"Kyrie Eleison" is Greek for "Lord, have mercy." It is used as a prayer in both Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox services. Greek was the original language of the New Testament, which was later translated to Latin.
This song is credited to lead singer Richard Page, keyboardist Steve George and lyricist John Lang. Clearing up an urban legend that Page wrote the song after being attacked, John Lang told the Chicago Sun-Times of July 9th 2004: "Richard Page did write the music and melody, but I am the one who wrote the lyrics. I got the inspiration from singing it as a kid in an Episcopal church in Phoenix. Also, 'Kyrie' had nothing to do with Richard being assaulted, mainly because it wasn't Richard who was assaulted - it was me! But that happened three years before writing 'Kyrie,' and had nothing to do with that song."
When this was a hit, very few people listening to Top 40 radio had any idea that they were singing "Lord Have Mercy, Down the Road that I must travel!" The religious significance was mostly lost.
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