Rolling Stone Premieres Emmylou Harris & John Paul White

Rolling Stone Country had the exclusive premiere of Emmylou Harris & John Paul White's "Kyrie" from the upcoming compiltion, Mercyland: Hymns For The Rest Of Us, Vol. II.  

"I'm happy that 'Kyrie' is part of the Mercyland compilation," Harris tells Rolling Stone Country. "Songwriting is and always has been a mystery to me, but it helps to be in the room with a friend like Phil [Madeira], who birthed this one with me."

The call of "Kyrie," or "Kyrie Eleison," is an ancient Christian prayer, referenced by everyone from Beethoven to Mr. Mister — and here it becomes an emotive, fiddle-laced tribute to the way every corner of humanity shares both struggle and salvation, regardless of to whom they pray. "The helpless and the holy, who do and don't believe," Harris sings, "bless us in thy mercy/for all will come to grieve." White's vocals provide a subtle echo on the chorus that is both jubilant and mournful — like the best hymns tend to be.

-Marissa R. Moss for Rolling Stone Country