Elaboration on Shawn Mendes' "MERCY"

Source: shawn-mendes.com

The Lyrics: 1. You've got a hold of me
Don't even know your power
I stand a hundred feet
But I fall when I'm around you

- Your dominance is inescapable; it is unbearable, and I no longer can tolerate your overpower. The difference of "YOU" sets you apart from all other people. Can I ever figure out what characterises you to have such great influence upon me, the influence I cannot possibly either ignore or resist. No other person before had such power over my heart, and I never thought nor believed that a person will ever do, till you came. Is it possible for one person to have such magnificent strength over another without even the bare knowledge of it! You do not realise your strong effect that makes others vanish; your luminance shines throughout me I cease to exist but for you. Irresistible as you are, my submission only and solely occurs because of you.

2. Show me an open door
Then you go and slam it on me
I can't take anymore
I'm saying baby

- The moment your guidance begins is the same it ends. I am denied your heart, your help, your being; my heart cannot bear the weight of such burden anymore. What are you to me? A guider, a friend, a lover! How am I supposed to handle "YOU" as you are, without change! Isn't it sure that each one inflicts a certain change upon his other half - I half-existed before you! Yet with you my influence is way too weak to affect you. You abandoned me any help or guidance, any care or love; yet it is impossible to give you up. I will not surrender!

3. Please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart

- Mercy upon my core is all I am asking for. My breakdown shall occur for you won't cease being you. Despite your harmless intentions, your intuitive actions are splitting me into million pieces; I am shredded. Your unintended intentions wound my soul. Can you ever pour mercy upon my hurt core? You damaged me, hence it is the responsibility you do not want to carry out to relief me, and have mercy on my heart - yet although it is an ultimatum I wish you'd fulfil, still you are not forced to comply.

4. I'd drive through the night
Just to be near you baby
Heart open, testify
Tell me that I'm not crazy

- I'd be there for you no matter the circumstances; and despite any reason, I'd be there for you to indulge in your existence, to drown in your aura, and to be overwhelmed by your halo. I am not hiding a thing from you; you know it all. Guide me out from my dreadful hesitation; my indecision might as well bring me my end as your mercilessness. You got the resolution to my dilemma; prove to me I am not crazy, because I might be one with no YOU in my universe.

5. I'm not asking for a lot
Just that you're honest with me
My pride is all I got
I'm saying baby

- It is not much which I am asking you for; it is not some thing which you cannot carry out. All I need is your honesty. Be honest and alter my sufferings into blissfulness. If not so, you are depriving me my pride / ego, the only constituent that is keeping me wholesome being. Don't you hear my calling for your help!

6. Please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me
I'm a puppet on your strings
And even though you got good intentions
I need you to set me free
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart
Would you please have mercy, mercy on my heart

- Mercy is all I need from you; mercy on my heart. Your intentions, though innocently harmless, still tear me apart. You are controlling my whole being, like I am a performer in your grand theatre. Still, your good deliberate intents will not force me stop seeking my freedom from your domination. So, would you bestow your mercy on my heart?

7. Consuming all the air inside my lungs
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I would gladly do it twice
Consuming all the air inside my lungs
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I would gladly do it twice

- I am out of breath, air is fading away, and I am squeezing my lungs to survive. I consumed my power begging you to have mercy on me; yet with no result. Tearing the skin away from my bones feels the same as your abandonment. And despite your knowledge that I'd sacrifice and offer my life to you willingly, that I am all bursting with readiness to breathe the same melody as yours, still nothing's changed!

** Shawn Mendes performing the above part, shows his full commitment to show real feelings of a broken, devastated, mercy-seeking person, through his melodic voice; he puts his soul in his performance - especially the above lyrical lines - one definitely cannot help but feel that Mendes has been through an emotionally painful heart-breaking relationship. He is not a mere singer, but he is a performer communicating the message underneath each song of his by means of his voice.

Source: shawn-mendes.com

8. Oh, please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me
I'm a puppet on your string
And even though you got good intentions
I need you to set me free
I'm begging you for mercy, mercy (on my heart)
I'm begging you, begging you please baby
I'm begging you for mercy, mercy (on my heart)
Oh, I'm begging you, I'm begging you, yeah

- Would you gently end my misery? My forbearance is no longer as strong as before. My heart is being torn into thousand pieces, pieces I cannot gather nor reclaim. Your peaceful intention is altered and I am the one who is suffering because of YOU. Mercy is all I need. Set me free from your controllability, break the shackles pinning me to ground; your goodness is no longer good. Set me free! Pour mercy upon my heart; soothe my core; bring me back my serenity; listen to my callings and end my sufferings.