"Prayer" | ||||||||
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Single by Disturbed | ||||||||
from the album Believe | ||||||||
Released | August 14, 2002 | |||||||
Recorded | March - April 2002 at Groovemaster Studios in Chicago, Illinois | |||||||
Genre | Alternative metal | |||||||
Length | 3:39 | |||||||
Label | Reprise | |||||||
Writer(s) | Steve Kmak Dan Donegan Mike Wengren David Draiman |
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Producer(s) | Disturbed, Johnny K | |||||||
Disturbed singles chronology | ||||||||
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"Prayer" is a song released on August 14, 2002 by the American heavy metal band Disturbed as the first single from their second album, Believe. It was inspired by the death of vocalist David Draiman's grandfather as well as various circumstances after the September 11 attacks, and is about a conversation between Draiman and God. Upon release, many media outlets refused to air the "Prayer" music video, citing supposed similarities between the imagery of the music video and that of the September 11 attacks. "Prayer" peaked at number-three on two United States airplay charts, Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts, as well as peaking at number-fifty-eight on Billboard's Hot 100 and number-fourteen on the Canadian Singles Chart. "Prayer" is Disturbed's second highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 and their highest charting single on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, and 1 of only 2 of their songs to reach the top 5 on the chart (the other being "Inside the Fire", which peaked at No. 4).
"Prayer" was inspired lyrically by two events. The first event was the death of vocalist David Draiman's grandfather, the second was the September 11 attacks, chiefly the response the clergy made to the events. Draiman explained, "Instead of consoling their flock, people [of the clergy] like Jerry Falwell and Oral Roberts chastised them and used the situation as a means of empowerment, saying it was our own fault because we're a decadent and promiscuous people. I just thought that whole notion is ridiculous." Therefore, "Prayer" is about a conversation between Draiman and God. In the conversation, Draiman is telling God to "bring it on" if he is trying to use pain to elicit a response from Draiman.