meat)puppetmaster takes us through songs like "Lake Of Fire" and "Backwater," and talks about performing with Kurt Cobain on MTV Unplugged.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.