Annotations for Mercy

Lyric: [Verse 1]
Annotation:
Even though the vocals are sung by a male vocalist, the protagonist of  Drones is a female. In an interview with XFM, Matt even gives her a name: I think women have a much harder time in the world. In my head, it’s a woman called… Mary.

Lyric: Show me mercy
 Show me mercy, please
Annotation:
On the final lines of this extended chorus the choir once again disappears. She is truly alone in her desperation.

Lyric: [Chorus]
Annotation:
The lead vocalist sings alone through most of this song.  However, choir-like backing vocals appear behind the word “mercy” late in the choruses, giving these passages a pseudo-religious quality.

Lyric: Absent gods and silent tyranny, we’re going under
 Hypnotized by another puppeteer
Annotation:
These lines strongly invoke a sense of self-inflicted ignorance: The futility of praying to an absent god but continuing regardless “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” –  Edmund Burke Puppeteers manipulate inanimate dolls to create an illusion of life–we are being tricked by the puppeteer by believing in the illusion but it could also mean we are allowing ourselves to be the puppets.  In an  interview with the BBC, Matt Bellamy stated that  Drones is a modern metaphor for what it is to lose empathy… to start to not really care much about what’s going on around you and what’s going on around the world.

Lyric: Mercy, mercy
 Show me mercy, from the powers that be
 Show me mercy, can someone rescue me?
Annotation:
On the previous track,  “Psycho,” the protagonist has been turned into a human drone, a killing machine without thought or remorse, controlled by others. However she is now lamenting the fact that she has lost control of her life. She is now begging for mercy and rescue. “The Powers that be” (synonym to “ higher authorities”) is a term often used by the conspiracy theorists for the dark forces that control the world. It looks appropriate to paint the high authorities of the world as malicious in the girl’s perspective, given she was abused in the army, while “serving the State”. Also, Matt’s fascination towards such theories is  no news. In this moment, the soldier believes praying the powers for mercy rather than seeking God for mercy will help her; eventually she realises it won’t and “defects” from the system in  “Defector”.

Lyric: Help me, I’ve fallen on the inside
 I tried to change the game, I tried to infiltrate but now I’m losing
Annotation:
From Matt Bellamy: The opening line of ‘Mercy’ —  “Help me, I’ve fallen on the inside” — is a reference to the protagonist knowing and recognizing that she lost something… herself. This is where she realizes that she is controlled by the dark forces that were introduced in  ‘Psycho.' She characterizes this dark-infected society as a game due to its rigid rules and intensity. Instead of changing it, she became another player, another submissive minion.

Lyric: Men in cloaks always seem to run the show
 Save me from the ghosts and shadows before they eat my soul, yeah
Annotation:
“Men in cloaks” is ominous imagery. Representing the invisible hands that guide the world. Billionaires, dynasties, Government agencies, etc… The economics of the entertainment industry are rather  shady and exploitation of artists is quite common.  This may also possess religious overtones, as  “men in cloaks” could represent the priest caste. The priest caste has been the most powerful governing force in much of our known history.  Other images that come to mind are  death and an  executioner.

