A Song and a Prayer

Perhaps the most oft-mentioned aspect of religion mentioned in music is prayer. Considering prayer plays a role in every major religion, it should not be a wonder this act of communicating with a higher power is sung about in every major music genre.

Indeed, remembering that a song, at least one coming from a righteous source, is a prayer (see D&C 25:12), the two forms of communicating are tightly intertwined, and have been for centuries.

Because of the universality of prayer and the kinship between song and speaking to Deity, prayer is special in the world of religion in pop culture simply in that it is allowed and accepted. Religion and pop culture have had many run-ins and are often seen as an oil and water mixture, but prayer is one aspect everyone is willing to allow.

Though prayer and song were originally coupled only with religious services, artists now cite prayer in every way imaginable. For instance, there is, of course, Bon Jovi in “Living on a Prayer.”
But there are also two versions hymn-like version of “The Prayer” has found a mainstream following, whether it is the Charlotte Church or the Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli version. to the head-banging style of


In “The Prayer” lyrics, each singer is placed as if they are speaking directly to God:

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know

Let this be our prayer
As we go our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your Grace
To a place where we'll be safe

Though set in more modern settings, other artists even go so far as to teach religious lessons through songs about prayer. Garth Brooks sings of God’s guidance in our lives in “Unanswered Prayers”:

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

Still another possibly more “shy” group of artists imply they are singing about or to God, yet their lyrics can also easily point to another entity, most commonly a lover or helper. For instance, in “Only Hope,” Mandy Moore dualistically sings,

Sing to me the song of the stars.
Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again.
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again.

So I lay my head back down.
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours, I pray, to be only yours
I know now, you're my only hope.



Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Baha’i, Sikhism, Shinto—these and many other religious frames of thought all invoke prayer. Pop culture musicians capitalize on the common human experience of prayer to relate to their listeners. Though a widespread tenet of religion, prayer is a deeply personal experience to all who participate in it.

So: 1) What are other possible reasons prayer is mentioned so unashamedly and often in popular music?
2) Are there other tenets or aspects of religion that are mentioned as much or more than prayer?
3) Are songs about prayer mostly uplifting?
4) How did prayer become so accepted in pop culture? Was the acceptance gradual or sudden?