The Mercy Seat

nick cave • mick harvey

it all began when they come took me from my home and put me on Death Row
a crime for which I am totally innocent you know

I began to warm and chill to objects and their fields
a ragged cup • a twisted mop • the face of Jesus in my soup
those sinister dinner deals • the meal trolley's wicked wheels
a hooked bone rising from my food
all things either good or ungood

and the mercy seat is waiting • and I think my head is burning
and in a way I'm yearning to be done with all this weighing of the 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

I hear stories from the chamber : Christ was born into a manger
and like some ragged stranger he died upon the cross
might I say : it seems so fitting in its way
he was a carpenter by trade or at least that's what I'm told

my kill-hand's tatooed E.V.I.L. across it's brother's fist
that filthy five ! they did nothing to challenge or resist

in Heaven His throne is made of gold • the ark of his testament is stowed
a throne from which I'm told all history does unfold
it's made of wood and wire and my body is on fire
and God is never far away

into the mercy seat I climb : my head is shaved • my head is wired
and like a moth that tries to enter the bright eye
I go shuffling out of life just to hide in death awhile
and anyway I never lied

and the mercy seat is waiting • and I think my head is burning
and in a way I'm yearning to be done with all this weighing of the 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

and the mercy seat is burning • and I think my head is glowing
and in a way I'm hoping to be done with all this twisting of the truth
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
and anyway there was no proof and I'm not afraid to die

and the mercy seat is glowing • and I think my head is smoking
and in a way I'm hoping to be done with all these looks of disbelief
a life for a life and a truth for a truth
and I've got nothing left to lose and I'm not afraid to die

and the mercy seat is smoking • and I think my head is melting
and in a way that's helping to be done with all this twisting of the truth
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
and anyway I told the truth ... but I'm afraid I told a lie ...