Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
The Prayer
Joe Bataan Lyrics
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Amen.
Right about this time, I'de like to say a prayer for everyone out there.
Being that we live in such a world, It's a wonder that any of us get the chance to pray.
So I'de like to dedicate this prayer, to all the sinners all over the world.
And that means everybody, and it goes something like this.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
The opening lyrics of Joe Bataan's song "The Prayer - Live!" establish a religious tone as the artist references the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, before saying "Amen." He then informs his audience that he would like to say a prayer for everyone listening. In his view, given the state of the world, it is a wonder that people even have the chance to pray, and this prayer is meant for all the sinners in the world, which encompasses everyone. Joe Bataan then begins to recite the Lord's Prayer, also known as the "Our Father" prayer, with its familiar words about asking for daily bread, forgiveness for trespasses, and deliverance from evil. In the final lines, Bataan ends the prayer with another "Amen" while again referring to the Holy Trinity.
The decision to include a live prayer as part of a performance is intriguing, and it speaks to the religious and spiritual practices of the artist. Bataan's use of the word "sinners" suggests that he views himself and his audience as imperfect humans with the need for forgiveness and guidance, which aligns with Christian teachings. By reciting the Lord's Prayer, he includes his listeners in a universal prayer that unites them in their shared humanity and a desire for divine intervention. Overall, Joe Bataan's "The Prayer - Live!" is a powerful reminder of the positive impact of spirituality on people's lives, and how it can be a unifying force even during times of uncertainty and unrest.
Line by Line Meaning
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
I invoke God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to bless this prayer.
Amen.
So be it.
Right about this time, I'de like to say a prayer for everyone out there.
At this moment, I want to offer a prayer for everyone listening to me.
Being that we live in such a world, It's a wonder that any of us get the chance to pray.
Considering the hardships we face in this world, it's amazing that we still find a way to pray.
So I'de like to dedicate this prayer, to all the sinners all over the world.
Therefore, I want to dedicate this prayer to all individuals, including myself, who have sinned in some way throughout the world.
And that means everybody, and it goes something like this.
In other words, this applies to absolutely everyone, and the prayer is as follows.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Our heavenly Father, may your name be praised and glorified. Let your kingdom come, and let your will be done here on earth just as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Please provide us with our daily sustenance, forgive us our wrongdoings, just as we forgive those who have wronged us. Do not allow us to become tempted, and protect us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Because you deserve all the credit, power, and glory in this world and beyond, now and always.
Amen.
So be it.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Once more, I seek to invoke God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to bless this prayer.
Amen.
So be it.
Writer(s): Bataan Nitollano
Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.