Mercy Me

If Mary Gauthier's single "Mercy Now" is any indication of the quality of the rest of her new release, we may have an early contender for one of the year's best albums. Here's an excerpt from the song, which reminds me lyrically of Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams:

My church and my country could use a little mercy now
As they sink into a poisoned pit
That's going to take forever to climb out
They carry the weight of the faithful
Who follow them down
I love my church and country, and they could use some mercy now

Every living thing could use a little mercy now
Only the hand of grace can end the race
Towards another mushroom cloud
People in power, well
They'll do anything to keep their crown
I love life, and life itself could use some mercy now

And she sounds like she means it.

I heard the tune on Paste Magazine's latest music sampler from the new issue with Bright Eyes on the cover.