Lead singer Kele Okereke says he was inspired to write the song after hearing Busta Rhymes' song "Touch It". Okereke also described the song as having a "crunk-like" effect, which he revealed in a number of interviews in October 2006 concerning information on the new album. The song has been used in the video game Project Gotham Racing 4 and Need for Speed: ProStreet (the "Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix" version)
Music video
A music video for the song was released on 5 December 2006, and was directed by Walter Stern, also known for directing videos by Massive Attack, The Prodigy and most notably the The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony". In the video, all members of Bloc Party are at a nightclub (which is, in reality, Café 1001, Dray Walk, Truman Brewery, London). It follows them throughout the night even though they do not appear to be doing much besides looking around. Okereke is the only one who actually gets up and goes around. The other members just sit around while Okereke goes off on his own journey, whilst cigarette burn effects and other visual distortions distort the film.
Prayer
Bloc Party Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And dancing feet
And the power to impress
Lord, give me grace
And dancing feet
Let me outshine them all
Is it so wrong to crave recognition?
Runner up
Is it so wrong to want rewarding?
To want more than is given to you?
Than is given to you?
Tonight make me unstoppable
I will charm, I will slice,
I will dazzle them with my wit
Tonight make me unstoppable
And I will charm, I will slice
I will dazzle I will outshine all
Standing on the packed dance floor
Our bodies thrown in time
Silent on the weekdays
Tonight I claim what's mine
Is it so wrong to crave recognition?
Second best
Runner up
Is it so wrong to want rewarding?
To want more than is given to you?
Than is given to you?
Tonight make me unstoppable
I will charm, I will slice,
I will dazzle them with my wit
Tonight make me unstoppable
And I will charm, I will slice
I will dazzle I will outshine all
In "The Prayer," Bloc Party explores the theme of the desire for recognition and success in one's life. The singer asks for grace and dancing feet, representing the ability to navigate the world with ease and charm. However, it's quickly revealed that the singer's true desire is to outshine everyone else, to rise above being second-best or a runner up. They want to be rewarded for their hard work and given what they feel they deserve. They want to be unstoppable, to dazzle and charm everyone around them.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea of ownership over one's success. The singer claims what's theirs on the packed dance floor, suggesting that they're ready to take control of their own destiny and make their mark in the world. The repetition of the chorus, "tonight make me unstoppable," highlights the urgency and desperation of the singer's desires.
Overall, "The Prayer" is a powerful commentary on the human desire for success and recognition. It's a call to arms for those who want to be recognized for their hard work and talent, and a reminder that success often comes to those who are willing to fight for it.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, give me grace
Asking for help from a higher power to achieve something desired.
And dancing feet
Asking for physical abilities to help achieve the desired outcome.
And the power to impress
Asking for charisma and social abilities to help achieve the desired outcome.
Let me outshine them all
Expressing desire to succeed and be recognized as better than others.
Is it so wrong to crave recognition?
Questioning whether it is acceptable to desire recognition for one's accomplishments.
Second best
Being unsatisfied with being only a runner-up.
Runner up
Being unsatisfied with being only a runner-up.
Is it so wrong to want rewarding?
Questioning whether it is acceptable to desire a reward for one's efforts.
To want more than is given to you?
Questioning whether it is acceptable to desire more than what is offered or given.
Tonight make me unstoppable
Expressing determination to succeed and be unstoppable in achieving one's goals.
I will charm, I will slice,
Describing the tactics that will be used to achieve success.
I will dazzle I will outshine all
Expressing confidence that the desired outcome will be achieved by being better than anyone else.
Standing on the packed dance floor
Describing the setting in which the desired outcome will be achieved.
Our bodies thrown in time
Describing the dancing movements matching the beat.
Silent on the weekdays
Describing the mundanity of everyday life.
Tonight I claim what's mine
Emphasizing the importance of success in the current moment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, ONErpm, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Russell Lissack, Gordon Moakes, Kele Okereke, Matt Tong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GoneWithTheWinCom
One of the most underrated and best Indie bands the UK has ever produced, I love so many Bloc Party songs, hope they keep coming back with such amazing songs.
@takumi7931
traps is an amazing song, they still have it after this time
@Bawitdabadabangdadang
Bloc Party were huge in the indie scene at the time! Unfortunately the UK music scene is now obsessed with pushing Stormzy and absolute garbage rap/grime music instead of genuinely creative stuff like this!
@burnbobquist8999
A weekend in the city was an extrodinary album. One of the best album of the 00s.
@rianakanthi6752
And its B side🔥
@Braydog101
This song man. Something about the hopefulness of the lyrics contrasted with nervous behavior and fleeting escapism of drugs is too true. Going out always treads the same territory. Anticipation, hopefulness, brief happiness, coming down, reality. Weekend in the city does these themes justice. I love you bloc party. x
@joaosousa5435
You said everything :0
@leonardo25gabriel
Silent Alarm is a masterpiece, but the lyrics and the themes aborded in Weekend in the city just hit so much. (SA themes hits too, but AWITC is kinda different)
@elizabetht458
Wow. Intensely well put
@Braydog101
@@elizabetht458 Weird synchronicity. I went out last night and woke up to this comment while hungover.