Isham was born in New York City. He studied classical music at an early age and played trumpet, piano and violin. The Isham family later moved to San Francisco, where Mark found work in several of the local orchestras. He also became actively involved in the Bay Area rock and roll scene of the 1960s, performing live with several of the local groups.
One of his early recordings "Group 87" was released as a demo LP to college radio stations. Few commercially available pressings of this first release are available > though several custom CD burns (CBS/Sony denies existence, but providing the label & issue number through their custom burn service known as [SONY MUSIC SPECIAL PRODUCTS] can be had)!> I believe this is "THE DEFINITIVE ISHAM" against all others will be judged! One other Group 87 album followed titled "A Career in Dada Processing", a reflection attesting to the learning curve associated with the emerging CD Format. It was released with very limited availability. Both albums in the "Group 87" moniker are a bit mechanical, utilizing heavy sampling, forceful sequencing, strong percussion and a progressive edginess as compared to the later Isham releases. Mark Isham next released his self-titled "Vapor Drawings", softening the stylings of the group, but with a emphasis on his trumpeting skills, that as they matured developed into the sound that would be identified as his own unique sound. He has a MYSPACE page currently, where all available recordings can be ordered.
His albums Castalia (1988) and Tibet (1989) were both Grammy-nominated. He won in 1990 with his album Mark Isham.
In 1992 he published his first orchestral work Five Stories for Trumpet and Orchestra. The same year he earned an Academy Award nomination for the soundtrack of the film A River Runs Through It. During the following years he became a prolific film score composer. Some of his film scores include: Save the Last Dance, Men of Honor, October Sky, Point Break, and the critically acclaimed Crash which won well over 30 awards worldwide, including the Oscar for Best Achievement in Editing, Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Writing/Original Screenplay, and many soundtrack awards.
In 1995 he released an album titled Blue Sun. This was his first album to follow a mainstream contemporary jazz format.
In 1999 he formed a group to interpret the music of Miles Davis's late 1960s through mid-1970s electric jazz fusion and released an album, Miles Remembered: The Silent Way Project, which was recorded live.
My Prayer
Mark Isham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the twilight is gone you come into my heart
And here in my heart you will stay while I pray
My prayer is to linger with you
At the end of the day in a dream that's divine
My prayer is a rapture in blue
With the world far away and your lips close to mine
Tonight while our hearts are aglow
Oh tell me the words that I'm longing to know
My prayer and the answer you give
May they still be the same for as long as we live
That you'll always be there at the end of my prayer
Mark Isham’s song, My Prayer, speaks about a person's few moments of solitude during the sunset when everything around them quiets down, and there is an overwhelming sense of inner peace. The lyrics convey a sense of comfort and safety that comes from having someone special around. When there is no more music, and the night slowly creeps in, the singer welcomes their significant another into their heart, and it feels as though they will stay there for every single prayer that they make. The song’s lyrics are particularly stirring because they depict a person who is openly sentimental and unapologetically genuine about their desire to be with someone they love, cherishing every moment with them, even if it is just in their thoughts.
The lyrics of the song are a unique blend of spiritual and romantic elements. The singer's prayer is to experience the warmth and affection of someone they love at the end of the day, in a dream so divine. The prayer is an ethereal experience, where the entire world falls away, and the lover's lips are close to theirs. As the sun sets, and the night takes over, the singer invites their loved one to share a moment, where their hearts are aglow, and the words they long to hear are whispered between them. The song concludes with the singer asking the answer they receive to stay the same for as long as they live, and they hope that their significant other will always be with them, even while they say their prayers.
Line by Line Meaning
When the twilight is gone and no songbirds are singing
In the absence of light and sweet melody of birds singing, I feel an emptiness within me.
When the twilight is gone you come into my heart
When the darkness descends and loneliness prevails, your love fills my heart with warmth and comfort.
And here in my heart you will stay while I pray
I seek solace in prayer, knowing that you will always remain in my heart and be my guiding light.
My prayer is to linger with you
My deepest wish is to be with you always, to cherish every moment we spend together.
At the end of the day in a dream that's divine
To end each day with you, wrapped in the blissful cocoon of our love, is a dream that I yearn for every night.
My prayer is a rapture in blue
My prayer is a celebration of our love, a moment of pure joy that transcends the boundaries of the world we live in.
With the world far away and your lips close to mine
Lost in the magic of our love, the world fades away, leaving only the intimacy of our closeness and soft whispers of love.
Tonight while our hearts are aglow
A night when our hearts are filled with the fire of passion, burning bright with the love we share.
Oh tell me the words that I'm longing to know
I long to hear from you the words that will fill my heart with ecstasy, confirming the depth of your love for me.
My prayer and the answer you give
The prayer that I seek is for our love to remain strong and thrive, and the answer that I seek is your undying love for me.
May they still be the same for as long as we live
May our love endure the test of time, and may we always cherish each other as we do now, forever and ever.
That you'll always be there at the end of my prayer
I find peace knowing that you will always be there, supporting me, and that our love will only grow stronger with every prayer we make together.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CARLOS GOMEZ BARRERA, GEORGES BOULANGER, JAMES KENNEDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Rauchett
One of the most underrated films ever and one of the most beautiful songs ever
Samuel Lee
Homer's dad is focusing on coal mining under ground but Homer is focusing on rockets that soar to the skies.
Jonathan Clemens
You said it.
Michael Rauchett
@Samuel Lee noooo really......
Katherine Herbison
SERIOUSLY! This movie and soundtrack make cry every time
Jonathan Clemens
@Katherine HerbisonMe also
Aditya
This is not just soundtrack. This is tune of hope , aspiration , dream , hardwork , success.
Everth Palomeque Jr
Absolutely right. This score evokes everything you just said. Thank you!
MAXwellchikenrice
You see, I'm a hardcore metalhead. But when I hear this, I can't help but cry like a baby. The cut into the space shuttle launch has to be one of the greatest moments ever in film. Masterpiece.
Beaverhound J
You happen to be Mrs. Kleiner? My teacher Mrs. Kleiner is a hard-core metal head and she loves this movie, haha