The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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)
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)
Lyrics submitted by Novartza, edited by Prettydoll_Pebetsi
Like a Prayer Lyrics as written by Madonna Ciccone Patrick Leonard
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, MUSIC.INFO FINLAND OY, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I cant believe how many people think this is about a blowjob. Its ridiculous.
Tbis song is about the correlation between being in love and having a relgious experience. Let me break it down.
"Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone I hear you call my name And it feels like home"
Ok, here she is saying that she loves this person so much that when she hears him call her name she feels safe and secure kind of like someone who has been saved feels safe in the home of God's kingdom.
"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"
Again, its like prayer has been answered that she has fallen so madly in love. Also, some religons are known for late night masses such as Catholics and their midnight masses where the "power" of the Lord is felt.
"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 she hears his voice, its melodic and soothing like an angel singing and being in love with him is like walking on air. Falling out of the sky refers to the intensity that she is falling for me and "Heaven help me" is saying she is out of control with her feeling.
"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"
This refers to being love just like being a child with not a care in the world.In other words, her love is a dream, something she hopes to never wakes up from.
The on my knees bit is not a blow job but symbolizes prayer in relgion and in love which she is praying to. This song shows how we as people tend to put more faith in the ones we "love" than the ones that created us. I hate religon and this song was the easiest to figure out. A blowjob? Perverts I say.
I agree, it's absolutely ridiculous how much this song and its accompanying video have been misunderstood so much. It has so much more depth and meaning than that. It's clear that she finds a magnetic attraction to the saint (and I might add it is definitely no coincidence that he looks so much like the wrongly accused man), and that she feels deep romantic love for this man (hence the sensual kiss they share on the floor of the church), but it is not about a specific sexual act at all. It is, simply put, a song about being free through love, love for herself, and this man she is with. I'd also like to add that it deals with the issues of sexism, racism, and organized religion. In the end of the video, she frees the wrongly accused man from jail, signifying her empowerment as a woman, and also his freedom as a black man oppressed by a racist society. They have both broken their chains, and it celebrates finding that freedom from oppression, injustice, and subjugation and equates that feeling with having a great mystical experience. Her love for this man whom has suffered injustice and her feeling of empowerment, that she has freed both herself and him, and what they feel for each other is the essence of spirituality. I think it's a very powerful and symbolic scene that he kisses her on the church's floor, because she's saying that this is the closest that anyone can ever get to that higher power, because what they have together is so beautiful and real. The music video for this song is one of the best ever made, and it's really a pity that the meaning is lost on most.
@acidsex Heeey! Comparison to spiritual experience is very interesting! It fits indeed!
@acidsex Madonna grew up in a Satanic environment. \r\nWhen I first heard this I assumed it was about a "relationship" with God.\r\n\r\nBut the costumes and set say she is praying to Satan.\r\n\r\nShe might be coming out of her MK-Ultra Programming and expressing she really feels.\r\n\r\nIt\'s interesting that a song about Satan is also a song about God.\r\n\r\n"On your knees" is showing a reverence to a deity.\r\nAny other assumptions are taking this totally out of context. LOL\r\n\r\nSelena Gomez - "Nobody" is quite similar.\r\n"Nobody\'s gonna lead me to the truth."