From checking other lyrics sites, I think the lyrics of the last verse submitted here are wrong. The last verse should be:
You can't shape love with a hammer
You can't shape love with a will
What horror lies in knowing
There's no fate that chaos can't kill.
-- With those lyrics, I think the song is saying that while religion ultimately cannot provide any answers about life in a universe which in truth we all know to be horrifyingly chaotic, prayer is necessary because it fulfills the need of providing temporary solace and relief ("smiles and looks the other way") until we die (or until the afterlife in a different universe where prayers are answered). The reasons answers to prayers are illusive now is because even if a godlike entity is listening, it has no powers in this universe other than the inner strength that faith provides to help you get through life, e.g., for Christians part of that strength is provided by belief in the afterlife.
From checking other lyrics sites, I think the lyrics of the last verse submitted here are wrong. The last verse should be:
You can't shape love with a hammer You can't shape love with a will What horror lies in knowing There's no fate that chaos can't kill.
-- With those lyrics, I think the song is saying that while religion ultimately cannot provide any answers about life in a universe which in truth we all know to be horrifyingly chaotic, prayer is necessary because it fulfills the need of providing temporary solace and relief ("smiles and looks the other way") until we die (or until the afterlife in a different universe where prayers are answered). The reasons answers to prayers are illusive now is because even if a godlike entity is listening, it has no powers in this universe other than the inner strength that faith provides to help you get through life, e.g., for Christians part of that strength is provided by belief in the afterlife.