Lyric discussion by modustollens 

Cover art for The Spirit of Giving lyrics by New Pornographers, The

It is "cloud prayer," not "glad prayer" (listen closely and you'll hear the sharp K sound at the beginning as well as the ow, not ad, sound; also, "ground" and "outboard" are vowel-rhymes with "cloud" but not with "glad"), and Malmo is right, it's an intentional reference to the A.C. Newman song ("The Cloud Prayer," off "The Slow Wonder"); this song also quotes a few sounds from the Newman song.

Dan Bejar constantly refers to/quotes his own lyrics (and the habit rubs off on Spencer Krug in his new one-off band Swan Lake, where Krug quotes himself in "All Fires"), and mentions Carl in "Myriad Harbour." They're like furbies, put 'em together and they just talk up a storm to each other and make up their own little language. Clever brilliant furry things.

Are you talking about the New Pornographers in specific, or about musicians in general?