Born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, Havens moved to Greenwich Village in 1961 in time to get in on the folk boom then taking place. Havens had a distinctive style as a folksinger, appearing in such clubs as the Cafe Wha? His guitar set to an open tuning, he would strum while barring chords with his thumb, using it essentially as percussion while singing rhythmically in a gruff voice for a mesmerizing effect. Havens was signed to Douglas Records in 1965 and recorded two albums that gained him a local following. In 1967, the Verve division of MGM Records formed a folk section (Verve Forecast) and signed Havens and other folk-based performers. The result was Havens's third album, Mixed Bag. It wasn't until 1968 and the Something Else Again album, however, that Havens began to hit the charts -- actually, Havens's fourth, third, and second albums charted that year, in that order. In 1969 came the double album Richard P. Havens 1983. Havens' career benefited enormously from his appearance at the Woodstock festival in 1969 and his subsequent featured role in the movie and album made from the concert in 1970. His first album after that exposure, Alarm Clock, made the Top 30 and produced a Top 20 single in "Here Comes the Sun." These recordings were Havens's commercial high-water mark, but by this time he had become an international touring success. By the end of the '70s, he had abandoned recording and turned entirely to live work.
Havens came back to records with a flurry of releases in 1987: a new album, Simple Things; an album of Bob Dylan and Beatles covers; and a compilation. In 1991, Havens signed his first major-label deal in 15 years when he moved to Sony Music and released Now.
On April 22, 2013, Havens died of a heart attack at home in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was 72.
Discography
* A Richie Havens Record (1965)
* Electric Havens (1966)
* Mixed Bag (February 1967)
* Something Else Again (1968)
* Richard P. Havens, 1983 (1969)
* Stonehenge (1970)
* Alarm Clock (1971)
* The Great Blind Degree (1971)
* Richie Havens On Stage (1972)
* Portfolio (1973)
* Mixed Bag II (January 1975)
* The End of the Beginning (1976)
* Mirage (1977)
* Connections (1980)
* Common Ground (1983)
* Simple Things (1987)
* Sings Beatles and Dylan (1987)
* Live at the Cellar Door (1990)
* Now (1991)
* Cuts to the Chase (1994)
* Time (1999)
* Wishing Well (April 2002)
* Grace of the Sun (2004)
Guest appearances
* Please Don't Touch by Steve Hackett (1978)
* Starlight Express Music and Songs from (1987)
* OVO by Peter Gabriel (2000) (Soundtrack to the Millennium Dome Show)
* "Freedom" on The Best of The Jammy's Volume One w/ The Mutaytor
* "The Long Road" (Duet with Cliff Eberhardt) on Cliff's 1990 album "The Long Road")
Prayer
Richie Havens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let not your heart be heavy
There are those who understand
It is not easy, it is not easy to tell a lie
To all those inside the outer side
Let not your head be heavy
There are those who understand
And to all those who understand
Let not your words be heavy
There is He who understands
It is not easy, it is not easy to be a mother and a father
Richie Havens's song Prayer is a beautiful song that conveys a message of understanding and empathy. The lyrics are straightforward and meaningful, and they speak to anyone who has ever been in doubt or have struggled with telling the truth or making a decision.
The opening lines, "To all those outside the inner side, let not your heart be heavy," suggest that Havens is addressing those who feel excluded or ostracized. He urges them not to be downhearted and to take comfort in the knowledge that there are people who understand their predicament. Havens acknowledges that it is not easy to tell a lie, which implies the importance of honesty and integrity.
The next lines, "To all those inside the outer side, let not your head be heavy," address those who are part of the group but still feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. Havens reminds them that they are not alone and that there are people who can empathize with their situation. He acknowledges that life is tough, and sometimes it is difficult to know what to do.
Finally, Havens speaks to those who understand the complexity of life's struggles. He reminds them not to judge others harshly, and instead to be supportive and sympathetic. The last line, "It is not easy, it is not easy to be a mother and a father," captures the essence of the song, that life is difficult, and it's essential to help each other through the rough patches.
Line by Line Meaning
To all those outside the inner side
To all those who feel excluded and on the outside
Let not your heart be heavy
Don't let your emotions weigh you down
There are those who understand
You are not alone in your struggles
It is not easy, it is not easy to tell a lie
Being dishonest or inauthentic is challenging and burdensome
To all those inside the outer side
To those who feel like they're on the outside of the inside circle
Let not your head be heavy
Don't let your thoughts weigh you down
There are those who understand
Others have gone through similar experiences and can relate
It is not easy, it is not easy to know what to do
Uncertainty can be difficult and confusing
And to all those who understand
For those who have empathy and comprehension
Let not your words be heavy
Be mindful of what you say, as it can have an impact on others
There is He who understands
There is a higher power who can provide comfort and guidance
It is not easy, it is not easy to be a mother and a father
The responsibilities of parenting can be overwhelming and challenging
Lyrics © SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.
Written by: RICHIE HAVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zach Kopka. Zake
This song gives me strength in times of no hope
James Swain
Thank you for sharing one of America's greatest treasurers!
Janet LE
Thank you 🙏