The debut single, "Almost Prayed" (Creation, 1986), seemed to carry on where The Loft had left off; consequently both interest and critical approval were high for the record, and a second single was issued on Creation that same year.
For the release of their debut album, McGee had successfully managed to sign the band to Elevation Records - the WEA subsidiary with which he was associated. Expectations were high when Mayflower appeared in 1987, but the album was greeted with a mixed response[citation needed] by the critics and the band were eventually dropped from the label.
All was not lost, however, as they eventually returned to Creation for a further album, Judges, Juries and Horsemen in 1988. By this time, Oisin Little had departed, and interest in the band had waned. A final single, "Always the Light", was issued before the band decided to split up.
Almost Prayed
The Weather Prophets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I felt my feet sink down in the sand
Down by the harbour standing all alone
I felt my heart grow heavy as a stone
l watched the swans in diesel river
And struck a match and watched it burn against the night
I almost prayed
I almost prayed
I traced my steps back through the night
Back through the day all the way to the light
Boats full of cargo ready to unload
Arms of the cranes all ready to hold
l watched the swans in diesel river
And struck a match and watched it burn against the night
I almost prayed
I almost prayed
I almost prayed
Back in the same place but everything's changed
I walk the same roads but they'e not the same
Back by the harbour with my back to the land
Block out the sadness with the palm of my hand.
l watched the swans in diesel river
And struck a match and watched it burn against the night
I almost prayed
I almost prayed
I almost prayed
The Weather Prophets’ song Almost Prayed paints a picture of a solitary figure standing alone by the harbour, watching the boats full of cargo while tracing their steps back through the day to the light. The use of vivid imagery, such as the feeling of sinking down in the sand and the swans swimming in a diesel river, evoke a sense of melancholy and despair. The lyrics suggest that the singer is searching for some kind of comfort or solace, hence the refrain “I almost prayed”. The act of praying is often seen as a last resort, a sign of surrender to a higher power when all else has failed. The repetition of the phrase suggests that the character is not quite at the point of surrendering, but is close.
The song can be interpreted in several ways, depending on the listener's interpretation. Some may see it as a metaphor for the human condition and the search for meaning in life, while others may interpret it as a commentary on the harsh realities of working-class life in the UK.
Line by Line Meaning
Down by the harbour with my back to the land
I stood near the harbor with my back towards the land
I felt my feet sink down in the sand
The sand was so soft that my feet sunk into it
Down by the harbour standing all alone
I was alone by the harbor
I felt my heart grow heavy as a stone
I felt extremely sad
l watched the swans in diesel river
I saw swans swimming in the polluted river
And struck a match and watched it burn against the night
I lit a match and watched it burn in the darkness
I almost prayed
I came close to praying
I traced my steps back through the night
I retraced my movements from the night before
Back through the day all the way to the light
I went back through the entire day until it was light out
Boats full of cargo ready to unload
There were boats with lots of cargo waiting to be unloaded
Arms of the cranes all ready to hold
The cranes were prepared to hold the cargo
Back in the same place but everything's changed
I returned to the same place, but everything was different
I walk the same roads but they'e not the same
Although I walked the same roads, they didn't feel the same
Block out the sadness with the palm of my hand.
I tried to ignore my sadness by covering my face with my hand
Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joice
on Why Does the Rain
Lyrics please