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Richard Shindell — Mercy Street
Album: South Of Delia
Avg rating:
5.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 136









Released: 0
Length: 4:13
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Peter Gabriel

for anne sexton

looking down on empty streets, all she can see
are the dreams all made solid
are the dreams all made real

all of the buildings, all of those cars
were once just a dream
in somebody's head

she pictures the broken glass, she pictures the steam
she pictures a soul
with no leak at the seam

lets take the boat out
wait until darkness
let's take the boat out
wait until darkness comes

nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey
nowhere in the suburbs
in the cold light of day

there in the midst of it so alive and alone
words support like bone

dreaming of mercy st.
wear your inside out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy('s arms again
dreaming of mercy st.
'swear they moved that sign
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms

pulling out the papers from the drawers that slide smooth
tugging at the darkness, word upon word

confessing all the secret things in the warm velvet box
to the priest-he's the doctor
he can handle the shocks

dreaming of the tenderness-the tremble in the hips
of kissing Mary's lips

dreaming of mercy st.
wear your insides out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms again
dreaming of mercy st.
'swear they moved that sign
looking for mercy
in your daddy's arms

mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
mercy, mercy, looking for mercy

Anne, with her father is out in the boat
riding the water
riding the waves on the sea
Comments (51)add comment
why not play Elbows magnificent cover.
Posted 1 year ago by TheKing2    [ Reply ]
jadewahoo wrote:
Whiny. Passionless. Contributes nothing beyond the original.Lessens it, IMHO. WAIT... I RATED IT A 2. I AM GOING TO CHANGE THAT TO A 1.
Feel better now?
Posted 17 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
Whiny. Passionless. Contributes nothing beyond the original.Lessens it, IMHO. WAIT... I RATED IT A 2. I AM GOING TO CHANGE THAT TO A 1.
Posted 17 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
WOW!! From the feedback on this song I would think there were NO Richard Shindell fans... When an artist covers another the goal isn't just to cover the original, but to make that song his/her own. If this sounded EXACTLY like PG people would still not be happy. Listen to this song as a Richard Shindell song. NOT a PG. If PG DIDN'T like this song would he have allowed it to be released? Food for thought... S~
Posted 17 years ago by dharmanavy    [ Reply ]
bluedot wrote:
hey, suddenly, REAL PG is playing on RP!
Shazzam! Again...but it doesn't wash away the stain of aural muzak.
Posted 17 years ago by Roach    [ Reply ]
If this cover was a color it would be beige.
Posted 17 years ago by Detlaps    [ Reply ]
Nice try, but no cigar.
Posted 17 years ago by Ngoziman    [ Reply ]
Beanie wrote:
England Dan and John Ford Coley make their long-awated comback on Shaking the Shoebox: An Old-Timer's Guide to Peter Gabriel
Posted 17 years ago by maryte    [ Reply ]
The more I hear this one the more I really like it. Stripped bare it shows the fundamental beauty of the composition. And Shindell's voice does it credit.
Posted 17 years ago by Marr    [ Reply ]
No, no, no. Some songs should just be left alone.
Posted 17 years ago by weevilkinevil    [ Reply ]
oufason wrote:
Nice, but it just makes me want to pull out the PG CD.
Agreed.
Posted 17 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
"I'll take a double shot in my latte...and can I have a change for a $5... I'd like to give the guy a couple of bucks on my way out."
Posted 17 years ago by edward604    [ Reply ]
Nice, but it just makes me want to pull out the PG CD.
Posted 17 years ago by oufason    [ Reply ]
well, i gave it a 7 for bravery. covering peter gabriel is a challenge. but it doesn't really succeed because its net effect is to make me wish i were actually listening to PG. hey, suddenly, REAL PG is playing on RP! TTYL
Posted 17 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
Why take a brilliant track and turn it into an unimaginative, plodding shadow of its former self?
Posted 17 years ago by mongoose01ca    [ Reply ]
I would much rather hear PG. I don't think enough was done with this version to make it Richard Shindell's own.
Posted 17 years ago by h2o2kat    [ Reply ]
I usually don't make negative comments on RP. I feel that Bill's choices of music are usually spot on. But this song is Marginal at best. No sir, don't like it. It sounds like an injured James Taylor singing. Sorry, it gets a 2.
Posted 17 years ago by slugore    [ Reply ]
make it stop
Posted 17 years ago by PhilSpaces    [ Reply ]
very nice.
Posted 17 years ago by zipper    [ Reply ]
skdenfeld wrote:
Hmm...I think it's the strength of PG's composition that makes this sound so nice. When a song is adaptable to other instrumentations and interpretations, it shows the quality of the original. This fine rendition does honor to Peter Gabriel.
Yes, Peter Gabriel deserves honor. This does not.
Posted 17 years ago by rumplestiltskin    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by ahoylola    [ Reply ]
sqqqrly wrote:
I had to turn this off...
again
Posted 17 years ago by sqqqrly    [ Reply ]
This guy has balls to throw a cover of one among PG best songs. Was it part of the PG initiative to let cover his songs as a curiosity ?
Posted 17 years ago by Chumbawamba-1984    [ Reply ]
I see plenty of comments from Peter Gabriel fans, but what about Richard Shindell fans...what do you guys think of this latest album? I haven't picked it up yet.
Posted 17 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
Ho Hum, at best.
Posted 17 years ago by pigglywiggly    [ Reply ]
Beanie wrote:
England Dan and John Ford Coley make their long-awated comback on Shaking the Muzak: An Easy-Listening Guide to Peter Gabriel
That's really funny! I actually don't find this too offensive however. Maybe it's just because I like this song so much, I'm okay with listening to different renditions.
Posted 17 years ago by siandbeth    [ Reply ]
tapatia wrote:
It's beyond weak - weak doesn't go far enough. I do not think the words "bloody awful" would be too strong for this version, especially when compared against Peter Gabriel's rendition of what I would call one of his best works.
Agreed, this is bad.
Posted 17 years ago by DrCyKosis    [ Reply ]
First heard Richard Shindell on RP some time back. Bill used to play Fishing which I always like hearing. Good to hear something new from him. Oh yeah I like this version of a great PG song.
Posted 17 years ago by SDBob    [ Reply ]
Interesting replies. it seems you either liked or disliked. I am a huge PG fan, but think the strength of a song is how well it holds up over time. Thinks classical music. Everyone has re-made everything 10 times over, but I never tire of someone else's rendition. Also, copying is the sincerest form of flattery.
Posted 17 years ago by deadalus451    [ Reply ]
davin wrote:
Hrmmm this is weak compared to the original. Makes me appreciate PG's dynamics in composition more.
I agree. When the song is laid bare like this, it becomes clear how wonderful a writer PG really is.
Posted 17 years ago by felix_the_man    [ Reply ]
England Dan and John Ford Coley make their long-awated comback on Shaking the Shoebox: An Old-Timer's Guide to Peter Gabriel
Posted 17 years ago by Beanie    [ Reply ]
I had to turn this off...
Posted 17 years ago by sqqqrly    [ Reply ]
Why remake a song that is already perfect?
Posted 17 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
I agree with the majority. It takes chutzpah to attempt covering such a beloved and iconic tune, and he does quite nicely, thank you.
Posted 17 years ago by aflanigan    [ Reply ]
davin wrote:
Hrmmm this is weak compared to the original. Makes me appreciate PG's dynamics in composition more.
It's beyond weak - weak doesn't go far enough. I do not think the words "bloody awful" would be too strong for this version, especially when compared against Peter Gabriel's rendition of what I would call one of his best works.
Posted 17 years ago by tapatia    [ Reply ]
Not to my taste, but it did make me think about how awesome it would be if the Barenaked Ladies did a cover of this song.
Posted 17 years ago by Squirrel    [ Reply ]
davin wrote:
Hrmmm this is weak compared to the original. Makes me appreciate PG's dynamics in composition more.
Hmm...I think it's the strength of PG's composition that makes this sound so nice. When a song is adaptable to other instrumentations and interpretations, it shows the quality of the original. This fine rendition does honor to Peter Gabriel.
Posted 17 years ago by skdenfeld    [ Reply ]
I'm with deadalus. I love PG, but I'm really enjoying this cover.
Posted 17 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Though the range is definitely smaller, I actually like the more sedate languishing feeling of this version. Thanks, Bill!
Posted 17 years ago by maplebed    [ Reply ]
Here is someone covering one of my favourite songs in the whole wide world and while no match for the orginal with its wonderful atmospheric arrangement I don't actually want to turn the stream off so it must be OK at least. 5 for the rendition and another 2 for having a great taste in cover versions!!
Posted 17 years ago by tiggers    [ Reply ]
Cry, Cry, Cry....... https://www.rambles.net/crycrycry.html
Posted 17 years ago by mgoldman    [ Reply ]
Not bad.
Posted 17 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
Interesting! Never heard this cover before.
Posted 17 years ago by Ubaldo    [ Reply ]
Have not heard this version, lovely song. I am impressed with every musician who play with his/her heart. I should try to learn this version....worth playing on the deck with a beer and a spliff.
Posted 17 years ago by deadalus451    [ Reply ]
Hrmmm this is weak compared to the original. Makes me appreciate PG's dynamics in composition more.
Posted 17 years ago by davin    [ Reply ]
Love Shindell
Posted 17 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
Sounded so Irish - was surprised to find out he's from New Jersey. Does not come close to PG anyway, sorry.
Posted 17 years ago by Karmala    [ Reply ]
I've been a Gabriel fan since the early days of Genesis, but I'm finding this upstart's treatment more alluring than the original! Very nice!
Posted 17 years ago by dorkmeister    [ Reply ]
Meh. I guess it has no hope of comparing to PG, but I find this cover very plodding and predictable. Sounds like Valium. :P
Posted 17 years ago by Sarcasm-hime    [ Reply ]
Not a huge fan of covers. But I like them better when they are little different from the original. I think that Richard Shindell pulled off a great cover. Alvaro
Posted 17 years ago by alvarorb    [ Reply ]
not in the ballpark of PG, but what the heck, you gotta like his taste in covers.
Posted 17 years ago by bluematrix    [ Reply ]