Kyrie (song)

"Kyrie"
Single by Mr. Mister
from the album Welcome to the Real World
Released	December 1985[1][2]
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	1984 - 1985
Genre	Soft rock
Length	4:25 (album version) 4:10 (single version)
Label	RCA Records
Writer(s)	Richard Page Steve George John Lang
Producer(s)	Mr. Mister, Paul De Villiers
Mr. Mister singles chronology
"Broken Wings" (1985) "Kyrie" (1985) "Is It Love" (1986)
Music sample "Kyrie"

"Kyrie" was a #1 hit song by the American pop/rock band Mr. Mister, from their 1985 album Welcome to the Real World. Released in late 1985, it hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in March 1986, where it was #1 for two weeks. It also hit the top spot on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart for one week. In the UK the song peaked at #11 in April 1986.

Background and writing

The words to "Kyrie" were written by lyricist John Lang who co-wrote the songs on all of Mr. Mister's albums. The music was composed by Richard Page and Steve George while on tour with Adam Ant.

"Kýrie, eléison, down the road that I must travel

Kýrie, eléison, through the darkness of the night"

Kýrie, eléison means "Lord, have mercy" in Greek, and is a part of many liturgical rites in Eastern and Western Christianity. Kýrie, eléison; Christé, eléison; Kýrie, eléison is a prayer that asks "Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy".^[3] According to Page the entire song is, essentially, a prayer.^[4]

There is a myth that singer Richard Page wrote this song while lying in a hospital bed following an attack. John Lang has stated that he was the one who was attacked, three years before "Kyrie" was written, and that the incident has nothing to do with the song.^[5]

The video for this song was directed by Nick Morris, and features the band in performance mixed with footage taken at the tail end of their Fall 1985 tour with Tina Turner.^[6]

Track listing

7" single

1. "Kyrie" (single edit) - 4:10
2. "Run to Her" - 3:36

12" single

1. "Kyrie" (album length) - 4:24
2. "Run to Her" - 3:36
3. "Hunters of the Night" - 5:07

The single edit of the song ends with the a cappella phrase "Kýrie, eléison, down the road that I must travel", while the album version simply fades out.

Charts

Cover versions

In 1993, Acapella Vocal Band, a traditional Southern gospel group, included a version of the song on their album U And Me And God Make 5 (Word). The cover turned into a hit on the Contemporary Christian Music charts of 1994, and the group later recorded a Spanish version of the song as well.

In 1994, East to West, a Contemporary Christian duo featuring Jay DeMarcus, now of Rascal Flatts, covered this song on their self-titled debut album.

In 2000, Avalon, a German melodic power metal band, made a cover as part of their album Eurasia.^[9]

In 2002, Mark Schultz made a cover of the song on his Song Cinema CD.

Notes

1. ↑ - Mr. Mister Mr. Mister- History Retrieved 1-14-2012.
2. ↑ Mr. Mister- "Kyrie" single @Discogs.com Retrieved 1-14-2012.
3. ↑ Kýrie, eléison - Translation from the StraightDope
4. ↑ Richard Page discusses Kyrie - RetroRewind interview
5. ↑ Lang letter to "Mr. Music" - dated June, 2004
6. ↑ Kyrie details - from Mr. Mister fansite
7. ↑ "Irish Singles Chart – Search for song". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved July 6, 2011. 
8. ↑ "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: M". Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved July 6, 2012. 
9. ↑ http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1243943/a/Eurasia.htm