Radio Paradise (mobile)

It ALL began when they come took me from my home
And put me on Death Row,
A crime for which I am totally innocent, you know.
I began to warm and chill
To objects and their fields,
A ragged cup, a twisted mop
The face of Jesus in my soup
Those sinister dinner deals
The meal trolley's wicked wheels
A hooked bone rising from my food
All things either good or ungood.
And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this weighing of the truth.
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die.
I hear stories from the chamber
Christ was born into a manger
And like some ragged stranger
He died upon the cross
Might I say, it seems so fitting in its way
He was a carpenter by trade
Or at least that's what I'm told
My kill-hand's
Tatooed E.V.I.L. across it's brother's fist
That filthy five! They did nothing to challenge or resist.
In Heaven His throne is made of gold
The ark of his Testament is stowed
A throne from which I'm told
All history does unfold.
It's made of wood and wire
And my body is on fire
And God is never far away.
Into the mercy seat I climb
My head is shaved, my head is wired
And like a moth that tries
To enter the bright eye
I go shuffling out of life
Just to hide in death awhile
And anyway I never lied.
And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this weighing of the truth.
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die.
And the mercy seat is burning
And I think my head is glowing
And in a way I'm hoping
To be done with all this twisting of the truth.
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway there was no proof
And I'm not afraid to die.
And the mercy seat is glowing
And I think my head is smoking
And in a way I'm hoping
To be done with all these looks of disbelief.
A life for a life
And a truth for a truth
And I've got nothing left to lose
And I'm not afraid to die.
And the mercy seat is smoking
And I think my head is melting
And in a way that's helping
To be done with all this twisting of the truth
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
But I'm afraid I told a lie.

mapman Feb 05, 2011 - 14:03	I think some of Cash's American recordings may be a tad overrated due to trendiness, but as a long time fan of his entire body of work, I'll say this is up there with his best interpretations. Nobody ever has been able to relate so much to so many people of all walks of life as Johnny Cash, perhaps. He speaks and people get it! An amazing artist! [ Reply ]
kcar Oct 07, 2010 - 22:37	jedley wrote: Pure garbage = Johnny cashing in on his rep to force shitty music and evangelical nonsense on unthinking hipsters who think it's cool to like it. If anyone else tried to sell this crap to a record company they wouldn't get past the secretary's secretary. You're entitled to your opinion, but I couldn't disagree with you more. Go read the lyrics http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/the-mercy-seat-lyrics-johnny-cash/916c86d503643b2448256db800311b74 and try to understand that the song is telling the story of a man coming to grips with his impending death and admitting at the final moment his crime. The movie "Dead Man Walking" told the same story, but had more time to show how murder destroys so many lives. "Evangelical nonsense"? If you had to sit in a cell with nothing to do but think about getting strapped into an electric chair and getting fried, you might turn to God as well. Nick Cave might have written and first performed "The Mercy Seat" but Johnny owns it. So I guess Nick got it past the secretary's secretary after all. [ Reply ]
Bruce_AK Sep 05, 2010 - 22:09	I am not certain which of Cash's final recordings I like better, this or his version of the Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt." [ Reply ]
woodchuk Jun 02, 2010 - 04:50	The man has got something to say... I like that...even if I do not share his religion. Beats most of the senseless crap that calls itself music out there! [ Reply ]
Giselle62 May 07, 2010 - 19:06	this "hipster" (can't help it, my parents were hippies) genuinely adores this man's voice and his phrasing. he may be milking the "cry" in his voice some; but i hear his pain, his life being transmitted through that voice. [ Reply ]
Papernapkin May 01, 2010 - 11:56	jedley wrote: Pure garbage = Johnny cashing in on his rep to force shitty music and evangelical nonsense on unthinking hipsters who think it's cool to like it. If anyone else tried to sell this crap to a record company they wouldn't get past the secretary's secretary. I have to agree. [ Reply ]
sirdroseph Feb 27, 2010 - 06:03	Great song! Amazing how his last few albums were his best! [ Reply ]
calypsus_1 Dec 24, 2009 - 16:35	Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Eric Clapton - "Matchbox" Live (1990) "Clapton seems very nervous, but everyone would be when playing with these legends" "I saw this for the first time too on Fri night. It 's the most fantastic thing I've seen for ages. Also check out the Dylan/Cash stuff. Made the hair on my neck stand up." [ Reply ]
calypsus_1 Dec 01, 2009 - 17:23	Joni Mitchell - "Both Sides Now" Live "in The Johnny Cash Show" [ Reply ]
Coaxial Oct 24, 2009 - 12:54	Spine chilling. [ Reply ]
flatpicker Oct 24, 2009 - 12:53	The whole American series will be regarded as essential listening for decades to come. Brilliant! [ Reply ]
mhodak Sep 22, 2009 - 23:09	Powerful cover of a powerful song. 9/10 from me. [ Reply ]
Sloggydog Sep 22, 2009 - 23:06	Its good like so many of his covers but he lacks the passion of Cave to make this one work. That said his versions of Personal Jesus and Hurt are better than the originals. [ Reply ]
RedGuitar May 19, 2009 - 07:23	jedley wrote: Pure garbage = Johnny cashing in on his rep to force shitty music and evangelical nonsense on unthinking hipsters who think it's cool to like it. If anyone else tried to sell this crap to a record company they wouldn't get past the secretary's secretary. Rick Rubin must've thought it good enough - he put out 5 CDs on his label with Mr. Cash at the helm. I think Rick produced them also. [ Reply ]
ortallcowgirl May 19, 2009 - 07:20	If you ever watched Walk the Line, or read anything about Johnny Cash, he was a deeply spiritial person. June and Johnny were both very religious and those undertones spoke throughout most of his music. He fought with it his whole life. So for him, in his much later years, to put out an album that is deeply personal to him, it would be a very spiritial (religious if you prefer). Even when he covered "Hurt" this looked at his life and where he came and the regret he had. It may not have been religious, but it was true to who he was. Dont mock Johnny's music, he never followed what his producers wanted, thats what made him famous!! This song is awesome! [ Reply ]
bronorb May 19, 2009 - 07:19	TravelRat wrote: LOL, yep, I gotta agree with you here, Kiwi comrade... I appreciate the attempt, but it didn't really work... The only other version I've heard that topped the original was Nick's own acoustic version... I guess I'm more of a Cash fan than a Cave fan. Regardless of who wrote it, I think Johnny makes it his own and adds a note of legitimacy to it. [ Reply ]
DrLex May 19, 2009 - 07:19	lawman wrote: Is this about the electric chair? No, it's about the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where the Nazis open the ark. [ Reply ]
wrangler May 19, 2009 - 07:18	lawman wrote: Is this about the electric chair? uhh, yeah [ Reply ]
vit May 19, 2009 - 07:17	jedley wrote: Pure garbage = Johnny cashing in on his rep to force shitty music and evangelical nonsense on unthinking hipsters who think it's cool to like it. If anyone else tried to sell this crap to a record company they wouldn't get past the secretary's secretary. cough uh read the comments below yours dude. [ Reply ]
DrLex May 19, 2009 - 07:17	ercasul wrote: Specially not after he hears what a bloody mess Johnny Cash made of it. Yeah, Cave must have hated Cash so hard for doing this that he tributed a song to him after his death. Oh wait... [ Reply ]