Song
This track gives you a feeling of the dark side of the fast life that Chrissie Hynde sings about on this album. The idea (as explained by Chrissie on VH1 Storytellers) is that a friend/acquaintance's old boyfriend is coming back in town with malice in his heart, and Chrissie wants to help her get away, but can only do so with an anonymous phone call.
This is one of the songs Chrissie is proudest of. The song is in an odd 7/4 time signature, and timing of the bridge is so odd that Chrissie's words to the band were "memorize it." She also said she had to bring back drummer Martin Chambers, because he was the only one who could play this song right.
This song also appears on the MTV Unplugged-esque The Isle of View album.
The line breaks are mine
This is a mercy mission
From a faceless messenger who don't wanna see you hit
Here's the word
Listen to it
Somebody that you used to know is back in town you better go
This is a mercy mission
A voice you'll never hear again
From a South Side call box
Winged demons are the hardest to outfox
The same one you lost on the run gonna show you that it ain't no fun
You better get out of town you're gonna get hit
Bridge
I didn't mean to get you
This is a mercy mission
You'll find your schedule underneath the door
All of the arrangements have been made
Major expenses have been paid as you know
Don't forget the last details accept no parcels in the mail