Tuesday, October 4, 2011

* A Prayer or Two *

When most people think of the The Beatles, I doubt if "prayerful music" comes to mind. We all have our favorite songs of theirs, ranging from the very first pop/rock tunes until the final more contemplative recordings.

Somewhere in my past....maybe 15 or 20 years ago....two of those songs became prayer-like to me. The music and lyrics would pop into my mind, just when I needed them. I'd either sing out loud or only "in my head," depending on whether I was alone or not.

Those two songs are:

The Long and Winding Road
Let it Be

I've read various so-called explanations about the lyrics of these songs, and it doesn't matter to me what the "real" meaning is or isn't. I know what they mean to me and that's all that counts.

What about you? Do you have certain "prayerful" songs that aren't considered hymns?


"There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is." ~William P. Merrill

16 comments:

  1. Some Enya songs, I think. And I'm sure there are others that hit me that way, too, but I can't think of them off the top of my head.

    =)

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  2. Aloha Becky,
    Ironically, Let It Be is one of those songs that comes into my head when I catch myself going into a rage or when I let someone irritate me.
    Music is just one of those powerful tools which we can use positively if we chose.
    What a great post Becky, TFS

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  3. Lean on Me, does it for me. It is a reminder that we all need to hug and be hugged.

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  4. Stand By Me...might be one of many.

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  5. Many songs by U-2 are prayerful. One that comes to mind is With or Without You.

    Another, but I don't know who the artist is: You'll Never Walk Alone.

    And, of course, Amazing Grace.

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  6. Those are great songs. I can't say that any come to mind for me right now. It's more that I hear older songs and get transported to a time when they were important to me.

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  7. Yes, tons! Only Hope (from Walk to Remember soundtrack) is the first that comes to mind. I agree with you on the Beatles' tunes, too. :)

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  8. Oh, SO many! What a Wonderful World, Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley, Over the Rainbow, Danny Boy...hmmmm. Now that I think about it, many of the songs I love have a prayer-like quality.

    And so many of the Beatles songs...made me think of Imagine and Goodnight, a lullaby John Lennon wrote for his son (and sung by Ringo). Beautiful.

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  9. I am partial to Sand and Water, by Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Way Down Deep, by Vern Gosdin.

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  10. Yes, Whenever I hear "To everything, turn turn turn, there is a season" my ears perk up. Whenever I hear this song I know that something major in my life is going to change, either for good or bad. It's God's little way of preparing me for what's ahead. My hubby used to laugh at me when I said this, but he's seen it happen so many times now, he's a believer!

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  11. John Lennon's "Imagine" is like a prayer to me.

    Could it be that music reaches the Source better than spoken words? Who knows. I love to pray musically.

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  12. Thanks, Becky. Songs are so powerful aren't they? I need to be careful what I listen to these days, but when I find a "prayerful" one, I cling to it!

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  13. Okay, there are tons, I especially like lately - Hallelujah.

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  14. I never really thought about it before, but you're right. Every song that's been mentioned could absolutely be considered prayerful. What a thought provoking topic, Becky!

    Pat
    www.critteralley.blogspot.com

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  15. I love songs that are inspiring like that! And I love the Beatles. For me, I think it's Viva La Vida. That song makes me want to go write every single time I listen to it.

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  16. Your post really intrigued me and reading through the other comments, I have to agree with most of them on their choices of prayerlike songs. We become more positive and kind when we listen to "prayerlike" lyrics rather than raucous stuff. Have a great weekend, my friend. Hugs, Jo (PS check out my post tomorrow on why I've been so "absent" from blog visits and emails. xxx

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