After an unsuccessful first single, the group were signed to Laurie Records. Their breakthrough came when "I Wonder Why" made # 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the group appeared for the first time on the Dick Clark TV show. They followed it with the ballads "No One Knows" (#19) and "Don't Pity Me" (#40).
This success won Dion and the Belmonts their first major tour in late 1958, with The Coasters, Buddy Holly and Bobby Darin, and this was followed up by the "Winter Dance Party" tour with Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. On 2 February 1959, after playing at Clear Lake, Iowa, Dion decided that he could not afford the $36 cost of a flight to the next venue. The plane crashed, and Holly and the other stars were killed. However, the tour continued, with Jimmy Clanton and Bobby Vee being added to the bill.
In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts’ next single, "A Teenager in Love", was released, making #5 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #28 in the UK Singles Chart, and this was followed by an album, Presenting Dion and the Belmonts. Their biggest hit, "Where or When", was released in November 1959, and reached #3 on the U.S. chart.
However, in early 1960, Dion checked in to hospital for heroin addiction, a problem he had had since his mid-teens. Further single releases for the group that year were less successful, there were musical and financial disputes between Dion and members of the Belmonts, and in October 1960 Dion decided to quit for a solo career. The Belmonts also continued to release records, but with less success.
Dion and the Belmonts reunited in 1966 for the unsuccessful album Together Again on ABC Records, and again in 1972 for a one-off show at Madison Square Garden, recorded and released as a live album.
A Lover's Prayer
Dion & The Belmonts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Were once my own
My heart, how it yearns the flame still burns
But I'm alone
Not a word was spoken my heart was broken
But I still care
So I will just pray and suffer all day
And say a lover's prayer
Some day your eyes will fill with tears
When you need me
You'll think it's too late, but my love will wait
Until eternity
Some times when I'm out and having fun
My tears disappear
But deep in my heart, you're the only one
Oh answer my lover's prayer
A lover's prayer is said, my dear
So you'll be mine
I'll cry no longer, my love will grow stronger
As wedding bells chime
But that's just a dream I pray will come true
'Cause I'll still care
Where ever you are, I'll always love you
Please answer my lover's prayer
The song "A Lover's Prayer" by Dion and The Belmonts tells a story of a person who is suffering from a broken heart. The person's former beloved was once theirs, but they are now alone and sorrowful. Despite the pain, they still care deeply for their lost love, to the point that they pray for them every day. The writer acknowledges that their love will wait until eternity, hoping that someday their beloved will realize their mistake and come back. The lyrics express the longing for this love to be returned and the desperation for their prayer to be answered.
The song essentially exemplifies the feeling of unrequited love, a common theme in many love songs. It shows how true love can hurt and how one can still hold on to that love despite the pain that it brings. It also shows how powerful the human capacity to love can be, and the intensity of the feeling can cause someone to pray for their beloved every day. This song can resonate with anyone who has lost someone they deeply love and still long for them to come back.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I am so blue when I think that you
I feel sad and lonely when I think about you
Were once my own
When we were together and in love
My heart, how it yearns the flame still burns
My heart still longs for you and the love we once had
But I'm alone
But I am lonely without you
Not a word was spoken my heart was broken
We parted without saying goodbye and it broke my heart
But I still care
But I still love you and care about you
So I will just pray and suffer all day
I will spend my days praying and enduring the pain of missing you
And say a lover's prayer
Praying for us to be together again as lovers
Some day your eyes will fill with tears
One day you will realize how much you need me and cry for me
When you need me
When you realize you cannot live without me
You'll think it's too late, but my love will wait
You may think it's too late, but my love will still be here for you
Until eternity
My love for you will last forever
Some times when I'm out and having fun
Sometimes I distract myself and pretend to have fun
My tears disappear
But my sadness never truly goes away
But deep in my heart, you're the only one
But deep down, my heart only belongs to you
Oh answer my lover's prayer
Please answer my prayer to be together again
A lover's prayer is said, my dear
I am praying for our love to be reignited
So you'll be mine
So that we can be together again
I'll cry no longer, my love will grow stronger
My love for you will only continue to grow stronger and I won't cry anymore
As wedding bells chime
As we walk down the aisle on our wedding day
But that's just a dream I pray will come true
I know it may just be a dream, but I pray it will happen
'Cause I'll still care
Because I will always love and care for you
Where ever you are, I'll always love you
No matter where you are in life, I will always love you
Please answer my lover's prayer
Please answer my prayer for us to be together again
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scarlet Dawson
The gradual built up of melodies is just beautiful
MrGotsquashed
All of their songs are hits!
TisEyerish1
I've loved this song since I first heard it back in 1959 and was too young to know the meaning of it. Today, the words haunt me because they came true.
Arizona Paul
In 1960, I had an album of Dion & The Belmonts, "Greatest Hits", or whatever it's
name was. My girlfriend and I played it a lot. Lover's Prayer is still my fave out of
all of their great songs
Egbert Souce
Loved this from the first time I heard it in early 1970s. R.I.P. Ernie Maresca
daniel C.
Can you imagine this song being released today. It wouldn't even make the survey. No cursing, no violence, no degradation, no rape, or murder. Plus you can understand every word. Just a nice love song. No the kids today would spit this song out like yesterday's garbage. They have embraced the dark side of life. No worries though, He'll isn't half full.
Joaquin_inshorts
Some of us do appreciate this music its so Wonderfull it reminds me of the guy i love
lateforbreakfast
I could never make my mind up whether I liked Dion and the Belmonts or not, then thye made Runaround Sue and I was hooked....
John Sharp
The Del Satins sang with Dion on Sue but w ho really cares; one of the best songs - ever.
Teresa Carella
NICE!!