carbonated joy

“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 gemlike flame
Somewhere between the soul and soft machine, is where I find myself again.

Kyrie eleison, 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 light.”

I have always loved this song by Mr. Mister!

I remember driving around town in my Toyota Tercel with the radio blaring. I didn’t realize what I was singing. I thought it was just a peppy love song about a girl named Kyrie.

But, that’s not the case.

The lyrics were written by John Lang. I don’t think we are related, but it would be very cool if we were!

Most people who sing along loudly with it  don’t realize that the song is a prayer. For instance, my wife has always thought that the words were “carry a laser down the road that I must travel”. That’s very cool from a Sci-Fi point of view.

But, that’s not the case…

“Kyrie Eleison” is Greek for “Lord, have mercy.” It is used as a prayer in both Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox services.

John Lang got inspiration for the song from singing it as a kid in a Episcopal church in Phoenix.

What a cool prayer…

Lord have mercy, down the road that I must travel.
Lord have mercy, through the darkness of the night.

We heard the song as we drove to my oncologist.

I sang along at the top of my lungs…

Because I know what it means.