Prayin'

Album: The Defamation of Strickland Banks (2010)
Charted: 16
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This gospel-soul tune is the third single from The Defamation of Strickland Banks, a concept album by British rapper Ben Drew, aka Plan B. The record is about a sharp-suited soul singer who gets sent to jail for a crime that he didn't commit and chronicles his journey from stage star to inmate and his subsequent fight for survival in jail. This song takes place in prison and finds Strickland being confronted by another inmate who attacks him. The incarcerated singer kills the attacker in self-defense with the help of another prisoner, who in answer to Strickland's prayers, takes the blame.
  • Drew explained where the name Strickland Banks came from to The Arts Desk: "When I started doing music I wanted a stage name. I used to have all these MC names. I used to go to my friends every couple of months and say, 'Yeah, this is my new MC name, when I'm on the mic, call me H.O.T.' Then, 'No, don't call me that, call me Hot Property,' then 'Don't call me that, call me MC Scholar.' It was stupid so I thought, 'People call me B, short for Ben, so if I have a name that has B in it no one has to change what they call me.' Doing soul I was Strictly B, Strictly Business, then I ended up doing hip hop as Plan B. When I started doing an album about a soul singer, he had to be Strictly B, right, but if he's in a court they can't go, 'Yo! Will Strictly B please stand,' so what's his real name? Strickland Banks."
  • The song's music video was directed by Daniel Wolfe and shows the story of Strickland during his time in prison. Fun Lovin 'Criminals frontman and BBC 6 Music DJ Huey Morgan has a cameo in the clip as a prisoner visited by his wife and child. He recalled to NME: "Ben (Drew) took me aside and said, 'We've got all these hot chicks - you can choose which one to sit next to. I thought it would be cool to sit by the big girl with the baby."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.