<P> `` Mercy Mercy Me ( The Ecology ) '' was the second single from Marvin Gaye 's 1971 album , What 's Going On . Following the breakthrough of the title track 's success , the song , written solely by Gaye , became regarded as one of popular music 's most poignant anthems of sorrow regarding the environment . Led by Gaye playing piano , strings conducted by Paul Riser and David Van De Pitte , multi-tracking vocals from Gaye and The Andantes , multiple background instruments provided by The Funk Brothers and a leading sax solo by Wild Bill Moore , the song rose to number 4 on Billboard 's Pop Singles chart and number one for two weeks on the R&B Singles charts on August 14 through to August 27 , 1971 . The distinctive percussive sound heard on the track was a wood block struck by a rubber mallet , drenched in studio reverb . The song also brought Gaye one of his rare appearances on the Adult Contemporary chart , where it peaked at number 34 . In Canada , `` Mercy Mercy Me '' spent two weeks at number 9 . </P>
what is mercy mercy me by marvin gaye about
sorrow regarding the environment