We Pray
by Coldplay (featuring Little Simz & Burna Boy)

Album: Moon Music (2024)
Charted: 20 87
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "We Pray" is like a global choir's heartfelt plea for unity and hope in a world teeming with challenges. It's a collective wish for freedom and simplicity, an earnest cry that echoes across continents. Joining Coldplay on this anthemic journey are British rapper Little Simz, Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boy, Palestinian-Chilean vocalist Elyanna, and Argentine singer Tini, all harmonizing in their shared yearning for safer, more harmonious times.
  • And so we pray
    We'll be singing "Baraye"


    "Baraye" is a deeply moving song inspired by the heartbreaking death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who lost her life at the hands of Tehran's morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab "improperly." The title, which means "freedom," has resonated with the Iranian people, transforming the song into an anthem of resistance. It embodies their fight against oppression and their unwavering demand for freedom and justice.

    Coldplay performed "Baraye" in Buenos Aires following the Iranian protests for Women's Rights.
  • Jay-Z is credited as a songwriter along with Coldplay, the four guest artists, and a production lineup that features Max Martin, ILYA, Andrea Torres, and El Dandee.

    Chris Martin and Jay-Z have a collaborative history. One notable instance was in 2006 when the Coldplay frontman contributed vocals on Hova's "Beach Chair." They teamed up again in 2008 for "Lost+," a remix of Coldplay's "Lost!" that features Jay-Z.
  • Coldplay introduced "We Pray" during their Glastonbury headline performance on June 29, 2024, with a surprise appearance from Simz and Elyanna. Video of Burna Boy's performance on the bridge was projected in the background.
  • The single, released from the album Moon Music on August 23, 2024, comes with an added treat: extra renditions of the song, each showcasing the distinctive styles of Tini and Elyanna.
  • In a commendable nod to environmental stewardship, Coldplay ensured that Moon Music leaves a minimal ecological footprint. The vinyl LPs are crafted from nine recycled plastic bottles each, while the CDs use 90% recycled polycarbonate from post-consumer waste. The band also took steps to curb carbon emissions related to the album's production and distribution, optimizing transport routes and employing renewable energy sources wherever feasible.
  • If it's driving you crazy that "We Pray" sounds like some other song you've heard, check out "Me and My Broken Heart" from Rixton - that might be the one.
  • South Korean girl group TWICE jumped on a remix, which was dropped on April 17, 2025. They contribute a new Korean verse while Martin croons an additional bridge.

    The new mix marks Coldplay's second time working with a K-pop artist, following "My Universe" with BTS in September 2021.
  • Coldplay debuted the K-Pop flavored rendition at their show in Goyang-si, South Korea on April 16, 2025, where TWICE served as the opening act. The girls joined Coldplay for the performance alongside Elyanna.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Chris Isaak

Chris IsaakSongwriter Interviews

Chris tells the story of "Wicked Game," talks milkshakes and moonpies at Sun Records, and explains why women always get their way.

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.