Eighties Archive Song Number
Highest Chart Position
Date Released
Date Of UK Top 40 Entry
Genre
Label
Catalogue Number
Story Behind The Song
Few songs from the late Eighties combined pop, gospel and religious imagery as boldly as Madonna’s “Like A Prayer”. Released in 1989 as the title track of her fourth studio album, the song was written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, who also produced the recording with her. From its atmospheric opening to the arrival of a powerful gospel choir, the arrangement gradually builds into an emotionally charged mixture of pop, rock and soul.
The lyrics deliberately blur the boundaries between spiritual devotion and romantic desire, using the language and imagery of prayer to describe an intensely personal experience. Madonna’s vocal begins with a sense of intimacy before becoming increasingly expressive as the song develops, while the gospel choir gives the chorus a soaring, almost church-like quality.
The recording’s impact was heightened by its controversial promotional video, directed by Mary Lambert. Madonna witnesses a crime, encounters religious imagery and develops a connection with a saint-like figure, while burning crosses and other provocative scenes create a deliberately unsettling visual counterpart to the song. Madonna later explained that her original concept explored interracial love, racism and bigotry, before Lambert developed the story into its final form.
Musically ambitious and emotionally revealing, “Like A Prayer” represented a more mature and adventurous side of Madonna, combining a memorable pop melody with gospel intensity and deeply personal themes.
The song peaked at No. 01 in the UK singles chart on 25th March 1989.
UK 7'' SLEEVE COVERS
Shown below are the picture sleeve covers (front and back) for the UK release of this single. If no cover sleeve was issued in the UK, we will display another country’s picture sleeve.
UK 7'' TRACK LISTING
| A-Side | Like A Prayer (5:23) (Madonna, Patrick Leonard) Produced By Madonna, Patrick Leonard, Shep Pettibone |
| B-Side | Act Of Contrition (2:18) (Madonna, Patrick Leonard) Produced By Madonna, Patrick Leonard |
CHART PERFORMANCE
| UK Top 40 Chart Run [9 Weeks] – 18th March 1989 – 13th May 1989 |
OFFICIALLY RELEASED VERSIONS
All officially released versions that appeared in the 80s:-
- Like A Prayer (Single Version) (5:23)
- Like A Prayer (7″ Remix) (Edit) (5:44)
- Like A Prayer (7″ Dance Mix) (Edit) (5:19)
- Like A Prayer (12″ Dance Mix) (7:52)
- Like A Prayer (Extended Remix) (7:24)
- Like A Prayer (Club Version) (5:35)
- Like A Prayer (Churchapella) (6:08)
- Like A Prayer (Insta Dub) (6:15)
- Like A Prayer (Base Dub) (5:49)
- Like A Prayer (Dub Beats) (4:43)
- Like A Prayer (Celebration Version) (5:42)
- Like A Prayer (Immaculate Collection Version) (5:51)
- Like A Prayer (Album Version) (5:39)
To hear the FULL version of the songs below, you will need an active Spotify account (Free one). Just log in on your desktop/tablet or phone to hear the FULL versions.
OFFICIAL VIDEO
SONG LYRICS
Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
When you call my name
It’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees
I want to take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I’ll take you there
I hear your voice
It’s like an angel sighing
I have no choice
I hear your voice
Feels like flying
I close my eyes
Oh God, I think I’m falling
Out of the sky
I close my eyes
Heaven, help me
When you call my name
It’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees
I want to take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I’ll take you there
Like a child
You whisper softly to me
You’re in control
Just like a child
Now I’m dancing
It’s like a dream
No end and no beginning
You’re here with me
It’s like a dream
Let the choir sing
When you call my name
It’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees
I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I’ll take you there
When you call my name
It’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees
I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour
I can feel your power
Just like a prayer
You know I’ll take you there
Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
Just like a prayer
Your voice can take me there
Just like a muse to me
You are a mystery
Just like a dream
You are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice
Your voice can take me there
Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there
It’s like a dream to me (Mm, mm-mm)
Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there (I’ll take you there)
It’s like a dream to me (Oh, oh-oh-oh yeah)
Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there (I’ll take you there)
It’s like a dream to me (Oh yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah)
Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there (Oh, yeah)
It’s like a dream to me (Oh, oh)
Just like a prayer
Your voice can take me there
Just like a muse to me
You are a mystery
Just like a dream
You are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice
Your voice can take me there
Just like a prayer
Your voice can take me there
Just like a muse to me
You are a mystery
Just like a dream
You are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice
Your voice can take me there
Your voice can take me there
Like a prayer
It’s like a prayer, your voice can take me there
It’s like a prayer
It’s like a prayer, your voice can take me there
It’s like a prayer
It’s like a prayer, your voice can take me there
It’s like a prayer
It’s like a prayer, your voice can take me there
It’s like a prayer
Written By Madonna, Patrick Leonard
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