Overview

The song Kyrie Eleison was released by an American Band called Mr. Mister in 1985. The song was essentially a prayer for mercy. Kyrie Eleison is Greek for ‘Lord have mercy’.

The word Kyrie is in our New Testament 120 times and it has been translated to into the English word ‘Lord’. The word Kyrie is derived from the root word kurios which is normally translated into English as ‘the Lord’. According to Strong’s exhaustive reference kurios means supreme in authority and by implication a Master. According to the song writers Kyrie means Mister. Mister is variant of the word Master.

The song ‘Kyrie Eleison’ did peak at the number 1 position in America in 1986. It was a wonderful song; however back then I did not know what it meant and today I can appreciate it more.

Lyrics

The wind blows hard against this mountain side
Across the sea into my soul
It reaches into where I cannot hide
Setting my feet upon the road

My heart is old it holds my memories
My body burns a gem-like flame
Somewhere between the soul and soft machine
Is where I find myself again

*CHORUS*
Kyrie Eleison [Our Supreme Master have mercy]
Down the road that I must travel
Kyrie Eleison
Through the darkness of the night
Kyrie Eleison
Where I'm going will you follow
Kyrie Eleison
On a highway in the night

When I was young I thought of growing old
Of what my life would mean to me
Would I have followed down my chosen road
Or only wished what I could be

(repeat chorus)

Oh...Oh...Oh
Oh...Oh...Oh
Oh...Oh...Oh
Oh...Oh...Oh

(repeat chorus to end)

The New Testament

Kyrie is a common name of an important prayer of Christian liturgy and is also called the ‘Kyrie eleison’

The prayer, ‘Kyrie, eleison’ or ‘Lord, have mercy’ is derived from several New Testament verses:

“And behold a woman of Canaan who came out of those coasts, crying out, said to him: Have mercy [eleēson or Eleison] on me, O Lord [Kyrie or kurie], thou son of David: my daughter is grieviously troubled by the devil.” DR Mat 15:22

“And behold two blind men sitting by the way side, heard that Jesus passed by, and they cried out, saying: O Lord [Kyrie or kurie], thou son of David, have mercy [eleēson or Eleison]on us.” DR Mat 20:30

“And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging. Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy [eleēson or Eleison] on me. And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy [eleēson or Eleison] on me.” DR Mark 10:46-48

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrie_(song)

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/eleison

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Kyrie

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kyrie

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%9A%CF%8D%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%82#Greek

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Lord

Pray that our Supreme Master and Father in Heaven has mercy on us all!