Like a Prayer

Song Meaning and Background of Like A Prayer by Madonna

The song, which Madonna and Patrick Leonard co-wrote and produced, marked the beginning of a creative and individual approach to songwriting for Madonna, who felt that she wanted to appeal to her mature audience more. After figuring out how she would integrate her ideas with the music, Madonna wrote "Like a Prayer" in roughly three hours, which later served as the album's opening track.

Only Madonna could make a six-minute gospel-pop behemoth out of love, faith, and oral sex.

Her interpretation of "Like a Prayer" is that it is "the song of a passionate young girl so in love with God that it is almost as though He were the male figure in her life."

The song launched as part of a soft drink advertising campaign, but it was pulled after the blasphemously offensive video went viral on MTV.

The Vatican immediately denounced it, perhaps participating in the promotion of the song on purpose. In 1989, Madonna declared, "In Catholicism, you are born a sinner and you are a sinner your entire life." "The sin is always inside of you, no matter how hard you try to run from it."

"I think there was a point when we realized that it was the title track, and the lead track, and it was going to be a powerhouse. It became obvious that there was something unique about it. And that somehow we made this thing work: with its stopping and starting, and a minimalistic rhythmic thing, and the verses, and these bombastic choruses, and this giant choir comes in. This is ambitious, you know?"

 —Patrick Leonard's thoughts on "Like a Prayer".

The song was number one in the USA, UK, Australia and many other countries.

Lyrics of Like A Prayer by Madonna

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 your 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

It's like a dream to me

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

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

Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there

It's like a prayer

Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there

It's like a prayer

Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there

It's like a prayer

Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there

It's like a prayer