I have to throw my support in here too, but qualified. I'm not exaggerating when I say this song may be in my Top 10 at some point, but it might be slightly improved if they continue to work on it.
My one reservation is that the song doesn't kick in until after the 2 minute mark. Every time I listen to it the wait seems longer (much like IGWSHA, which I feel was another almost-classic which the single version failed to remedy). You've got two full verses with no change in the music, if memory serves. I guess Bad is similar in its slow build, but those sequencers are heavenly and the payoff it so big it's kind of in a category all its own. I just hope they don't suck all the life out of it by reworking the thing.
What really irks me is that the critics of this song who totally "know" it's not album-caliber would be saying the same thing about OOTS, or MD, or COBL, or LPOE if they had suffered the same fate. It's slightly different than people who just like to take a contrarian position, but equally suspect.
The notion that it doesn't seem to "fit" with the other songs (something put forth even by the song's supporters) is flimsy because you could say the same thing about LPOE, COBL, OSC, and AMAAW. This album is very much a travelogue through past styles and sounds (with a new twist), and Mercy fits right in with that. Yeah, it would have been the darkest and longest song on the record, but something always has to be, right? Fast Cars is the one that really stands apart from the others, and not because of the music but because of the Zooropa-style lyrics (alienation due to modern society/technology). I can see the argument for saying that one doesn't fit. From the Blender interview it's clear that the band didn't want the album to be too long. What's the quickest solution to that? Cut the longest song. It's that simple. And that says more about the band's recent songwriting habits than anything about the quality of the song. Let's look at facts: Bono described it as the best b-side we've ever heard. Does that mean he thinks it's inferior to everything ON the album? I doubt it. His enthusiasm speaks volumes, as he never referred to even Sweetest Thing in that way.
I think whether or not you're a huge fan of what IS on The Bomb, or of Mercy itself, it has to be said that Mercy is pretty ambitious work for post-90's U2. Lyrically it is much more adventurous, and musically the band really seems to be comfortable chasing something. I think the tendency lately has been to wrap up songs WAY too quickly. The fact that no songs fade out on The Bomb backs this up. They want to make these perfect little songs now, when something like COBL totally SCREAMS long instrumental outro. As much as I love One Step Closer, you want to hear Edge take that All I Want Is You guitar sound and just go with it for 30 seconds!
Some people like the "polished nugget" approach, and that's fine, but it would be nice to see a mix of the two styles. It's not like the three 90's albums didn't have finely crafted tunes peppered throughout.
Here's hoping Mercy finds an elevated place in the canon, whether it's the rare b-side played live, or on a future EP or album. Either way is fine with me.
laz
). Plus, it's very difficult to rate songs, especially unreleased ones 
it's all purely opinion, some people really connect with the song, others don't. I personally think it's a brilliant song but that doesn't mean you have to... I also agree with U2's decision to take it off the album. The only place it would really fit would be the end, and Yahweh is such a good closer it would be overshadowed if Mercy came afterwards. Plus in general it doesn't really fit the album mood... which is why I hope it is an indicator of the sound of the next album. I would be disappointed if Mercy didn't appear on an official album.
Even suggesting that Mercy should replace Yahweh sounds completely preposterous to me.
