Missing Lines Of 'Love And Mercy'?

[The Heartical Don]

Yesterday, for some reason I recalled some observation in an old music mag (I think - like MOJO, or Q Magazine, or VOX) that mentioned Brian singing a couple of lines in the song 'Love And Mercy', that did not make it to the recorded version; they went something like this:

I Was Praying To A God Who Didn't Seem To Hear
That The Things We Need The Most Are What We All Fear

I loved them immediately. Now, there are a few holes here in my memory, because it was perhaps already 20+ years ago; but I am absolutely certain that I read this somewhere.

Anyone know more about this?

[mikeyj]

Yep you are pretty spot on. Here's some more info:

I cant remember the lyrics but there is an extra verse on Love And Mercy that wasn't on the record but he performed on a television appearance. AGD would remember the lines

"I was prayin' to a God who just doesn't seen to hear
Oh the blessings that we want most are what we all fear"

Sire reportedly insisted  this was cut before releasing it.

[mikeyj]

Can't find the clip anymore but part of the performance (including the aforementioned lyrics) used to be on YouTube.

[The Heartical Don]

Can't find the clip anymore but part of the performance (including the aforementioned lyrics) used to be on YouTube.

Thanks so much, Mikey! Glad that this recollection of mine got confirmed. And I hope to see that YouTube clip eventually... I guess that depends on the reason why it was taken off, and at whose request.

[mikeyj]

I guess that depends on the reason why it was taken off, and at whose request.

Yeah not sure. Here is one thread which contained the clip which has since been terminated. The video from memory wasn't all that amazing. In fact I think the performance had been partially taped over with a clip of the Kinks.

[The Heartical Don]

I guess that depends on the reason why it was taken off, and at whose request.

Yeah not sure. Here is one thread which contained the clip which has since been terminated. The video from memory wasn't all that amazing. In fact I think the performance had been partially taped over with a clip of the Kinks.

And thanks for the link too.

[southbay]

yeah, I recall Brian added those lyrics to the live performance of L&M during the years immediately after the 88 album release, including when I saw him at the BB/Chicago show in Costa Mesa in 1989 which ended up being recorded and broadcast on the Endless Summer TV show

[Mikie]

For many years I've liked those lyrics and thought Brian should have included them in the song. I have a recording somewhere of Brian at The Malibu Emergency Room, for kids I think, where he did a version of Love & Mercy that included those lyrics.

[AndrewHickey]

I read somewhere -- I think on the PSML, maybe 15 years ago -- that those lines were written by Landy and Brian never liked them.

[hypehat]

I hate them, they seem really awkward. Wouldn't be surprised if they were Landys. I bet that guys shopping lists were overwrought and filled with clunky metaphors

[Alex11]

Hello,
longtime lurker here :-)

When I saw him in germany in concert in 2004 (I think) he did some "new" lyrics, first he sang something about there being a lot of poor people in the world, and then he went on: "well it's just not fair......FOR THE POOR".

This was so typical Brian, this last three words were delivered with such a timing, with a little break after "it's just not fair", it still cracks me up thinkin' about it.

Greetings from germany
Alex