The Millennium Prayer

1999 single by Cliff Richard

"The Millennium Prayer"

Single by Cliff Richard
B-side| "Two Worlds"
Released| 15 November 1999
Recorded| August 1999
Studio| Skratch Studio/Surrey & Whitfield Street Studios/London
Genre| Pop
Length| 4:41
Label| Papillon
Songwriter(s)|

* Paul Field
* Stephen Deal
* Cliff Richard
* Nigel Wright
* Robert Burns
* Jesus
* Dave Arch
* Anne Skates[1]

Producer(s)| Nigel Wright
Cliff Richard singles chronology
| "The Miracle"
(1999)  | "The Millennium Prayer"
(1999)  | "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
(2001)

|
|

"The Millennium Prayer" is a song recorded by English singer Cliff Richard, in which the words of the Lord's Prayer are set to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne". It was released in November 1999 as a charity single in the lead-up to the new millennium, hence the name. The single became a surprise hit reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart, number two in Australia and New Zealand, number three in Ireland, and the top 20 in a number of European countries.[2][3]

## Background

[edit]

The original adaption of "The Lord's Prayer" to "Auld Lang Syne" (a contrafactum) was created by composer Paul Field and writer Stephen Deal as the finale to the Christian musical Hopes & Dreams (a Share Jesus International production). It is the only single that credits Jesus as a lyricist.[4] The original recording of the song, also sung by Richard, featured on the musical's soundtrack album Hopes & Dreams: A New Musical For A New Millennium released in January 1999.[5][6][2] Paul Field had also told Richard of his wife's suggestion, "that it would make a great Christmas single for Cliff." Richard took up the suggestion and recorded a new version for release as a single in the lead up to Christmas, with Field hearing of the recording from Richard after it had been recorded.[7]

## Release and live performances

[edit]

Richard's record label, EMI, declined to release it amid concerns about its commercial potential, so Richard approached the independent record label Papillon Records for the release, with the proceeds going to the charity Children's Promise.[2]

Richard performed the song exclusively on the TV programme An Audience with... Cliff Richard before a music video had been made for it.

The song was Richard's 14th UK No. 1 hit, his 112th hit overall, and the third highest-selling single of his career. The song was listed No. 2 of all-time worst singles in a poll run by Channel 4 in 2003.[8] The song won the Ivor Novello Award for the best selling single of 1999.[9]

The version Richard released as a single was not taken from any album, however the following year the song was included on Richard's compilation album The Whole Story: His Greatest Hits and in 2003 on his album Cliff at Christmas.

## Charts and certifications

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1999–2000)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[10] | 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] | 18
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] | 5
Germany (GfK)[13] | 23
Ireland (IRMA)[14] | 3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] | 14
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] | 12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] | 2
Scotland (OCC)[18] | 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] | 19
UK Singles (OCC)[3] | 1
UK Indie (OCC)[20] | 1

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1999)  | Position

|

Australia (ARIA)[21] | 23
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[22] | 3

### Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[23] | 2× Platinum  | 140,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[24] | 2× Platinum  | 20,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] | Platinum  | 600,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Cliff Richard - The Millennium Prayer Credits". Discogs. Zink Media, LLC. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
2. ^ a b c Burden, Ralph. "Cliff Richard - The Miracle of the Millennium Prayer". reallifestories.org. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
3. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
4. ^ Bullock, Daryl (2005). The World's Worst Records: Volume One: An Arcade of Audio Atrocity. Bristol Green Publishing. p. 245\. ISBN 9781482624465.
5. ^ Ian C. Bradley (2005). You've Got to Have a Dream: The Message of the Musical. Westminster John Knox Press. pp. 6–. ISBN 978-0-664-22854-5.
6. ^ Davis, Paul. "Hopes & Dreams: A New Musical For A New Millennium". crossrhythms.co.uk. Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
7. ^ Cummings, Tony. "Paul Field: Field Of Dreams". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
8. ^ "All-Time Top 100 Worst Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
9. ^ "The 45th Ivor Novello Awards 25 May 2000 (Best Selling UK Single)". theivors.com. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
10. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
11. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
13. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
14. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Millennium Prayer". Irish Singles Chart.
15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 52, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
16. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
17. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". Top 40 Singles.
18. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
19. ^ "Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". Swiss Singles Chart.
20. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
21. ^ "1999 Annual Singles Chart - Australia". www.ariacharts.com.au. ARIA. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
22. ^ "Yearly Best Selling Singles" (PDF). OCC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
23. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
24. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
25. ^ "British single certifications – Cliff Richard – The Millennium Prayer". British Phonographic Industry.

* v
* t
* e

Cliff Richard

Albums (UK)|

| 1950s:|

* Cliff (1959, live)
* Cliff Sings (1959)

|

1960s:|

* Me and My Shadows (1960)
* Listen to Cliff! (1961)
* 21 Today (1961)
* 32 Minutes and 17 Seconds (1962)
* The Young Ones (1962, soundtrack)
* Summer Holiday (1963, soundtrack)
* When in Spain (1963)
* Wonderful Life (1964, soundtrack)
* Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (1964, cast album)
* Cliff Richard (1965)
* When in Rome (1965)
* Love Is Forever (1965)
* Kinda Latin (1966)
* Finders Keepers (1966, soundtrack)
* Cinderella (1967, cast album)
* Don't Stop Me Now! (1967)
* Two a Penny (1968, soundtrack)
* Sincerely (1969)

1970s:|

* Tracks 'n Grooves (1970)
* Take Me High (1974, soundtrack)
* I'm Nearly Famous (1976)
* Every Face Tells a Story (1977)
* Small Corners (1978, gospel)
* Green Light (1978)
* Thank You Very Much (1979, live)
* Rock 'n' Roll Juvenile (1979)

1980s:|

* I'm No Hero (1980)
* Wired for Sound (1981)
* Now You See Me, Now You Don't (1982, gospel)
* Dressed for the Occasion (1983, live)
* Silver (1983)
* The Rock Connection (1984)
* Always Guaranteed (1987)
* Stronger (1989)

1990s:|

* From a Distance: The Event (1990, live)
* Together with Cliff Richard (1991)
* The Album (1993)
* Songs from Heathcliff (1995, stage show album)
* Real as I Wanna Be (1998)

2000s:|

* Wanted (2001)
* Cliff at Christmas (2003)
* Something's Goin' On (2004)
* Two's Company (2006)
* Love... The Album (2007)
* Reunited – Cliff Richard and The Shadows (2009)

2010s:|

* Bold as Brass (2010)
* Soulicious (2011)
* The Fabulous Rock 'n' Roll Songbook (2013)
* Just... Fabulous Rock 'n' Roll (2016)
* Rise Up (2018)

2020s:|

* Music... The Air That I Breathe (2020)
* Christmas with Cliff (2022)
* Cliff with Strings – My Kinda Life (2023)

EPs (UK)|

* Serious Charge (1959)
* Expresso Bongo (1960)
* Cliff's Silver Discs (1960)
* Dream (1961)
* Hits from the Young Ones (1962)

Compilations (UK)|

* Cliff's Hit Album (1963)
* 40 Golden Greats (1977)
* Love Songs (1981)
* Walking in the Light (1984, Gospel)
* Private Collection: 1979–1988 (1988)
* The Hit List (1994)
* At the Movies 1959–1974 (1996)
* The Whole Story: His Greatest Hits (2000)
* The Platinum Collection (2005)
* And They Said It Wouldn't Last: My 50 Years in Music (2008)
* The 50th Anniversary Album (2008)
* 75 at 75 (2015)
* Stronger Thru the Years (2017)

Related articles|

* Albums discography
* Singles discography
* Videography
* The Shadows

* v
* t
* e

Cliff Richard singles

1950s|

* "Move It" (1958)
* "High Class Baby" (1958)
* "Livin' Lovin' Doll" (1959)
* "Mean Streak" (1959)
* "Living Doll" (1959)
* "Travellin' Light" / "Dynamite" (1959)

1960s|

* "A Voice in the Wilderness" (1960)
* "Fall in Love with You" (1960)
* "Please Don't Tease" (1960)
* "Nine Times Out of Ten" (1960)
* "I Love You" (1960)
* "Theme for a Dream" (1961)
* "Gee Whizz It's You" (1961)
* "A Girl Like You" (1961)
* "What'd I Say" (1961)
* "When the Girl in Your Arms Is the Girl in Your Heart" (1961)
* "Forty Days" (1961)
* "Outsider" (1962)
* "The Young Ones" / "We Say Yeah" (1962)
* "Catch Me" (1962)
* "I'm Looking out the Window" / "Do You Want to Dance?" (1962)
* "Lessons in Love" (1962)
* "It'll Be Me" (1962)
* "Wonderful to Be Young" (1962)
* "The Next Time" / "Bachelor Boy" (1962)
* "Summer Holiday" (1963)
* "Lucky Lips" (1963)
* "It's All in the Game" (1963)
* "Don't Talk to Him" (1963)
* "Maria No Mas" (1963)
* "I'm the Lonely One" (1964)
* "I Only Have Eyes for You" (1964)
* "Constantly (L'Edera)" (1964)
* "On the Beach" (1964)
* "The Twelfth of Never" (1964)
* "I Could Easily Fall (In Love with You)" (1964)
* "The Minute You're Gone" (1965)
* "Angel" (1965)
* "On My Word" (1965)
* "The Time in Between" (1965)
* "Wind Me Up (Let Me Go)" (1965)
* "Blue Turns to Grey" (1966)
* "Visions" (1966)
* "Time Drags By" (1966)
* "In the Country" (1966)
* "It's All Over" (1967)
* "I'll Come Runnin'" (1967)
* "The Day I Met Marie" (1967)"
* "All My Love" (1967)
* "Congratulations" (1968)
* "I'll Love You Forever Today" (1968)
* "Wonderful World" (1968)
* "Marianne" (1968)
* "Don't Forget to Catch Me" (1968)
* "Good Times (Better Times)" (1969)
* "Big Ship" (1969)
* "Early in the Morning" (1969)
* "Throw Down a Line" (1969)
* "With the Eyes of a Child" (1969)

1970s|

* "The Joy of Living" (1970)
* "Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha" (1970)
* "I Ain't Got Time Anymore" (1970)
* "Sunny Honey Girl" (1971)
* "Silvery Rain" (1971)
* "Flying Machine" (1971)
* "Sing a Song of Freedom" (1971)
* "Jesus" (1972)
* "Living in Harmony" (1972)
* "Power to All Our Friends" (1973)
* "Help It Along" (1973)
* "Take Me High" (1973)
* "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" (1974)
* "Honky Tonk Angel" (1975)
* "Miss You Nights" (1976)
* "Devil Woman" (1976)
* "I Can't Ask for Anymore Than You" (1976)
* "Hey Mr. Dream Maker" (1976)
* "My Kinda Life" (1977)
* "When Two Worlds Drift Apart" (1977)
* "Green Light" (1979)
* "We Don't Talk Anymore" (1979)

1980s|

* "Carrie" (1980)
* "Dreamin'" (1980)
* "Suddenly" (1980)
* "A Little in Love" (1980)
* "Give a Little Bit More" (1981)
* "Wired for Sound" (1981)
* "Daddy's Home" (live) (1981)
* "The Only Way Out" (1982)
* "Little Town" (1982)
* "She Means Nothing to Me" (1983)
* "True Love Ways" (live) (1983)
* "Never Say Die (Give a Little Bit More)" (1983)
* "Please Don't Fall in Love" (1983)
* "Baby You're Dynamite" / "Ocean Deep" (1984)
* "Donna" (1984 US)
* "Two to the Power of Love" (1984)
* "Living Doll" (1986)
* "All I Ask of You" (1986)
* "Slow Rivers" (1986)
* "My Pretty One" (1987)
* "Some People" (1987)
* "Remember Me" (1987)
* "Two Hearts" (1988)
* "Mistletoe and Wine" (1988)
* "The Best of Me" (1989)
* "I Just Don't Have the Heart" (1989)
* "Lean on You" (1989)
* "Whenever God Shines His Light" (1989)

1990s|

* "Stronger Than That" (1990)
* "Silhouettes" (live) (1990)
* "From a Distance" (live) (1990)
* "Saviour's Day" (1990)
* "More to Life" (1991)
* "Scarlet Ribbons" (1991)
* "We Should Be Together" (1991)
* "This New Year" (1991)
* "I Still Believe in You" (1992)
* "Peace in Our Time" (1993)
* "All I Have to Do Is Dream" (live) / "Miss You Nights" (1994)
* "Can't Keep this Feeling In" (1998)
* "The Millennium Prayer" (1999)

2000s|

* "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"/"What a Wonderful World" (medley) (2001)
* "21st Century Christmas" / "Move It" (2006)
* "When I Need You" (2007)
* "Thank You for a Lifetime" (2008)
* "Singing the Blues" (2009)

2010s|

* "Rip It Up" (2013)
* "Since I Lost My Baby" (2014)
* "Roll Over Beethoven" (2016)
* "Blue Suede Shoes" (2017)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

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