Released December 21, 1985 Recorded 1985 Label RCA | Format 7"
12" Genre New wave
pop rock | |
Length 4:25 (album version)
4:18 (single version) | ||
"Kyrie" is a song by 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.
Contents
Background and writing
The lyrics to "Kyrie" were written by Arizona-born 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 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". According to Page the entire song is, essentially, a prayer.
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.
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.
The USA 7" single can be found pressed on transparent purple vinyl or polystyrene, depending on where it was manufactured.
Track listing
- "Kyrie" (single edit) – 4:10
- "Run to Her" – 3:36
- "Kyrie" (album version) – 4:24
- "Run to Her" – 3:36
- "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.
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 charted on the Contemporary Christian Music charts of 1994. The group later recorded a Spanish version of the song as well.
Also in 1993, the song, retitled as "Kyrie Elieson", was covered by Contemporary Christian music duo East to West on their self-titled debut album.