Mercy Seat

Johnny Cash | Format: MP3 Download
From the Album Unearthed

Product Details

• Original Release Date: November 25, 2003
• Release Date: November 25, 2003
• Label: American Recordings
• Copyright: (C) 2003 American Recordings, LLC
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Duration: 4:35 minutes
• Genres:
• ASIN: B000WT5D56
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' "The Mercy Seat," as covered by Johnny Cash, November 11, 2008

By 

Dr. Geek - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mercy Seat (MP3 Download)

Enough has been said of Johnny Cash's expansive and deep recordings, from his gospel inspired works to his jail house anthems. Overlooked are his late covers (due to his particular cover of a Nine Inch Nails song, "Hurt," overshadowing them) that Cash recorded in collaboration with Rick Rubin. Of particular note is his cover of "The Mercy Seat" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, featured on Cash's album American III: Solitary Man.

The original is great Cave and the Bad Seeds, another of their forays into violence and death, a favorite topic of theirs. Cash himself is no stranger here; his recordings often dealt with similar subject matter. Listen to At San Quentin.

Where Cave and the Seeds' recording is brooding as imminent death approaches, the Cash cover is full of redemption. Cave sings the song as a narrator. Cash, however, sings in character. He is the man on death row reflecting on his life. Cash's baritone projects this redemption and reflection perfectly. Every note Cash sings is a plea for forgiveness. Every note is a plea of innocence.

And then a confession.