answers: 2001
context: Mercy, Mercy (Don Covay song) "Mercy, Mercy" (sometimes referred to as "Have Mercy") is a soul song first recorded by American singer/songwriter Don Covay in 1964. It established Covay's recording career and influenced later vocal and guitar styles. The songwriting is usually credited to Covay and Ron Alonzo Miller, although other co-writers' names have also appeared on various releases. In late 1964, the song became a hit, reaching number one on the "Cash Box" R&B chart and number 35 on the "Billboard" Hot 100. Several artists have recorded "Mercy, Mercy", including a well-known version by the Rolling Stones in 1965. </s> at the time. Millard began writing the words "I can only imagine" on items when he was thinking about his father. During the recording of the band's 1999 independent album "The Worship Project", MercyMe needed one more song to fill out the album. Millard, alone on a bus in the middle of the night, finally wrote the lyrics to the song by drawing on his thoughts and personal faith about what one would experience standing before God in Heaven. Millard attests that "['I Can Only Imagine'] is one of the only songs I have ever written where there wasn't any </s> be standing before God. Regarding this theme, Millard explained to Fox News that "I was always told that if he could choose, he would rather be in Heaven than here with me. As a Christian I believed that, but as an 18-year-old it was a little hard to swallow. So the questions in the song came from me asking God what was so great about Him that my dad would rather be there." "I Can Only Imagine" was re-recorded for their major-label debut record "Almost There" and released as its lead single in 2001. The album was recorded in various
question: when did mercy me write i can only imagine