From the Levitate (album) .. 2009.
Features: Bruce Hornsby (piano, dulcimer, vocals, keyboards); Bobby Read (reeds); J.V. Collier (bass); Sonny Emory (drums); J.T. Thomas (organ, keyboards); Doug Derryberry (guitar); Blake Mills (guitar).
Simple Prayer meaning
“Simple Prayer” by Bruce Hornsby takes a humorous and satirical look at the trivial and often selfish requests that people make in their prayers. The song exposes the sometimes superficial nature of what people ask for, using exaggerated examples to highlight the dissonance between the grandeur of religious faith and the mundane, self-serving desires of individuals. By focusing on small, personal issues, the song reflects on the way prayer can be used as a tool for comfort, even when the requests seem insignificant in the larger scheme of things.
At its core, the song questions the nature of faith and the expectations that people place on higher powers, such as God or Allah, to intervene in their lives, even in the most trivial ways. It juxtaposes the everyday anxieties and desires of people with the deeper moral or spiritual implications of prayer.
Use of humour and irony
The song is filled with irony, as the narrator makes requests to a divine being for things like passing algebra, avoiding an audit from the IRS, winning the lottery, and even preventing hair loss. These requests are framed as “simple prayers,” suggesting that they are easy, straightforward, and even trivial, yet they reveal a lot about human nature and the ways in which people hope for divine intervention in their personal struggles.
The line “God, I’ve got a problem, a moral conundrum” leads into the narrator’s request to avoid an IRS audit. This is a clear example of the humorous tone, as the “moral conundrum” is not about an ethical dilemma but about financial trouble. The song turns serious topics into lighthearted, almost absurd situations, inviting listeners to reflect on their own motivations for prayer.
Cultural references in specific lines
The song makes a variety of cultural references, especially in its depiction of common American experiences. For instance:
– “Let me pass algebra that’s my simple prayer” references the widespread anxiety many students feel about passing difficult subjects in school. The inclusion of algebra, a universally challenging subject for many, grounds the song in a familiar, everyday situation.
– “Internal revenue, my filing’s overdue / Please, please no audit that’s my simple prayer” highlights the stress that many people face regarding taxes and financial paperwork. The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) is a familiar figure of authority, and avoiding an audit is a common concern.
– “Lord, please hear my pleading while my heart is beating / My hairline is receding, losing my hair” humorously touches on the fear of aging and the societal emphasis on physical appearance, particularly the anxiety many men feel about hair loss. This line brings to mind cultural pressures to maintain youthfulness.
– “Sweet Jesus, it’s so vital we win the football title / We’ve reached the semi-finals, if we lose it it’s not fair” is a reference to the importance of sports, particularly American football, in many communities. High school or college football championships can be seen as almost sacred events, and asking Jesus to intervene in such situations adds a layer of humour, highlighting how people can pray for victory in something as inconsequential as a game.
The trivialisation of prayer
The repeated refrain, “This is my simple prayer,” underscores the trivialisation of prayer throughout the song. By categorising these self-centred requests as “simple,” the narrator downplays the significance of what they are asking for, but this serves to magnify the absurdity of using prayer for such minor issues. The song highlights the gap between what people might view as appropriate for divine intervention and what they actually end up praying for.
In particular, the line “My husband don’t get me, he never wants to pet me / That sort of upset me so I had an affair / Please don’t let him find out that’s my simple prayer” pushes the boundaries of what might be considered a moral request. Here, the narrator is not asking for forgiveness or moral clarity but simply for the avoidance of consequences, showing the selfish nature of the prayer.
Wordplay and deeper implications
Bruce uses wordplay and clever phrasing throughout the song to keep the tone light and playful, even as the subject matter touches on deeper issues like morality, finances, and personal relationships. The phrase “my simple prayer” becomes a kind of mantra for self-justification, allowing the narrator to rationalise their requests no matter how trivial or self-serving they may be.
However, beneath the humour lies a critique of how people approach prayer and faith. By focusing on small, personal desires, the song points to the ways in which people might use prayer as a means of avoiding personal responsibility or seeking quick fixes for problems. Rather than seeking deeper understanding or growth, the narrator seems more concerned with short-term relief from life’s inconveniences.
A humorous critique of human desires
“Simple Prayer” is a satirical exploration of the way people use prayer to deal with their everyday concerns. Through humour, irony, and cultural references, Bruce highlights the dissonance between the grandeur of faith and the often trivial nature of what people ask for in their prayers. The song serves as both a lighthearted commentary on human nature and a deeper reflection on the purpose and meaning of prayer in modern life.
By framing these personal requests as “simple prayers,” the song invites listeners to question what they might be asking for in their own prayers and to consider the balance between personal desires and spiritual growth.