“Mercy Me, I’m Lonely Tonight” is the eighth track off the Collective’s first album. It was written by Nancy Vogl.

Liner Notes:

When I was growing up around Redondo Beach, I thought politics was something that happened at City Hall, or Sacramento, or Washington. Why wasn’t I taught that politics was my own daily interaction with the world around me? Multiplied by thousands, it’s all of our own daily frustrations, joys, and interpersonal relationships that shape our perceptions of the world. If we can see that our personal choices taken together can effect political change, we can begin to reclaim the basic necessities for our survival, and control over our lives that the patriarchal society has always defined for us.

Lyrics:

Oh I never knew how lonesome I could be but now I find

That I just cannot keep you from my mind

And the whistle at the factory

Blows away the evening time

Mercy me I’m lonely tonight

 

Mercy me I’m lonesome when the ocean waves goodbye

And the tide of love is drifting off to die

And to hold you in my arms again

Would only make me cry

Mercy me I’m lonely tonight

 

Oh I never knew how lonesome I could be in falling rain

With the empty halls still calling out your name

And if I could ask the lord above

To help me ease my pain

She would make you fall in love with me again

 

‘Cause mercy me I’m lonesome

When the night begins to chill

And the whipporwhill is rustling on the breeze

And the telephone keeps ringing

How I wish it was for me

My sweet heart is breaking darling

Please believe

 

Well the preacher is on the T.V. is lifting up his eyes

And he says Jesus makes our troubles bright

But the love I have for Jesus ain’t the love I need tonight

Won’t you please return

My light

My love

My life