Customer Reviews

Mercy Seat

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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.