Mercy Street - Peter Gabriel



for Anne Sexton

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

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

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

let's 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 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

Rupert said…
ya know, in On Beauty, when Zora is arguing for the Boston hip-hop street kid to be allowed into the Ivy league poetry class - I kept thinking she should bring up the example of non-academic Sexton being accepted in that critique group of Lowell's that had Plath and Asbury, Kumin, Wilbur etc. in Boston, late 50's - thanks for the Gabriel link - very cool
Collin Kelley said…
Zora was a brilliant character in On Beauty, and I do remember that scene. I'm going to have to read the book again...I really, really loved it.

The Gabriel song is one of my all time favorites. It's how I discovered Anne Sexton back in 1986 as an impressionable teen. Oh, crap. I just realized that was 20 years ago. Sigh.
awww, you have a slight southern accent, sir.
Anonymous said…
Pretty and sad at the same time.

GAV
M. Shahin said…
That was very good; thanks for sharing.

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