Song information
The song was Warwick's second single from her Scepter Records album The Windows Of The World, following the LP's title track. The tune reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1967 and was a certified million seller by the RIAA. The single later appeared on the LP Dionne Warwick's Golden Hits, Part Two and is considered one of Warwick's signature songs. The flip or "B-side" of the single (Theme from) Valley of the Dolls was also a million seller and rode the #2 position for 4 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in February 1968. "I Say a Little Prayer" and its B-side, "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls", became one of the most successful double sided hits of the Rock era.
Like several Bacharach compositions, "I Say a Little Prayer" contains passages written in unusual time signatures. The verses are in 10/4 time (using successive measures of 4/4 + 2/4 + 4/4), and the chorus in 11/4 (using 4/4 + 4/4 + 3/4).
Other recordings
Many famous singers have performed or recorded this song, including most notably Aretha Franklin, who recorded it in 1968 as part of her album Aretha Now. Franklin's version was the B side of her 1968 hit single The House that Jack Built (2 R&B/6 Pop). DJs like her version so well that they flipped the single and started playing her version, which was released only 9 months after Warwick's version. Aretha's version was another huge hit peaking at #10 on the Billboard Magazine Hot 100 and #3 R&B and #4 in the UK, selling over a million copies and has since become one of her classic songs as well.
I Say a Little Prayer
Dionne Warwick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before I put on my makeup
I say a little prayer for you
While combing my hair, now
And wondering what dress to wear, now
I say a little prayer for you
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
Forever and ever, we never will part
Oh, how I'll love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me
I run for the bus, dear
While riding I think of us, dear
I say a little prayer for you
At work, I just take time
And all through my coffee break-time
I say a little prayer for you
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever and ever, we never will part
Oh, how I'll love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me
(I say a little prayer for you)
(I say a little prayer for you)
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever and ever, we never will part
Oh, how I'll love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me
My darling, believe me
For me there is no one but you
Please love me too
I'm in love with you
Answer my prayer
Say you love me too
Why don't you answer my prayer
You know everyday I say a little prayer
I said, I say, I say a little prayer
"I Say a Little Prayer" by Dionne Warwick is a classic love song that emphasizes the idea of day-to-day love and being grateful for one's partner. The lyrics talk about a woman who, from the moment she wakes up, thinks about her significant other and says a little prayer for them. She shows her love by thinking about her partner while she's getting ready for her day, thinking about them at work during her coffee breaks, and even thinking about them while riding the bus. She talks about how forever they will stay in her heart and how living without them would only mean heartbreak for her. She then pleadingly asks her partner to answer her prayer and to love her too.
The song primarily emphasizes the feeling of love and how a person can think about their loved one throughout their day. It also shows how an individual feels when they love someone so much and cannot imagine a life without them. The song also tells the story of how sometimes when people are in love, they can feel insecure and are always asking for reassurance from their partner.
Overall, "I Say a Little Prayer" is a beautiful expression of love and commitment between two people who want to spend their life together.
Line by Line Meaning
The moment I wake up
As soon as I wake up in the morning
Before I put on my makeup
Before I start getting ready for the day
I say a little prayer for you
I hope that you'll have a good day and that everything will go well for you
While combing my hair, now
As I'm getting ready, specifically while combing my hair
And wondering what dress to wear, now
And trying to decide what to wear for the day
I say a little prayer for you
I hope that you'll have a good day and that everything will go well for you
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
I will always care about you
And I will love you
I have strong feelings for you
Forever and ever, we never will part
We will always be together and never separate
Oh, how I'll love you
I will love you very much
Together, together, that's how it must be
We need to be together and support each other
To live without you
If I didn't have you in my life
Would only mean heartbreak for me
I would be very sad and lonely
I run for the bus, dear
When I'm trying to catch the bus
While riding I think of us, dear
I think about our relationship while I'm on the bus
At work, I just take time
While I'm at work, I take a moment
And all through my coffee break-time
Specifically during my coffee break at work
I say a little prayer for you
I hope that you're having a good day and that everything is going well for you
Bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum
A music interlude
(I say a little prayer for you)
I hope that you're doing well and that good things are happening in your life
My darling, believe me
Listen to what I'm saying
For me there is no one but you
I only have strong feelings for you
Please love me too
I hope that you feel the same about me
I'm in love with you
I have romantic feelings for you
Answer my prayer
Please respond to my request
Say you love me too
Let me know that you have feelings for me as well
Why don't you answer my prayer? Yeah
Why aren't you responding to my request or giving me the attention that I want?
You know every day I say a little prayer
I hope that every day is a good day for you
I said, I say, I say a little prayer
I always have good thoughts for you
Why don't you just answer my prayer?
Why aren't you responding to my requests?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@curtis2299
There’s not one singer ever born that sounds like Dionne Warwick.
A complete original.
Light as a feather but full of body.
She could handle anything Burt and Hal threw her way.
A melody machine.
@wa1ufo
Certainly not a machine! A melodic SOUL!
@ZZSmithReal
I agree, but take a listen to Polly Brown of Pickettywitch. Especially "Baby I won't let you down"
@curtis2299
@@ZZSmithReal
Will do!
@PrayToHealAmerica
This song was written in the height of the Viet Nam war addressing the thoughts of a woman who’s love was over seas at war. She’s singing her sorrow and missing her loved one and says little prayers throughout the day longing for his return. “I’m in love with you...answer my prayer...”. ie; come home safely. A timeless classic sung with seemingly effortless mastery.
@johnnyhmash
Never knew dat.! Prefer Aretha Franklin's but it's definitely a good version and probably the orig.Something about DWs delivery makes it her own.
@mercedeswilkins5566
Yes
@johnnyhmash
In short,Franklyn's is genius level drama whereas Warwick's is pure cabaret.
@gilleschercuitte4255
For this style of song Warwick’s version is far superior to Franklin’s. You don’t do the song justice when you over sing it which for Franklin there is no other way. Although Franklin and someone like Houston had great voices, they weren’t great singers but they were perfect for the American audience which aren’t fans of subtle or progressive emotional content. They either whisper or belt it out. No in between for them. Warwick however have a very melodic approach and conveys a larger range of emotions in her singing as a singer should. Glen Campbell has the same style and is a good singer even though he doesn’t have a great voice. A singer can’t sing everything, they have to sing to their strengths. The belt it out no matter the content style of singing seems to be an American favourite.
@k.h.6288
@@gilleschercuitte4255 I gotta disagree on “Aretha and Whitney were bad singers” but to each their own