Love... Thy Will Be Done

"Love... Thy Will Be Done" is the first single released from American singer and actress Martika's second album, Martika's Kitchen (1991). The Prince-produced single, written by Martika and Prince,^[1] was released on July 18, 1991, by Columbia. The song reached the top 10 on the charts of seven countries, including the United States, where it peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Australia, it topped the ARIA Singles Chart for a week in October 1991. The song's black-and-white music video was directed by Michael Haussman.^[2]

"Love... Thy Will Be Done"
Cover art for overseas CD and vinyl releases
Single by Martika
from the album Martika's Kitchen
B-side	"Mi tierra" "Temptation"
Released	July 18, 1991 (1991-07-18)
Studio	Paisley Park (Chanhassen, Minnesota)
Genre	Pop
Length	4:24
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Martika Prince
Producer(s)	Prince
Martika singles chronology
"Water" (1990) "Love... Thy Will Be Done" (1991) "Martika's Kitchen" (1991)
Music video
"Love... Thy Will Be Done" on YouTube

Background

This song introduced Martika to a more adult contemporary sound than her previous efforts. The song is particularly remarkable for its constant backline, played by the drums and the bass, without any variation throughout the song, neither as far as rhythm or intensity are concerned, independently of other effects in the song (climax, forte, piano, backing vocals, etc.). Similarly, the melody insists particularly on monochord lines and repeats the "love thy will be done" notes as a leitmotif. According to an article in the online magazine Pitchfork, the song "almost certainly" contains a sample of "Fifty-Fifty Clown" by Scottish band Cocteau Twins.^[3]

Track listings

• 7-inch single

1. "Love... Thy Will Be Done" – 4:20
2. "Mi tierra" – 4:34

• CD maxi

1. "Love... Thy Will Be Done" – 4:20
2. "Mi tierra" – 4:35
3. "Temptation" – 4:45

• CD single

1. "Love... Thy Will Be Done" – 4:20
2. "Mi tierra" – 4:34

• Cassette

1. "Love... Thy Will Be Done" – 4:20
2. "Mi tierra" – 4:34

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Love... Thy Will Be Done" Chart (1991–1992) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 28 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 7 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[7] 29 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 20 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[9] 15 France (SNEP)[10] 10 Germany (GfK)[11] 26 Ireland (IRMA)[12] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 30 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 27 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 26 UK Singles (OCC)[17] 9 US Billboard Hot 100[18] 10 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19] 40 US Cash Box Top 100[20] 10

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Love... Thy Will Be Done" Chart (1991) Position Australia (ARIA)[21] 14 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[22] 60 Europe (European Hit Radio)[23] 21 New Zealand (RIANZ)[24] 47 UK Singles (OCC)[25] 67 US Billboard Hot 100[26] 58

Certifications

Certifications for "Love... Thy Will Be Done"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[21]	Platinum	70,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Love... Thy Will Be Done"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Japan	July 18, 1991	Mini-CD	Sony	[27]
United States	July 25, 1991	7-inch vinyl cassette	Columbia	[28]
United Kingdom	August 5, 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[29]
	September 2, 1991	Limited-edition 7-inch vinyl		[30]

Covers and samples

Prince performed this song during his tours in the later 1990s and in 2012. He also used a sample of it for his cover of "One of Us" on his album Emancipation. Prince's original version was released on his posthumous album Originals in 2019. Singer Jessie Ware released a cover version in April 2013,^[31] and singer Delta Goodrem released a cover version in September 2014.^[32]

Delta Goodrem version

"Love Thy Will Be Done"
Single by Delta Goodrem
Released	September 12, 2014 (2014-09-12)
Genre	Pop
Length	4:02
Label	Sony Music Australia
Songwriter(s)	Martika, Prince
Delta Goodrem singles chronology
"Heart Hypnotic" (2013) "Love Thy Will Be Done" (2014) "Only Human" (2015)
Audio video
"Love Thy Will Be Done" on YouTube

In 2014, Australian singer/songwriter Delta Goodrem released a version to promote her Australia and New Zealand tour with opera singer Andrea Bocelli. It was announced on her Twitter account just days before the release. It was released on iTunes and Google Play as a digital download and at JB Hi-Fi and Sanity as a CD single. Pre-orders from Sanity came with a limited edition 'D' keyring. The CD single also includes a cover of Shakespears Sister's song "Stay".

Track listings

• Digital download

1. "Love Thy Will Be Done" – 4:02

• CD single

1. "Love Thy Will Be Done" – 4:02
2. "Stay" – 3:50

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Love Thy Will Be Done"

Chart (2014)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[33]	59