During the 1990s Sills built a solid reputation as a stage character actor, especially in the professional theaters of southern California. He also performed in several national tours, including Into The Woods. His first Broadway role, however, came when composer Frank Wildhorn and lyricist Nan Knighton arrived in hopes of finding a male lead for their new musical, The Scarlet Pimpernel. Before this audition, Sills told his agent not to send him out on any more auditions because he was going to law school; he scored in the 99th percentile on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) so he could make a stable living. However, being a fan of the movie as a child, Sills decided to give acting one more chance. Luckily, the casting directors cast Sills as Sir Percy Blakeney, the lead role. Douglas Sills opened on his first Broadway show on November 9, 1997. Continuing the role in three other versions of the show, Sills received a Tony Award nomination for his role. He also played Orin Scrivello the dentist as well as several other roles in the 2003 Broadway revival cast of Little Shop of Horrors (musical)
Prayer
Douglas Sills Lyrics
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I don't care what you've said or done
Don't go away
Not now when life has just begun
Come back and be the woman who I knew
Help me to believe in you
What on earth am I to do?
She's gone
I must move on despite the pain
The pain will heal
Oh, Lord, how could you let me love like this?
No one dies upon a kiss
And only fools believe in bliss
And yes, I know I am a fool
A man deluded by his wife
A figure ripe for ridicule
Who's lived a vain and useless life
So be it then I'll play that game
I do not give a tinker's dang
I'll be a fool, it's all the same
It truly doesn't matter what I am
Oh no
I'm broken but I'm still alive
And slowly I will feel my soul revive
With time I'll find a way to right this wrong
If it takes my whole life long
Lord, I'll fight my battles all alone
But make me strong
In Douglas Sills's song "Prayer," the lyrics delve into the pain and struggle of losing someone dearly loved. The singer pleads with his love to stay, wanting her to be the woman he once knew. He expresses his disbelief that love can end so abruptly and considers himself a fool for loving a woman who has deserted him. However, even in all this pain and brokenness, he still chooses to fight his battles alone and to be strong. The song is a reflection on the complexity of love and loss--and perhaps even more than that, the importance of not giving up despite the pain.
The singer's plea for his love to stay reveals the depth of his heartbreak and his desire to hold onto the relationship for as long as possible. Despite the pain of the loss, he still seeks solace in his memories of her, hoping that she will be the woman he knew before. At the same time, he struggles to make sense of the sudden end of their love--the line "No one dies upon a kiss" highlights how unexpected and unfair the loss feels to him. Moreover, the singer acknowledges that he is a fool for having loved so deeply, but ultimately he sees the value in playing that "game" and continuing to love even in the face of ridicule and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
No, stay
The singer is asking someone not to leave.
I don't care what you've said or done
The singer is willing to look past any mistakes the addressee might have made.
Don't go away
The singer is imploring the addressee not to leave.
Not now when life has just begun
The artist feels that there is still so much left to experience in life.
Come back and be the woman who I knew
The artist is asking the addressee to return to their previous self.
Help me to believe in you
The singer needs reassurance that the addressee is trustworthy.
What on earth am I to do?
The singer is at a loss and unsure how to proceed.
She's gone
The person the artist is referring to has left.
This vision who was not quite real
The person the artist is referring to may have been idealized and not fully known.
I must move on despite the pain
The artist acknowledges that they need to move forward, even though it may be difficult.
The pain will heal
The singer is optimistic that their emotional pain will eventually subside.
Oh, Lord, how could you let me love like this?
The artist questions why they were allowed to love someone who hurt them.
No one dies upon a kiss
The singer is reflecting on unrealistic expectations associated with love.
And only fools believe in bliss
The singer considers the idea of bliss to be foolish.
And yes, I know I am a fool
The singer recognizes that they have made foolish choices.
A man deluded by his wife
The artist has been deceived or misled by their partner.
A figure ripe for ridicule
The artist believes that others will mock or judge them.
Who's lived a vain and useless life
The singer regrets that their life may have lacked purpose.
So be it then I'll play that game
The singer is resigned to accepting their situation.
I do not give a tinker's dang
The artist does not care about the opinions of others.
I'll be a fool, it's all the same
The artist is willing to appear foolish.
It truly doesn't matter what I am
The artist does not believe that their identity or choices matter.
Oh no
The singer's mood has changed to one of distress.
I'm broken but I'm still alive
The artist has been emotionally hurt, but is still alive and able to continue.
And slowly I will feel my soul revive
The singer has hope that they will emotionally heal over time.
With time I'll find a way to right this wrong
The singer believes that they will be able to make things right in the future.
If it takes my whole life long
The singer is willing to devote their entire life to making things right.
Lord, I'll fight my battles all alone
The artist is prepared to handle their problems on their own.
But make me strong
The artist asks for strength to overcome their challenges.
Writer(s): Nan Knighton, Frank Wildhorn Copyright: Knight Errant Music, Scaramanga Music, WB Music Corp.
Contributed by Mateo H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.