Mercy Street

{{Infobox song | name = Mercy Street | cover = | alt = | artist = Peter Gabriel | album = So | released = October 1986 | recorded = | studio = | genre = * Art pop worldbeat | length = | label = Geffen | writer = Peter Gabriel | producer = * Daniel Lanois Peter Gabriel | tracks = {{Hidden | title = 9 tracks | text = Side one "Red Rain" "Sledgehammer" "Don't Give Up" "That Voice Again" Side two "In Your Eyes" "Mercy Street" "Big Time" "We Do What We're Told" "This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds)" }} }} "Mercy Street" is a song written by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his fifth studio album So (1986). Background and recording The song was inspired by the personal and confessional works of the American poet Anne Sexton, who wrote a play titled Mercy Street and a poem titled "45 Mercy Street". It features two harmonious Gabriel vocals; one a shadow vocal an octave below the main vocal. Intended to give a sensual, haunting effect, he could only capture this effect upon waking up. The song is based around the forró drum rhythm, which Gabriel recorded in Brazil. Originally the rhythm was used in an early incarnation of the song, titled "Don’t Break This Rhythm" (later released as a B-side to "Sledgehammer"), but he became dissatisfied with it. He then changed the song to include an English folk melody and strapped on lyrics based on Anne Sexton’s work. Piano playing by Richard Tee was added to the song, but Gabriel felt it made the song too complex arrangement-wise, so it was removed from the final mix (although his contributions were credited). A music video was created for "Mercy Street", though the song was not released as a single.