Like A Prayer

Album: Like A Prayer (1989)
Charted: 1 1
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  • Life is a mystery
    Everyone must stand alone
    I hear you call my name
    And it feels like home

    When you call my name it's like a little prayer
    I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
    In the midnight hour I can feel your power
    Just like a prayer, you know I'll take you there

    I hear your voice
    It's like an angel sighing
    I have no choice, I hear your voice
    Feels like flying
    I close my eyes
    Oh God, I think I'm falling
    Out of the sky, I close my eyes
    Heaven help me

    When you call my name it's like a little prayer
    I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
    In the midnight hour I can feel your power
    Just like a prayer, you know I'll take you there

    Like a child
    You whisper softly to me
    You're in control just like a child
    Now I'm dancing
    It's like a dream
    No end and no beginning
    You're here with me, it's like a dream
    Let the choir sing

    When you call my name it's like a little prayer
    I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
    In the midnight hour I can feel your power
    Just like a prayer, you know I'll take you there
    When you call my name it's like a little prayer
    I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
    In the midnight hour I can feel a power
    Just like a prayer you know I'll take you there

    Life is a mystery
    Everyone must stand alone
    I hear you call my name
    And it feels like home

    Just like a prayer
    Your voice can take me there
    Just like a muse to me
    You are a mystery
    Just like a dream
    You are not what you seem
    Just like a prayer
    No choice, your voice can take me there

    Just like a prayer, I'll take you there
    It's like a dream to me
    Just like a prayer, I'll take you there (I'll take you there)
    It's like a dream to me (oh)
    Just like a prayer, I'll take you there (I'll take you there)
    It's like a dream to me (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
    Just like a prayer, I'll take you there (oh)
    It's like a dream to me

    Just like a prayer
    Your voice can take me there
    Just like a muse to me
    You are a mystery
    Just like a dream
    You are not what you seem
    Just like a prayer
    No choice, your voice can take me there

    Just like a prayer
    Your voice can take me there
    Just like a muse to me
    You are a mystery
    Just like a dream
    You are not what you seem
    Just like a prayer
    No choice, your voice can take me there
    Your voice can take me there
    Like a prayer

    (It's like a prayer)
    (It's like a prayer)
    (Your voice can take me there)
    (It's like a prayer)
    (It's like a prayer)
    (Your voice can take me there)
    (It's like a prayer) Writer/s: Madonna Ciccone, Patrick Leonard
    Publisher: MUSIC.INFO FINLAND OY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 29

  • J.h. from Chicago IlAnd even today, Madonna is seeing this somewhere. Greatful, proud, joyful and probably laughing her ass off at the same time. She is not predictable. We, on the other hand, still are. MLVC
  • Annabelle from Eugene, OrMy sweet love, Johnny, told me that Cheryl Chase, the woman who plays Angelica Pickles on the cartoon "Rugrats", sang with the choir on this tune. I'm not sure whether that's true, or maybe it's just a bit of a figment of Johnny's imagination. Can anyone please verify this for me?
  • Luke Lee from London, UkI first saw this back in '89 as a God-fearing teen. The video shocked me then.
  • Mary from WisconsinI never really paid much attention to the lyrics until I heard the song while I was driving down the highway with nothing else on my mind. It was then it struck me that Madonna was indeed referring to sex. The video, which I haven’t seen in years, simply provides another interpretation. Madonna WANTS us to discuss her original intent. She succeeds.
  • Jamie from Brisbane Looking back on all the controversy that surrounded the song upon its initial release, it all seems so petty; the song has dual connotations of its meanings of course being the religious and sexual. If you think about it I think the artistry here is quite clever and how both evoke relatable desires of the entire human experience. Also I think Madinna did something quite spectacular with the music video, it covered many social 'criticisms' like the racial profiling of the innocent black man and how he was also the saint (- if your looking at it in terms of historical accuracy, Christianity had come from the Mediterranean.) Also in the 80s an interracial couple may have been taboo and the fact that Madonna had brought this to the international conversation was brilliant. It's her artistry and this song will have a continued legacy.
  • Leo from Westminster 1, MdLet's get our Facts straight here! While God and Sex have their roles and turns in Like a Prayer, this quintessential Madonna song is both the love and sad death of her mother and a benediction to an for her audience. Madonna Cries Like a Prayer to all of us who have loved her through the years. She thanks us and we thank her for her art! She is a Blessed Presence in the history of recorded music. I Cry When I Hear Like a Prayer because Her Voice gladdens my heart. Love you Madge!
  • Rachiel from Austin, TxWhy does everyone think if its about sex it's "dirty"? You guys need to get over yourself. Sex is one of the most beautiful things on this planet and during sex is the closest to God I've ever felt. I can totally relate to the lyrics of this song as a song about a lover.
  • Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnI am huge fan of this song and the album. Madonna really wrote a great song here.
  • Liv from New York, NyI saw a documentary about the uproar this song and video caused, and the director of the video, Mary Lambert, stated that the first time she heard the song she told Madonna that It "compared religious and spiritual ecstasy to sexual ecstasy" and that Madonna agreed with her. And I do think that's very true, when I listen to the song now I see it from a different point of view, and that makes so much sense. I don't think that the video has much to do with the song itself, though It tells a wonderful story, It doesn't really cater to telling the story of the lyrics too much. Nonetheless, this song is, in my opinion, the greatest pop song of all time - It is timeless. And Madonna is, of course, the greatest pop star/artist of all time. Regardless of wether or not you are a Madonna fan, this song tends to strike a chord with everyone who hears it. And as I read in a previous comment, It really does prove Madonna's genius... over twenty years since this songs release It still has people debating.
  • Linc from Beaumont, TxThis song is about religious liberation. Madonna was raised very strict catholic and had early aspirations to become a nun. Seriously...the theme is that everyone is subject and can succomb to temptation...even a saint. We can break our confines and still be who we are.
    And I am so sorry, whoever decided Jesus is a whiteman needs to go home and read their Bible!!! Jesus was a Jew it states it oh so clearly in the Bible! Like every other verse of Matthew, Mark and Luke - and most of the Acts! And believe it or not, not all Jew practice Judaica and are infact Christians! All early Christian were Jews because they were followers of Christ - hence the name "Christians" So if you have any doubts about the anglo-saxon depicted Jesus of church portraits remember a "man" painted those.
  • N.i. from Baltimore, MdMoses: I don't know where you get the idea that white and Jewish are mutually exclusive categories. Then again, you'd know better than I, considering your own ancient Middle Eastern origins.
  • Moses from San Antonio, TxTo the idiot who said Jesus was white:
    Jesus was a JEW for Christ's sake. Not white, Jewish.
  • Tara from Somewhere, TxI think this song is about how love and maybe sex can be sacred, like a religion of love.
    As to the person who is upset because she thinks Jesus was portrayed as black, not white-1) that is a saint, not Jesus. 2) (and this is sarcasm)Obviously Jesus is white. Even though he was born over 2000 years ago in the MIDDLE EAST. Everyone knows that's where all white people come from.
  • Daniel from Rio De Janeiro, BrazilJesus WASP? I though Jesus was a hippie! Nonetheless, it's as stated below, it's a black SAINT, not JESUS! The Catholic Church has many black saints. the sacrilege parts is where she kisses him. The whole 'rape' part of the video is really cool and the bow at the end is also great
  • Chris from Geelong, AustraliaInteresting to read the debate. There's no doubt that it's about oral sex. It seems to me that Madonna switches between deep religious feelings (which I believe a genuine) and sexual ecstacy. All that aside, I cannot understand why people are offended by it. It is a GREAT SONG, and it's beauty, in my opinion sweeps aside any criticisms (I'm not a Madonna fan, by the way)
  • N.i. from Baltimore, MdWhy is depicting Jesus as an African American (which is not what the video was doing, but let that pass) any worse than depicting him as a WASP (as he is usually depicted on screen)?
  • Tegan from Newcastle, AustraliaSounds like all the people thinking this song relates to a sex act have really dirty minds!

    Honestly - she refers to being on her knees... what do you do on your knees? Hmm... oh yeah that's right... you PRAY!

    Think of it as a sex song if you will, but you should accept that that it's your mind that is dirty, not the song.
  • Robert from Snellville, GaIt appears to me that Madonna is comparing oral sex (I'll take you there) to heaven. She is toying with her allegory that praying to God and finding Heaven is like giving oral sex and finding "heaven."

    When I listen to this song, I can't help but think that this is what she is saying. It is sacreligious and disgusting to make this kind of a comparison.

    I hope I am completely wrong... I hope that she isn't so sleazy that she would use this kind of allegory. I can totally understand how Christians and other religious people are very offended.
  • Len from Raleigh, NcThis song was great.I can see why Pepsi and the religious groups where against the video.She depicted Christ as an African american and that was simply wrong to do that.To add or take away anything from God is not our right.I lost alot of respect for her after seeing this video.Clearly she had some great songs and great producing on her songs also.Her producer is just as much a part of her success as she was or is.
  • Danielle from Mckeesport, Pathis was my favorite song since i was 6 yrs old.i agree it is complex for a pop song
  • Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesWho was the beautiful woman playing the lead gospel singer who guides Madonna in her vision in the church?
  • Cooper from Somewhere, Althis song is NOT about oral sex. "i'm down on my knees.." reffers to kneeling as Catholics do in church. "In the midnight hour, I can feel your power.." People usually pray at night and she is reffering to the power of God. Can't a girl praise God in her own way?!
  • N.i. from Baltimore, MdThe song's structure is unusually complex and layered for a pop song.
  • Amanda from Little Rock, ArBehold the greatness of Madonna. 20 years after the song has been released, she's still got em guessin'.
  • Victoria from Gaithersburg, MdI am pretty sure that the song IS about giving oral sex. didn't madonna state that herself?
  • Jessica from Holt, MiThe video gave me the idea that this song was about some sort of sacriligious or forbidden type of relationship, such as an interracial relationship. But after reading steph's comment, I listened to it again and it being about performing oral sex really does make sense, especially with lines like, "I'm down on my knees, I want to take you there", "in the midnight hour, I can feel your power", and "I hear you call my name and it feels like home." Then I thought, well, maybe it is about giving interracial hummers :). Also, Madonna does have a song on her Erotica album that is about receiving oral sex, so it wouldn't be too surprising that she would have a song about giving it.
  • Hope from Big Bear, Ca0
  • Aj from Cleveland, GaThe black saint is kinda creepy because he is wax and then he comes to life and is crying. By the way, what are hummers? Are they what I think they are? Hence they lyrics: "I'm down on my knees I wanna take you there"
  • Kristy from Saco, Mewhat in gods name would ever give you that idea steph!??!!!??? rofl.
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