The Prayer (Bloc Party song)

"The Prayer"
Single by Bloc Party
from the album A Weekend in the City
Released	29 January 2007
Format	CD, 7"
Recorded	2006
Genre	Alternative dance, drum & bass, crunk
Length	3:44
Label	Wichita
Producer	Jacknife Lee
Bloc Party singles chronology
"Pioneers" (2005) "The Prayer" (2007) "I Still Remember" (2007)
A Weekend in the City track listing "Song for Clay (Disappear Here)" "Hunting for Witches" "Waiting for the 7.18" "The Prayer" "Uniform" "On" "Where Is Home?" "Kreuzberg" "I Still Remember" "Sunday" "SRXT"

"The Prayer" is the first single from Bloc Party's second album A Weekend in the City, except in the U.S. where it is the second single as "I Still Remember" was the first song to be released in North America. It was released by Wichita Recordings on 29 January 2007 and is the band's highest charting single worldwide. The lyrics deal with drug use in nightclubs and party environments.

Frontman Kele Okereke says he was inspired to write the song after hearing Busta Rhymes' song "Touch It". He also described the song as having a "crunk-like" effect.

A cover version of "The Prayer" by KT Tunstall is included in Radio 1's Live Lounge – Volume 2, and on her single "If Only".

The song was featured in the video game Project Gotham Racing 4, While Does It Offend You, Yeah? remix was featured on Need for Speed: ProStreet.

Lyrics

The lyrics of the song deal with the use of club drugs such as MDMA and Ketamine in nightclubs and parties. The song deals with the effects of such drugs on the human body through the eyes of a user, who asks, "Is it so wrong, to want rewarding?/To want more than is given to you?".

Music video

A video for the song was released on 5 December 2006, and was directed by Walter Stern, also known for directing videos by Massive Attack, The Prodigy and most notably the The Verve's "Bitter Sweet Symphony". In the video, all members of Bloc Party are at a nightclub (which, in reality, is Café 1001, Dray Walk, Truman Brewery, London). It follows them throughout the night even though they do not appear to be doing much. Okereke is the only one who actually gets up and goes around. The other members just sit around while Okereke goes off on his own journey, whilst cigarette burn effects and other visual distortions appear.

Charts

Charts (2008)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	4

Track listing

CD: Wichita / WEBB118SCD (UK)

All songs written and composed by Bloc Party. 

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Prayer"	3:46
2.	"We Were Lovers"	4:14
3.	"The Prayer (Phones Metal Jackin' Remix)"	5:03

7": Wichita / WEBB118S (UK)

All songs written and composed by Bloc Party. 

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Prayer"	3:46
2.	"England"	4:15

• in gatefold sleeve which houses second 7"

7": Wichita / WEBB118SX (UK)

All songs written and composed by Bloc Party. 

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Prayer"	3:46
2.	"Version 2.0"	3:21

Remixes Promo CDM: V2 (UK)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Prayer (Break & Silent Witness Remix)"	5:42
2.	"The Prayer (Phones Metal Jackin' Remix)"	5:03
3.	"The Prayer (Para One Remix)"	6:04
4.	"The Prayer (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix)"	4:17

Bonus download track

No.	Title	Length
5.	"The Prayer (Hadouken! Remix)"	2:37

B-sides

The b-sides for 'The Prayer' were England, Version 2.0, We Were Lovers and The Prayer (Phones Metal Jackin' Remix).