David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager wrote “The Prayer” for the soundtrack of the animated movie, “Quest For Camelot.” Since its initial release in 1998, “The Prayer” has become a popular standard around the world. The song’s inspirational lyrics carry a strong message of peace that are perfectly suited for our troubled times. The original version, sung by Andrea Bocelli and Céliné Dion, won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award. In just a few years, “The Prayer” has been covered by a huge number of international artists including Josh Groban and Charlotte Church (under Foster’s brilliant guidance), Vikki Carr, Lulu, Sandi Patty and Russell Watson.
In 2003, Foster contacted gospel superstar Donnie McClurkin to collaborate on a gospel version of the tune. Here’s how the singer remembers it:
“He (Foster) said he’d never sought out an artist to do one of his songs, but he could just hear me doing “The Prayer.” It’s a magnificent song, and I was honored to accept his offer. He asked me who I think should be the female duet partner and I immediately thought of Yolanda Adams who, it turns out, was exactly who he was thinking of as well. He’s an absolute master of production, and before I knew it, it was completed and I was listening to it. It was almost surreal.”
Their effort was included on “Again,” McClurkin’s 2003 CD that won the singer a Grammy Award and quickly reached #1 on the charts. The voices of the two gospel superstars blend beautifully as they rise high, giving new, intense flavor to the song. Foster’s top-notch arrangement and masterful production serve the singers perfectly in what sounds like a match made in heaven.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/the_prayer.mp3|titles=The prayer|artists=Donnie McClurkin & Yolanda Adams]

Lead Vocals: Donnie McClurkin & Yolanda Adams
Synthesizers: David Foster
Synthesizer programming: Jochem van der Saag
Produced & Arranged by David Foster
Strings arranged by William Ross

Lyrics

Y: 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 well be safe.
I pray we’ll find your light
Y: I pray we’ll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
Y: And hold it in our hearts
And stars go out each night
Y: Stars go out each night
Remind us where you are.
Y: Remind us where you are.
Let this be our prayer
Y: Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Y: When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Y: Guide us with your grace
D: Guide us with your grace
Together: Give us faith so well be safe.
Together:A world where pain and sorrow will be ended
And every heart that’s broken will be mended
And well remember we are all Gods children
Reaching out to touch you
Reaching to the sky.

D: We ask that life be kind
Y: We ask that life be kind
D: And watch us from above
Y: And watch us from above
D: We hope each soul will find
Y: We hope each soul will find
D: Another soul to love
Y: Another soul to love.
Together: Let this be our prayer
Y: Let this be our prayer
D: Just like every child.
Y: Just like every child.
Together:
Needs to find a place
Guide us with your grace