"My Prayer" is a song with music by salon violinist Georges Boulanger and lyrics by Carlos Gomez Barrera. Originally written by Boulanger with the title "Avant de mourir" ("Before Dying") in 1926, lyrics in English were added by Northern Irish lyricist Jimmy Kennedy in 1939.
Mariah Carey covered the song during the Music Box recording sessions, however, the song wasn't released until 2023, as part of Music Box: 30th Anniversary Edition.
Background[]
On August 31, 2023, marking the 30th anniversary of Music Box, Carey released a 51-second promotional video on social media. The video outlined various special releases and updates related to the album, including an "expanded digital version with bonus tracks," "new and unreleased tracks," and "new remastered audio" of the concert previously released as Here Is Mariah Carey. The trailer also announced that the #MusicBox30 series of content would commence on September 8, 2022.[1]Two days before the anniversary release, on September 6, 2023, Carey revealed its tracklist, which disclosed that "My Prayer" would appear as track 4 of the second disc, comprised of bonus tracks.[2]
Composition and lyrics[]
Carey's vocals spans from to low note B2 to the high note E5.[3][4][better source needed]
According to CMF Radio, "The protagonist is singing a prayer to the person they love.[5] They want to be with them at the end of the day and have a romantic dream. They hope that this person will always stay with them and love them." This description captures the essence of the song "My Prayer," where the lyrics articulate a deep longing for intimacy and enduring love. The protagonist's prayer isn't merely for a momentary connection, but for a lasting relationship that transcends the daily grind. Through poetic imagery like "twilight," "rapture in blue," and "hearts aglow," the song portrays not just a love that ends when the day does, but a love that remains 'at the end of the prayer,' symbolizing permanence and constancy.
Lyric video[]
A lyric video, was released along with the song on September 8, 2023.[6]
Lyrics[]
When the twilight is gone
And no songbirds are singing
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 bе there
At the еnd of my prayer
References[]
- ↑ Twitter @MariahCarey 8/31/23 - Wind it up! It's the anniversary of MUSIC BOX! A whopping whole 30 minutes since the album was first released I'll never forget creating this record, fully immersing myself in the music that would change my life and connect me with YOU, the lambily, in a way that bonded us forever I hope you enjoy celebrating this milestone with me! #MusicBox30
- ↑ Twitter @MariahCarey 9/6/23 Disc Two - Bonus Tracks
- ↑ YouTube - My Prayer Vocal Showcase [Intro]
- ↑ YouTube - My Prayer Vocal Showcase [Outro/Climax]
- ↑ CMF Radio — My Prayer – The Platters
- ↑ YouTube - Mariah Carey - My Prayer (Official Lyric Video)