Brian Wilson - Love and Mercy

First performance: 12/05/2007

Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song only once:
 
Together with Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson (and his band)
 
2007-05-12 Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ 
 
During the fifth Annual Benefit for the Count Basie Theatre Foundation. Bruce guests on guitar on "Barbara Ann" and then several songs later returns to the stage and provides harmony vocals on the show-closer, 'Love And Mercy'. Bruce and Brian also co-autographed a Challenger surfboard that sold for $7,500 at the pre-concert charity auction. 
 
 
  

Songinfo

"Love and Mercy" is a song written by Brian Wilson and the opening track to his 1988 debut solo album Brian Wilson.
 
Wilson has said of the song:
 
"I was in my piano room, playing "What the World Needs Now," and I just went into my own song…worked very hard to get out what was in my heart on that one…it’s a personal message from me to people.…We wanted people to be covered with love, because there’s no guarantee of somebody waking up in the morning with any love. It goes away, like a bad dream. It disappears. Mercy would be a deeper word than love. I would think love is a gentle thing and mercy would be more desperate, ultimately more desperately needed, thing in life. Mercy–a little break here and there for somebody who’s having trouble.…"Love and Mercy" is probably the most spiritual song I’ve ever written."
 
"Love and Mercy" serves the title of the biopic film Love & Mercy (2014), based on Wilson's life.
 
 
  

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

I was sittin' in a crummy movie
With my hands on my chin
All the violence that occurs
Seems like we never win

Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight
So love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

I was lying in my room
And the news came on TV
A lotta people out there hurtin'
And it really scares me

Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight
Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

I was standing in a bar
And watching all the people there
Oh, the loneliness in this world
Well it's just not fair

Hey, love and mercy, that's what we need tonight
So love and mercy to you and your friends tonight
Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight
Love and mercy tonight
Love and mercy tonight