McLaughlin was born on September 27, 1982 in Anderson, Indiana. Playing piano since early childhood, he was always finding ways to get out of piano lessons. While attending Highland High School, he shattered both wrists in an accident that interrupted his musical education. Nevertheless, McLaughlin attended Anderson University to study music. He released an independent album entitled Up until Now in 2003. This quickly led to McLaughlin becoming the first artist to sign on with the school's record label, Orangehaus Records. His self-titled album was released in 2004 to local and regional praise. He began touring, travelling throughout the U.S. Midwest, and working up a grassroots following.
He released Indiana in 2007, preceded earlier in the same year by the EP Industry, also known as Jon McL. In 2008, McLaughlin returned with lead single "Beating My Heart" from his album OK Now released in the same year. He gained fame with his cameo appearance in Disney's Enchanted. Released in early September 2011 in the U.S. Forever If Ever was McLaughlin's third major-label release. 2012's lead single "Summer Is Over" featured fellow singer-songwriter-pianist Sara Bareilles from Promising Promises which was a slightly reworked version of his 2011 album. There were no other singles released from the album. Jon released Holding My Breath on his website and iTunes on September 24, 2013. The mp3 version of the album is also available at Amazon.
Praying to the Wrong God
Jon McLaughlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a mouth full of opinions and most are wrong
But they all sound right
And the ring around her finger is only there for make you
Wish you were the one for her
So I'm praying to keep me from breaking
From being another loser helpless at her side
She's got me praying to the wrong god every night
Praying to the wrong god every night
There's a reason no one knows her name
If she don't tell you then she never has to change it
She's allergic to "I Love Yous" and staying in one place
For too long
If you blink she's gone
So I'm praying to keep me from breaking
From being another loser helpless at her side
And it's crazy, it's like no one can save me this time
She's got me praying to the wrong god every night
Praying to the wrong god every night
Make her make me mean more
Or make her go away
Make her make me mean more
Or make her go away
I'm praying to keep me from breaking
From being another loser helpless at her side
And it's crazy, like no one can save me this time
She's got me praying to the wrong god every night
Praying to the wrong god every night
She's got me praying to the wrong god every night
(Every night)
The first verse of Jon McLaughlin's "Praying to the Wrong God" talks about a woman who is very manipulative by nature. She doesn't know the person singing the song, but she seems to have already formed an opinion of what type he is. She's quick to give her unsolicited views and beliefs, with most of them being incorrect. Yet, because she speaks with such confidence and conviction, it's easy to believe her. Additionally, she wears a ring that could make someone feel envious and make them wish that they were the person that she was with. The singer acknowledges that this woman is a danger to his mental and emotional health, but he still finds himself falling for her. And, thus, he prays to keep himself from breaking, from becoming another pathetic guy at her beck and call.
The second verse further delves into the woman's personality. She's a mysterious character who keeps herself private to the extent that no one knows her real name. Her motto could be "out of sight, out of mind," as she moves on from situations before anyone even realizes she's gone. She's also someone who is afraid of commitment, disliking the phrase "I love you," and becoming too attached to one place or one person for too long. Despite all these worrying factors, the singer is still smitten with her and ends up praying each night to avoid being consumed by this woman's spell. It seems he's put all his faith in the 'wrong god,' and the prayer falls on deaf ears.
Line by Line Meaning
She don't know you but she swear she knows your type
She has preconceptions about you despite knowing little to nothing about you.
Got a mouth full of opinions and most are wrong
She talks a lot but often makes statements that are inaccurate or detrimental.
But they all sound right
She presents her opinions confidently and persuasively.
And the ring around her finger is only there for make you
The ring she wears is only meant to make you believe that she is already taken.
Wish you were the one for her
To make you wish you were who she wanted to be with.
There's a reason no one knows her name
She has done nothing to distinguish herself or make a positive impact on others.
If she don't tell you then she never has to change it
If she avoids sharing her true identity or intentions, she can avoid encountering any consequences or criticism.
She's allergic to "I Love Yous" and staying in one place
She avoids expressing love or staying in one location for too long due to her fear of vulnerability or commitment.
For too long
A short amount of time is all she can bear to stay committed.
If you blink she's gone
She leaves abruptly and without warning or explanation.
Make her make me mean more
I want her to make me feel more important or significant to her.
Or make her go away
If she can't or won't make me mean more, then I want her to leave my life.
I'm praying to keep me from breaking
I'm asking a higher power to help me avoid falling apart emotionally in my pursuit of her.
From being another loser helpless at her side
I don't want to become another person who is powerless or worthless in her presence.
And it's crazy, like no one can save me this time
I feel like I'm beyond help or rescue in this situation.
She's got me praying to the wrong god every night
I'm desperately seeking help from a higher power that won't actually be able to solve my problems or change this person.
Praying to the wrong god every night
Repeatedly and consistently seeking something that won't actually help me or fix the situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN, JAMIE HOUSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind