"My Lady of Mercy" is the third single by The Last Dinner Party from their debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy, released October 9, 2023 through Island Records. It serves as the ninth track from the album.
"A girl looking up at a painting of Joan of Arc for the first time and thinking that she looks so brave and so beautiful that she wants to kiss her. And maybe she also wants to kiss the girl who stands next to her in the school choir."
Background[]
The single has been part of the bands setlist since day one, they started to tease the release of the song by posting videos from their live shows on TikTok. Then on September 29, 2023 they posted a collage of photos to their socials asking fans what they think the new single could be,[1] and in a discord server created by the band Georgia liked messages from fans who guessed My Lady of Mercy.
The single was announced October 3, 2023, with an edit posted to their instagram, [2] and a pre save link was put up where if you pre-saved it a preview of the song was shared. [3]
Introducing the song at Green Man Festival on August 20, 2023, Abigail explained that it’s about going to catholic school.[4] Speaking of the track in a press release, the band shared:
"We are expanding the world of The Last Dinner Party to encompass a darker, heavier atmosphere. The lyrics explore the anguish of a teenage crush that can only be described through the bloody, carnal language of religious experience, as the soundworld takes cues from Nine Inch Nails, PJ Harvey and Roxy Music."[5]
The song is about having feelings for women as a woman and coming to terms with that growing up in a catholic family and school. Having simultaneous feelings of excitement and discovering yourself while also feeling a lot of shame, fear and guilt, Abigail wrote the song to free her from that part of her and exploring it through catholic imagery, using it instead of hiding from it.[6]
Talking about the song for Apple Music, Abigail Morris explained:[7]
- “For me, it’s the most overtly sexy song—the most obviously-about-sex song and about sexuality. I feel like it’s a nice companion to ‘Sinner’ because I think they’re about similar things—about queerness in tension with religion and with family and with guilt. I went to Catholic school, which is very informative for a young woman. I’m not a practicing Catholic now, but the imagery is always so pertinent and meaningful to me. I just thought it was really interesting to use religious imagery to talk about liking women and feeling free in your sexuality and reclaiming the guilt. I feel like Nine Inch Nails was a really big inspiration musically. This is testament to how much we trust James [ Ford ] and feel comfortable with him. We did loads of takes of me just moaning into the mic through a distortion. I could sit there and make fake orgasm sounds next to him.”
- ―Abigail Morris for Apple Music
Writing the song Abigail wanted to create a song for people to mosh to, Lizzie Mayland explained while In conversation with Abigail for Apple Music,
- “Especially the breakdown that was always meant to be played live to a load of people throwing themselves around. It definitely had to be that big.”
- ―Lizzie Mayland for Apple Music
Lyrics[]
Music Video[]
The music video was released alongside the single on October 9, 2023, it was directed by the band alongside Harv Frost and Dora Paphides and finds the band performing dramatically in monochrome tones.
Behind The Scenes[]
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Critical reception[]
Katie Goh of The Guardian thought My Lady of Mercy "is an ideal showcase for her [Abigail Morris] impressive vocal range which can descend from ethereal lilting into guttural belting, without being swallowed by Roberts shredding on her guitar solos."[8] Robin Murray of CLASH called it a "sweeping return, melodically infectious while highlighting some deeper aspects – a song about femininity, queerness, and teenage angst, it pivots between the flamboyance of Roxy Music and the crushing weight of Nine Inch Nails."[9]
Cover[]
The cover was taken by Cal McIntyre and draws inspiration from The Craft and The Vampire Lovers.[10]
Videos[]
Credits[]
The Last Dinner Party[]
- Abigail Morris - Vocals
- Georgia Davies - Bass, Additional Vocals
- Emily Roberts - Lead Guitar, Additional Vocals
- Aurora Nishevci - Synthesizer, Additional Vocals,
- Lizzie Mayland - Additional Vocals, Guitar
Additional personnel[]
- James Ford - Production, Drums
- Jimmy Robertson - Engineer
- Alan Moulder - Mixed
- Chris Gehringer - Mastering
References[]
- ↑ https://discord.com/channels/1151481698786213960/1151481699545403495/1157299175269093486
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cx8TtuZtDZ5/?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==
- ↑ https://discord.com/channels/1151481698786213960/1151481699545403495/1158807623030812753
- ↑ https://youtu.be/85kdRkVc_vs?si=mkiO9KsczbF_mXtP
- ↑ https://readdork.com/news/the-last-dinner-party-my-lady-of-mercy/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/qfxpWruSVew?si=2hnsjetSRHxK_pxz
- ↑
- ↑ https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/10/the-last-dinner-party-review-hyped-baroque-pop-band-build-a-following
- ↑ https://www.clashmusic.com/news/the-last-dinner-party-share-new-single-my-lady-of-mercy/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CyL_wC7MExQ/?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==
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Tracklist
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Acoustics and Covers
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Other Eras
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| Prelude to Ecstasy ❦ Second studio album | |||||
Live
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Extras
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| Poems | Heather | ||||
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| Scrapped songs | Godzilla | ||||
| Other | In Store Signings ❦ Short Film | ||||
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