from THE PRAYER (single)
Written by David Foster & Carole Bayer Sager
Italian Lyrics by Tony Renis & Alberto Testa
Through the years, “The Prayer” has become one of the most loved, successful and covered songs in David Foster’s huge catalogue. This poignant, thoughtful composition was co-written by The Hitman with his friend and legendary lyricist, Carole Bayer Sager. Singer/Songwriter Tony Renis and Alberto Testa provided the beautiful Italian lyrics. The song was originally included in the 1998 animated movie, The Quest For Camelot, with two different versions; one sung by Andrea Bocelli and the other by Celine Dion. Eventually, the two superstars re-recorded the track as a duet and the match of such a timeless melody with two of the most beautiful voices of our era made “The Prayer” collect a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination. “The Prayer” was also included on Dion’s These Are The Special Times and Bocelli’s Sogno.
The song was released as a single, but its orchestral and operatic feel was a tough call for pop radio stations. “The Prayer” only became an Adult Contemporary hit in North America, yet failed to chart on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Time has been kind to “The Prayer.” The song quickly developed into a modern-day evergreen with dozens of covers worldwide. Both Foster and Bayer Sager explained the power of this composition in previous interviews. Here are a few excerpts:
David Foster: “The Prayer” is a song that I just never get tired of playing, I never get tired of hearing it and I never get tired of people telling me that they enjoy it. And it seems to mean a lot – it means a lot of different things to a lot of people. So it’s a powerful piece of music. I think it came through me, and I think Carole’s lyric is beautiful. And it’s very meaningful to me that when all is said and done, there is a piece of music like that, that will undoubtedly outlive me.”
Carole Bayer Sager: “One of the songs that matters most to me I wrote with David Foster. We made the record with Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli… it was a prayer for safety, and it was called “The Prayer.” That song is one of the few that is played not only at weddings but at funerals, along with “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “Ave Maria.” It’s a perfect marriage of the artist, the music, the lyric and the universal desire to feel safe. Safety is what I searched for all my life… and with its success, I realized it is what so many others search for as well. So, it’s my favorite lyric that I’ve ever written because it’s so simple and it can come down to a simple prayer. Bocelli was singing some of it in Italian and Celine in English, and then many, many other artists did it again. It’s been re-recorded and re-recorded in many different countries. I believe music is a universal language.”
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/15-The-Prayer-Duet-with-Celine-Dion.mp3|titles=The Prayer|artists=Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion]
- Lead Vocals: Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion
- Keyboards: David Foster
- Synth Programming: Felipe Elgueta
- Arranged by David Foster
- Orchestral Arrangements by William Ross
- Produced by David Foster
- Co-Produced by Carole Bayer Sager & Tony Renis
Lyrics
I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer
When we lose our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe
La luce che tu hai
(I pray we’ll find your light)
Nel cuore resterà
(And hold it in our hearts)
A ricordarci che
(When stars go out each night)
L’eterna stella sei
(Whoa)
Nella mia preghiera
(Let this be our prayer)
Quanta fede c’è
(When shadows fill our day)
Lead us to a place
(Guide us with your grace)
[Both:]
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
Sogniamo un mondo senza più violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace, e di fraternità
La forza che ci dà
(We ask that life be kind)
È il desiderio che
(And watch us from above)
Ognuno trovi amor
(We hope each soul will find)
Intorno e dentro a sé
(Another soul to love)
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
[
Just like every child
Just like every child
Need to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
È la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salverà