Songs About Prayers and Praying

Songs About Prayers and Praying

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Posted 2023-04-05 by Steven Gfollow
I have had this list sitting on my computer for a little while, and have been trying to find a time when to submit it so that it will not upset too many people.

I decided that Easter is a nice time to have songs about prayers and praying.


Most songs about prayers in pop culture tend to be about hopes and dreams, not actually beseeching a deity. As such, most are songs of optimism and joy, if not actual happiness. Sure, some might be a little darker, but, really, that is rare amongst these.

And with that brief introduction out the way, normal rules apply. One song per artist, one version of each song, I need to like the song.

Songs about prayers and praying!
'My Prayer' by The Platters (1956)

I have a few versions of this track, and it was a tough choice between this and Roy Orbison's version, but went for this one because the close harmonies just push it over the line. The Platters are often forgotten these days, and that should be corrected.
'I Say A Little Prayer (For You)' by Aretha Franklin (1967)

A Burt Bacharach /Hal David classic, and one of Aretha Franklin's best songs, this just soars on the back of her remarkable voice. This is so good.
'Praying Hands' by Devo (1978)

And we go into New Wave, post-Punk with Devo, from their seminal Q:Are We Not Men? A:We Are Devo! album. Bit of fun weirdness from one of the early master bands of the weird.
'Save A Prayer' by Duran Duran (1982)

Coming from Rio, this was a charting single from that collection, and one of the early songs that really established the band as New Wave stalwarts.
'Livin' On A Prayer' by Bon Jovi (1986)

Yes, of course this song had to be here! The song that broke Bon Jovi across the world, and a song that is filled with hope, the story of Tommy and Gina has stayed with us for almost forty years now. Poodle rock at its finest.
'Pray' by MC Hammer (1990)

This song charted hugely, top ten around the world, and it holds the record for the song that repeats its title most of any track ever (147 times on the album version). Just a bit of positive hip hop that is not too bad.
'No Prayer For The Dying' by Iron Maiden (1990)

And we jump from hip hop to heavy metal, and one of the bands that has come to exemplify the genre. The title track from their 1990 album, this collection was supposed to herald a return to their roots, and I like the album, even though the critics really didn't.
'Praying For Time' by George Michael (1990)

Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 is my favourite George Michael album, and this is one of the great singles released from that collection. It really showcases his voice well.
'Unanswered Prayers' by Garth Brooks (1990)

Some country! There had to be some, right? Slow and dominated by acoustic guitar, this is a sad song from back when Garth Brooks was the king of country music.
'Prayer For The Earth' by Mike Oldfield (1994)

A track that is sort of an instrumental, in that it uses the human voice as a distinct instrument. Based on some African chants Oldfield heard while on tour, this is such a wonderful piece of music, going for a world music field in that Oldfield style.
'Prayer' by Rick Springfield (1999)

An album cut from Karma, this is one of the better tracks from that collection, showing the former Zoot man still had it, and was more than just a one-hit wonder.
'The Monk's Prayer' by Rick Wakeman (2000)

Another instrumental, from the Chronicles Of Man concept album. I like most of Wakeman's albums of this ilk, as his keyboard playing is unmatched in modern pop music. This might be an album cut but is still such a strong showcase.
'The Prayer' by Amici Forever (2005)

I have so many versions of this song, and many sound the same. What makes this one different is the combination of male and female voices, which just adds something special to the operatic track.
'Sinner's Prayer' by Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa (2011)

Now we hit some modern-day blues with this wonderful track from two of the finest exponents. It rocks and just sounds so good, a sound that we do not get enough of in the chart scene today.
'The Power Of Prayer' by Bruce Springsteen (2020)

One of the many strong tracks on Letter To You that, as I said in the review, might not speak to me lyrically, but is still a strong piece. And it is a fine way to close out this list.
And there we are – 15 songs about prayers and praying. I am not sure why so many praying songs were released in 1990, but that is one of the joys of a list like this. I hope you found something here to enjoy.
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82798 - 2023-06-11 06:34:36

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