Love and Mercy

The song was originally credited to Brian Wilson, his therapist Eugene Landy, and Alexandra Morgan. On later issues of Brian's debut album, and subsequent remakes and live performances of the song, the credit was amended to attribute Wilson as the song's sole writer. Wilson has said of the song:

I was in my piano room, playing "What the World Needs Now," and I just went into my own song...worked very hard to get out what was in my heart on that one...it's a personal message from me to people.... We wanted people to be covered with love, because there's no guarantee of somebody waking up in the morning with any love. It goes away, like a bad dream. It disappears. Mercy would be a deeper word than love. I would think love is a gentle thing and mercy would be more desperate, ultimately more desperately needed, thing in life. Mercy–a little break here and there for somebody who's having trouble.... "Love and Mercy" is probably the most spiritual song I've ever written.[1]

The song features Wilson on lead vocals as well as a lot of the backing vocals, and is characterized by its pattern of descending chords.[2] The lyrics included an extra verse unused in the final edit: "I was praying to a god who just doesn't seem to hear / Oh, the blessings we need the most are what we all fear".

The "Love and Mercy" single backed with the rare B-side "He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body to Move" was released through Sire Records in the United States in July 1988, and in the United Kingdom in August 1988. It failed to make any impact on the charts. "He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body to Move" was a collaboration recorded during 1986 summer sessions between Wilson and Gary Usher.[3] "Love and Mercy" was first released on Wilson's 1988 self-titled debut album with production by Wilson and Russ Titelman. On later CD re-issues of that album, the song has been released as a bonus track without the lead vocal.

A remake of the song was recorded for the soundtrack to the documentary I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (1995), which was produced by Wilson and Don Was. The remake of the song features a much more sparse production and a more relaxed lead vocal from Wilson.

In November 2005, another rerecording of the song in medley with a new Wilson composition, "Walking Down the Path of Life", was issued through Oglio Records as a digital-only single. A special Wilson-autographed edition was also available for physical purchase at a much steeper price. According to the website responsible for selling the single, the proceeds were to be put towards helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This recording was issued again as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Wilson's album No Pier Pressure (2015).

Wilson performed the song live as the encore heard on his live album Live at the Roxy Theatre (2000) and as the encore of his performance of Smile at Carnegie Hall.[4]

Wilson, along with the Boys Choir of Harlem, concluded with the song at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City on March 29, 2001. The concert, billed as "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson", was filmed and later released on DVD. On January 15, 2005 Wilson performed the song as part of Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope which aired on NBC.[5] On September 10, 2005, Wilson and his band appeared in Los Angeles on the ReAct Now: Music & Relief concert, which was a relief concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The performance included both "Love and Mercy" and his new song "Walking Down the Path of Life".

When discussing the 2004 Madrid train bombings in the book Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas, Bono states: "'Love and Mercy' is one of the great songs ever written ... I can't think of a greater song to be sung than Brian Wilson singing 'Love and Mercy'. Because, in a way, they're the two feelings that those terrorists sought to destroy."[6]

• The song was used for a final scene in the film Orange County (2002), where the main character realizes the importance of his hometown and the impact it will have on his future.
• The song was played over the end of the Broadway show Other Desert Cities (2011), referring to a book in the show with the same title as a song written by one of the characters.
• Love and Mercy (2014) is a biopic film based on Wilson's life.
• Gazelle Twin's cover of the song appears in The Walking Dead season 5 episode, "Conquer" (2015).[7]