Have Mercy on the Criminal
"Have Mercy on the Criminal" | |
---|---|
Song by Elton John | |
from the album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player | |
Released | 22 January 1973 (UK) 26 January 1973 (USA) |
Recorded | June 1972 |
Genre | Blues rock |
Length | 5:58 |
Label | DJM Records MCA Records (US/Canada-1975) |
Songwriter(s) | Elton John, Bernie Taupin |
Producer(s) | Gus Dudgeon |
"Have Mercy on the Criminal" is a song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. It is the most frequent live-track on the album besides the two dominating singles, "Daniel" and "Crocodile Rock".
Musical structure
The song is one of only two songs from the album that features orchestration. Long-time collaborator Paul Buckmaster was responsible for the arrangement.[1] It opens unusually, in the middle of a crescendo, before ending with a snare drum-hit that segues into a slow-paced dramatic ballad that lasts for the rest of the song. A guitar solo is also featured. Upon introducing the song during his orchestral tour of Australia in 1986, John stated that "no one did arrangements like this in those days," claiming "that's why Buckmaster was so great."
Author Mary Anne Cassata praises the song as a "breakthrough stunner," particularly praising Buckmaster's "tense" arrangement and John's "desperate" vocals.[2] Elton John biographer David Buckley believes the song's guitar riff was influenced by that of Derek and the Dominos' "Layla".[3]
Lyrical meaning
The lyrics describe what life is like for an escaped prisoner.[1][4] The first verses mention "dogs at night chasing some poor criminal", while the last verses mentioning "never seen a friend in years", bookending the theme as being about the escape and recapture of a criminal. The chorus claims "have mercy on the criminal – are you blind to the winds of change – don't you hear them anymore," pleading for tolerance for the criminal on the lam.[1] Author Elizabeth Rosenthal believes the song was influenced by the songs of Rosemary Clooney and Jo Stafford.[4] Phillip Norman traces some of the imagery in the song to stories and B-movies that Taupin was exposed to as a child.[5]
Performances
Bootleg sources prove that it was performed months before the album's release, with the earliest recording being from November 1972. It was performed at practically each show on his 1973 tours, occasionally in 1975. For his 1980 tour, it was a staple, being played during the latter half of every show. It was performed on and off in 1984 as well, and in 1986, with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. A live performance was included on the 1987 album Live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.[1][2][4] As with other songs performed at those shows, it also received performances during his 1988–89 World Tour. It was performed in 1995 in the Netherlands, and on his 2002 tour as a staple. It made a brief return in the summer of 2004 during his second orchestral tour. He sparsely performed the song in the 2010's. During the 2022 leg of the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, the song was brought back and played regularly at every show.[6]
Personnel
- Elton John – vocals, piano
- Dee Murray – bass
- Nigel Olsson – drums
- Davey Johnstone – electric guitar
- Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangement
References
- ^ a b c d Guarisco, D.A. "Have Mercy on the Criminal". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- ^ a b Cassata, M.A. (2002). The Elton John Scrapbook. Citadel. pp. 96, 112. ISBN 978-0-8065-2322-4.
- ^ Buckley, D. (2007). Elton: The Biography. Chicago Review Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-55652-713-5.
- ^ a b c Rosenthal, E.J. (2001). His song: the musical journey of Elton John. Random House. pp. 54, 520. ISBN 978-0-8230-8893-5.
- ^ Norman, P. (1993). Elton John. Simon & Schuster. pp. 12, 229. ISBN 978-0-671-79729-4.
- ^ "Have Mercy on the Criminal by Elton John song statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- v
- t
- e
- "I've Been Loving You" (1968)
- "Skyline Pigeon" (1968)
- "Lady Samantha" (1969)
- "It's Me That You Need" (1969)
- "Border Song" (1970)
- "Rock and Roll Madonna" (1970)
- "From Denver to L.A." (1970)
- "Take Me to the Pilot" (1970)
- "Your Song" (1970)
- "Come Down in Time" (1970)
- "Friends" (1971)
- "Levon" (1971)
- "Indian Sunset" (1971)
- "Tiny Dancer" (1972)
- "Rocket Man" (1972)
- "Honky Cat" (1972)
- "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" (1972)
- "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (1972)
- "Crocodile Rock" (1972)
- "Elderberry Wine" (1972)
- "Daniel" (1972)
- "Have Mercy on the Criminal" (1972)
- "Teacher I Need You" (1973)
- "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" (1973)
- "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (1973)
- "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973)
- "Step into Christmas" (1973)
- "Candle in the Wind" (1974)
- "Bennie and the Jets" (1974)
- "Harmony" (1974)
- "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1974)
- "The Bitch Is Back" (1974)
- "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1974)
- "Philadelphia Freedom" (1975)
- "I Saw Her Standing There" (1975)
- "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975)
- "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" (1975)
- "Island Girl" (1975)
- "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (1976)
- "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (1976)
- "Pinball Wizard" (1976)
- "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976)
- "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (1976)
- "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (1977)
- "Crazy Water" (1977)
- "The Goaldiggers Song" (1977)
- "Ego" (1978)
- "Part-Time Love" (1978)
- "Song for Guy" (1978)
- "Are You Ready for Love" (1979)
- "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (1979)
- "Johnny B. Goode" (1979)
- "Little Jeannie" (1980)
- "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)" (1980)
- "Dear God" (1980)
- "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (1981)
- "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1981)
- "Blue Eyes" (1982)
- "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (1982)
- "Ball and Chain" (1982)
- "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1982)
- "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983)
- "I'm Still Standing" (1983)
- "Kiss the Bride" (1983)
- "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (1984)
- "Passengers" (1984)
- "Nikita" (1985)
- "That's What Friends Are For" (1985)
- "Wrap Her Up" (1985)
- "Heartache All Over the World" (1986)
- "Slow Rivers" (1986)
- "Take Me to the Pilot" (1988)
- "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (1988)
- "Town of Plenty" (1988)
- "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" (1988)
- "Healing Hands" (1989)
- "Sacrifice" (1989)
- "Club at the End of the Street" (1990)
- "You Gotta Love Someone" (1990)
- "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991)
- "The One" (1992)
- "Runaway Train" (1992)
- "The Last Song" (1992)
- "Simple Life" (1993)
- "True Love" (1993)
- "Shakey Ground" (1994)
- "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1994)
- "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994)
- "Circle of Life" (1994)
- "Believe" (1995)
- "Made in England" (1995)
- "When the Money's Gone" (1995)
- "You Can Make History (Young Again)" (1996)
- "Live Like Horses" (1996)
- "The Madness of King Scar" (1997)
- "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997)
- "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997)
- "Written in the Stars" (1999)
- "Someday Out of the Blue" (2000)
- "I Want Love" (2001)
- "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" (2002)
- "Original Sin" (2002)
- "Are You Ready for Love" (2003)
- "Ghetto Gospel" (2005)
- "Electricity" (2005)
- "The Bridge" (2006)
- "Joseph, Better You than Me" (2008)
- "Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" (2009)
- "All of the Lights" (2010)
- "Good Morning to the Night" (2012)
- "Sad" (2012)
- "Looking Up" (2015)
- "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (2019)
- "Ordinary Man" (2020)
- "Sine from Above" (2020)
- "The Pink Phantom" (2020)
- "It's a Sin" (2021)
- "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" (2021)
- "Merry Christmas" (2021)
- "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" (2021)
- "Hold Me Closer" (2022)
- Category:Elton John