Mercy – English Lyrics

• By: Brett Young

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw emotions of Brett Young's "Mercy," a powerful country ballad that perfectly encapsulates the pain and longing of a breakup. This song is an excellent choice for English language learners due to its clear, relatable lyrics and Brett Young's expressive, easy-to-understand vocals. You'll not only grasp common expressions related to love and heartbreak but also experience how language can convey deep, universal human feelings, making the learning process both meaningful and memorable. Its straightforward narrative of asking for a clean break in a relationship offers a simple yet profound context for understanding vocabulary and emotional nuances in English.

[English]

♪♪♪

♪ MERCY ♪

♪ WHY YOU GOTTA SHOW UP LOOKIN' SO GOOD JUST TO HURT ME ♪

♪ WHY YOU WANNA STOP THIS WHOLE DAMN WORLD FROM TURNIN' ♪

♪ MERCY ♪

♪ WHY YOU HANGIN' ON SO TIGHT IF THIS AIN'T WORKIN' ♪

♪ WHY YOU WANNA STOP THIS FLAME IF IT'S STILL BURNIN' ♪

♪ 'CAUSE IT'S STILL BURNIN' ♪

♪ SO IF YOU'RE GONNA BREAK MY HEART, JUST BREAK IT ♪

♪ AND IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR SHOT, THEN TAKE IT, TAKE IT ♪

♪ IF YOU'VE MADE UP YOUR MIND, THEN MAKE IT ♪

♪ BUT MAKE THIS FAST ♪

♪ IF YOU EVER LOVED ME, HAVE MERCY ♪

♪ IF YOU GO OUT TONIGHT AND GET DRUNK AND LONELY ♪

♪ AND WIND UP HOME ALONE, PLEASE DON'T CALL ME ♪

♪ AND SAY YOU MISS ME, NO ♪

♪ IF YOU'RE GONNA BREAK MY HEART, JUST BREAK IT ♪

♪ AND IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR SHOT, THEN TAKE IT, TAKE IT ♪

♪ IF YOU'VE MADE UP YOUR MIND, THEN MAKE IT ♪

♪ BUT MAKE THIS FAST ♪

♪ IF YOU EVER LOVED ME, HAVE MERCY ♪

♪ WHOA ♪

♪ OH, HAVE MERCY ♪

♪ IF YOU'RE GONNA BREAK MY HEART, JUST BREAK IT ♪

♪ AND IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR SHOT, TAKE IT, TAKE IT ♪

♪ WHOA, IF YOU'RE GONNA BREAK MY HEART, JUST BREAK IT ♪

♪ AND IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR SHOT, THEN TAKE IT, TAKE IT ♪

♪ IF YOU'VE MADE UP YOUR MIND, THEN MAKE IT ♪

♪ MAKE THIS FAST ♪

♪ IF YOU EVER LOVED ME ♪

♪ HMM, IF YOU EVER LOVED ME, HAVE MERCY ♪

♪ OH, HAVE MERCY ♪

♪ OH, HAVE MERCY ♪

♪ HAVE MERCY ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mercy /ˈmɜːrsi/ B1	noun - compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - to cause pain or injury
show /ʃoʊ/ A2	verb - to display or present to others
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - having desirable qualities
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	adjective - feeling pain or soreness
stop /stɒp/ A2	verb - to cease movement or action
world /wɜːrld/ A2	noun - the Earth or universe
hang /hæŋ/ B1	verb - to suspend or attach
fire /faɪər/ B2	noun - combustion that produces heat and light verb - to ignite or light
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood
make /meɪk/ A2	verb - to create or construct
break /breɪk/ B1	verb - to cause to separate into parts
take /teɪk/ A2	verb - to get or acquire
thought /θɔːt/ B2	noun - an idea or opinion produced by thinking
mind /maɪnd/ B1	noun - the part of a person that thinks and reasons

Key Grammar Structures

• WHY YOU GOTTA SHOW UP LOOKIN' SO GOOD JUST TO HURT ME

  ➔ "Gotta" (got to) informal usage, infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "Gotta" is a colloquial contraction of "got to," meaning "have to." The infinitive of purpose "to hurt me" explains the reason for showing up looking good.

• WHY YOU WANNA STOP THIS WHOLE DAMN WORLD FROM TURNIN'

  ➔ Question formation, Informal grammar ("wanna" for "want to"), preposition "from" indicating prevention.

  ➔ The sentence questions the subject's desire to prevent the world from turning. "Wanna" is a shortened form of "want to". The preposition "from" shows what is being prevented.

• IF YOU'RE GONNA BREAK MY HEART, JUST BREAK IT

  ➔ Conditional sentence type 1 (If + Present Simple, Future Simple), imperative mood.

  ➔ This sentence expresses a real possibility. The "if" clause presents a condition, and the main clause expresses the likely result if that condition is met. "Just break it" is an imperative, a direct command.

• AND IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR SHOT, THEN TAKE IT, TAKE IT

  ➔ Conditional sentence (similar to above), repetition for emphasis, imperative mood.

  ➔ Similar to the previous line, this is a conditional sentence with an imperative. The repetition of "take it" emphasizes the speaker's desire for a quick and decisive action.

• IF YOU'VE MADE UP YOUR MIND, THEN MAKE IT

  ➔ Conditional sentence, present perfect in the if-clause, imperative mood.

  ➔ The use of the present perfect "you've made up your mind" implies that the decision is already complete in the speaker's view. "Make it" is an imperative urging the other person to act on that decision.

• BUT MAKE THIS FAST

  ➔ Imperative Mood, demonstrative pronoun (this)

  ➔ This is a direct order emphasizing the need for swift action. "This" refers to the action of breaking the heart or taking the shot, as mentioned previously.

• IF YOU EVER LOVED ME, HAVE MERCY

  ➔ Conditional sentence (implied type 2), use of "ever" for emphasis, imperative mood.

  ➔ This sentence appeals to past affection. The implied type 2 conditional suggests the speaker doubts the other person's love. "Ever" intensifies the possibility of past love, and "have mercy" is a strong plea for compassion.

• AND WIND UP HOME ALONE, PLEASE DON'T CALL ME

  ➔ Phrasal verb ("wind up"), negative imperative ("don't call").

  ➔ "Wind up" means to end up in a particular situation, often unexpectedly. "Don't call me" is a negative imperative expressing a strong desire to be left alone.