Who is this maniac Master of Ceremonies who openly confesses to the two grand black bohemians said to be lunatic Sun Ra and George Clinton, and whose stagings certainly remind us of a young Herman Sonny Blount and his Solar Arkestra? In 1995 Khan leaves the frosty soil of the city of Montreal playing the bass for the International-Underground-Legends THE SPACESHITS. The band is produced by Mike Mariconda with a special guest appearance from the Fabulous Andy G (Devil Dogs). Khan founds the secret lodge of the KUKAMONGAS. During the oncoming years Khan tours across the States. Detroit, New Orleans, New York City, LA, San Francisco, Dallas, Tijuana etc. Khan doesn’t return from the first Spaceshits-Europe-Tour in summer of 1999. In Germany the young 22-year old Canadian founds a Psychedlic-Soul-Big-Band THE SENSATIONAL SHRINES. The first line-up includes Ron Streeter (live-percussionist of Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau and other Soul-Legends), as well as a horn section of rowdy teenagers, and a rhythm section which can only be called a german/french version of the Freak Brothers. Khan meets Fredovitch (Bordeaux's wildest organ player) wearing a silver-studded gogo dress, matching cowboy hat and sporting a full beard. He dubs him into shrinehood only one week before recording their first album in Toe Rag Studio in London. THREE HAIRS & YOU’RE MINE is produced by Liam Watson. THE SHRINES grow into an all-star international movement. Their first concert in London is suspended by the police. The band escapes through the back-door. Numerous gigs will follow all across Europe, among others with the Demolition Dollrods, Mr. Quintron and Ms. Pussycat, an after-party for 50 cent, even a legendary stint at the Roskilde festival. In 2003 Khan encounters the Hazelwood-producers-team Gordon “Two Horses” Friedrich and Wolfgang “Amadeus” Gottlieb, who stage the second longplayer MR. SUPERNATURAL in the beginning of 2004.
*****
INTRODUCING THE SHRINES
Mr. Speedfinger: guitar
Original member of the Shrines. He owns a bar in Kassel and hasn’t charged Khan for a drink in five years.
Riddiman: bass
Gypsy-punk and truck-driver. He found his bass in the garbage and plays it up to the very day. Member of the Anarchist-Elektro-Punk-Band EGOTRONIC.
John Boy Adonis: drums
Even though he looks like a bizarre mixture between Jesus Christ and Charlie Manson, no kinship could be proven. Member of the Experimental-Sub-Underground-Band INCLUB EXPLOSIVO.
Ron Streeter: percussion
Percussionist of countless soul-legends. Khan slid a paper with his phone-number under the toilet-door, with one simple plea “don’t wipe your ass with it”. Two days later Ron played with the shrines.
Freddy “Mr. Ovitch” Rococo: lead organ and piano
Khan had organized a show for the French one-man-band FREDOVITCH. Freddie performed in a silver go-go dress with a matching cowboy-hat and full beard. Two weeks later the shrines had him flown into the London studio.
Sam Fransisco: trumpet
Plays in numerous noise-bands with long artful names. After his girlfriend left him, Sam hurled himself into excessive drug abuse, a circumstance that bestowed a heap of good songs upon the Shrines and musical immortality for himself
Ben Ra: tenor saxophone
Plays in the 60’s-Garage-Punk-Band HARAKEEREES. His idols are John Coltrane, Sun Ra and the Sonics. Nevertheless Ben Ra perambulates the universe with his go-go-girl-friend and is easily irritable.
Bid Fred Rollercoaster: baritone saxophone
Plays with the French Trash-Rockabilly-Band BDK & THE ROLLERCOASTERS. Big Fred has got the longest fingers in all of France and has no problem in using them.
Bamboorella: go-go-dance
The appearance of the Japanese go-go-dancer conceals the notorious Rock’n’roll-DJ KITTY ATOMIC. Bamboorella traded a life of crime, sex and drugs for a life of rock’n’roll, sex and drugs. With her salacious dances she enthuses both men and women alike.
Pray for Lil
King Khan & The Shrines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make her a woman
May she look after all
Who need her inside
May she forgive
All of those cowards
Who make everyday
A losing fight
You don't need no prayer
If you′ve seen the light
You don't need nobody
When I'm holding you tight
Now what I need is for you to take these words
And don′t ask for more
If there′s an angel
Let him have fallen
To the streets down below
Where they crown him king
May all his followers
Be so faithful
To his every word
And every last whim
You don't need no prayer
If you′ve seen the light
You don't need nobody
When I′m holding you tight
Now what I need is for you to take these words
And don't ask for more
Don′t ask for more
Don't ask for more
Just pray for Lil
You don't need no prayer
If you′ve seen the light
You don′t need nobody
When I'm holding you tight
Now what I need is for you to take these words
And don′t ask for more
Don't ask for more
Don′t ask for more
Just pray for Lil
"Pray for Lil" by King Khan & The Shrines is a song that presents a paradoxical, yet thought-provoking commentary on faith and divine intervention. The opening lines of the song, "If there's a lord, Make her a woman, May she look after all, Who need her inside" suggest that the singer is calling upon a higher power to take care of those who are vulnerable and those who need guidance. This request for help is followed by the request to forgive the cowardly individuals who make everyday life a struggle. The paradoxical nature of these two requests is that the singer is calling upon a higher power to intervene in people's lives, while also acknowledging that human wrongdoing can make life hard.
The chorus of the song, "You don't need no prayer, If you've seen the light, You don't need nobody, When I'm holding you tight," suggests a more secular approach to finding comfort and fulfillment. The singer suggests that true happiness can be found in intimate moments with loved ones and that one doesn't need to rely on external sources, such as prayer, to feel complete.
The second verse of the song discusses the idea of an angel who has fallen to the streets and has been crowned king by his followers. The request for his followers to be faithful to his every word and whim implies blind devotion, which can sometimes be dangerous. Overall, "Pray for Lil" is a song that explores the complexities of faith and human nature, suggesting that sometimes prayer isn't the answer and that true happiness can be found within ourselves and our connections with others.
Line by Line Meaning
If there's a lord
If there is a divine higher power
Make her a woman
May this higher power be represented by a female figure
May she look after all
May this higher power take care of everyone
Who need her inside
Especially those who need spiritual guidance and support
May she forgive
May this higher power have the capacity to forgive
All of those cowards
Even those who have acted from a position of weakness
Who make everyday
Those who contribute to a daily struggle
A losing fight
A continuous battle without ever gaining an advantage
You don't need no prayer
You do not require prayer
If you've seen the light
If you have already found enlightenment, spirituality or a higher sense of purpose
You don't need nobody
You don't need anyone else
When I'm holding you tight
When you are experiencing physical intimacy
Now what I need is for you to take these words
What I require from you at this moment is for you to listen closely to what I am saying
And don't ask for more
Do not demand additional information
If there's an angel
If there is a celestial being
Let him have fallen
May this angel be considered sinful or have lost its divine status
To the streets down below
May this being exist among the general population
Where they crown him king
Where this angel becomes a leader, admired and looked up to
May all his followers
May those who are faithful to this leader
Be so faithful
Be completely loyal
To his every word
Believing completely in everything that is said
And every last whim
Following even the slightest inclination
Just pray for Lil
Focus on praying for Lil specifically
Writer(s): Simon Wojan, Arish Khan
Contributed by Nicholas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.