What does Like a Prayer mean?

Madonna: Like a Prayer Meaning

Album cover for Like a Prayer album cover

Song Released: 1989


Covered By: Glee Cast


Like a Prayer Lyrics

Life is a mystery, everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home

Chorus:

When you call my name it’s like a little prayer
I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour I can feel your...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 24th 2009 !⃝

    This song is so straight forward, I'm surprised so many people misinterpret the lyrics. "Like a Prayer" is about performing fellatio, and the ecstatic state it can produce on the person doing it. Performing oral sex on a man can be so intense, Madonna compares it to a powerful religious experience. *Like* a prayer is key there, it is a metaphor for that beautiful, passionate state.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    Susan7
    click a star to vote
    Oct 23rd 2010 !⃝

    Obviously, this songs speaks about oral sex being performed on a man! "In the midnight hour",(most sex takes place at night) "I can feel your power" (how throbbing and insistent the guy's penis is to her mouth) "Down on my knees, I want to take you there" (to orgasm). "I hear you call my name" (happens a lot when someone is really enjoying themselves, along with...)"Oh, GOD! I think I'm flying" (Describing the ecstacy during sex). OK if you are into that sort of thing, but.....
    Oh, my God! I can't believe how HUGE this song has gotten and all the airtime on TV! I was so embarrassed for the groups singing, i.e. The Stars for Haiti Relief after the devastation there, thinking they were being "inspirational" and even on the show "Glee" when they did the Madonna episode. Using a "church" choir with robes, obviously trying to clean it up, but sadly, the song was NOT inspirational. (except maybe to explain the joys of both getting and giving fellatio, but it was ANYTHING BUT SUBTLE!!)

    Anyone who can sing that song pretending it means anything else is either totally BLIND, or just likes to pretend that it had a "spiritual" meaning. But I wholeheartedly disagree. Keep it in the proper venue, which doesn't include supposedly "G-rated" programs, or anything even a middle-school child might be watching. Don't they get it!? I really don't think a "Christian" group would be singing backup if they would just stop denying what the song really means, now would they?

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    May 27th 2011 !⃝

    If you play a song backwards it sounds like gibberish. It doesn't have another message. The song is comparing religious ecstasy to sexual or romantic ecstasy. The idea is they are the same because they are inspired by love.

  4. anonymous
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    Aug 19th 2023 !⃝

    Whilst the link to felacio is obvious, one can easily choose to find a slightly deeper meaning also. Every lyric seems to be directed towards a man, and with an seemingly unhealthy worship for him. Because of how this openly mocks Christianity, I can't help but picture her pleasing the "Dark Father", persay. A guy wrote most of her shit, I forget his name, but I would be willing to bet he was into some dark stuff. Certain occult practices do have profound effects, can be used for gain, and it is not magic, however... I think certain methods of sphychology are like poison, to put it plainly.

  5. anonymous
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    Sep 7th 2019 !⃝

    I love the song it’s so good I’m very glad to record this song but joe is going to write it in my notebook and so it’s personal to write about. But when nick wrote it he had some ideas to come up with fashion and then he can try something new to me. Then they can help me with my clothes and makeup, very fun and so it’s so cool.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  6. anonymous
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    Jul 4th 2019 !⃝

    I think to this next song is about praying about my cousin but he died in 2015. But he’s very sick and he didn’t have pills on his own, but he died. I was very sad but I felt better when Philip is around. I love my cousin Philip he’s such a great cousin. He had some ideas for me and the Jonas brothers write in his journal but when he’s in college he could write music like me, Jonas brothers.

  7. anonymous
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    Jun 9th 2019 !⃝

    This Song is About “Blaightently” OBVIOUSLY About her giving herself Over to Satan at the Exact Time She’d Jus became a Member Of The Illuminati,The record listened ‘Carefully’ Thanks ‘SATAN’ & “We Praise you O’satan” it’s not crystal clear BUT If I,Or Another sat you Down & Said “Now Listen ‘CAREFULLY! Ok!??” You “WILL!!” Hear it,She Realises & lays down in the church bench before Allowing herself to be taken,I Have Been Diagnosed With Psychopathy Before & ‘MANY’ Psychologists Donnot Believe In Psychopathy,Rather it’s like scientifically Trying to put people into certain boxes,It’s like as a Child Being kidnapped,But The Kidnapped is Shown Such Beautiful power & a Complete Lack Of Fear Therefore The child is Not Held In Captivity But shown what the Kidnapper Will give you,Therefore (Just Like In Her ‘Frozen’ Song “Give Yourself To ME!!’ I Knew all this Song meant in 1989 (while I was 12) Without Her later continuously giving Illuminati symbols in 3/4+ of All her Songs & Pictures Of Her With The Rothschilds & Rockefeller’s Who are at the Very Top Of The pyramid Jus Below The all-seeing rye! I’ve been in the “Supermax-Dispersal system” Jails (Of Which Their are only 5 in the Country With Actual Illuminati Members an Arms Dealer Who Sold Uranium,Nerve-Agents,RDX To Iran,he didn’t bother with Dirty Bombs & C-4,Semtex Even a child could make That Stuff,& Other Rich Powerful Members,Columbian Drug Lord,Mexican Drug cartels Americans,Russians who were to the UK By Interpol,Abu Hamza was on my Wing at HMP Long Lartin Trying To Avoid Being extradited to the US, Her Words were ‘We Love you ‘Satan’,Not Demon Or Devil) These are 3 different entities,She’s Unsure as she’s falling like the Fallen Angel,”Oh god I think I’m falling,But Changes Her Choice Between God & Satan & that’s when she says “I have No Choice,I hear your voice,NOW IM DANCING!!” & Then The Crusifixes Become A’light,An The Black Woman Who Caught Her was in her position & Gave herself to Satan & Was Saying “It’s OK Your just like me!” & Madonna Had Then Sold herself & Like ALL Celebrities They are approached by the illuminati,or politicians,Actors Because They are influencial & If you Don’t Know The Main Plan Agenda Of The Illuminati you better watch David Icke’s 169 videos (Don’t mean you Watch them all But he has filled Arenas all Around the Globe For MILLIONS of People Seeking The truth of Life the illuminati & How They Run The Entire Planet,An How They Will Gained New World Order (Or NWO) & Be In ‘COMPLETE Control!’ The Government,All News you receive,TV or Papers is Run by them,Facebook,Google,YouTube ALL of them to gain EVERY PEICE Of Information About you,& You Will believe what you read watch on TV Because You Think The Government etc.. are All Legit,Area 51 etc is ALL Their Scientific Experiments & If you check “Bohemian Grove” Which is held Every 10yrs & Almost as secure as Area 51 you Will only see illuminati members in their such as past presidents & Large influencial Members Of The world “David icke predicted the Ones you’d ‘Least-Expect’ are the most vile regarding the clergy almost 3 decades before the whole catholic child molesting Came to light!” She has ABSOLUTELY NO Denial of Being a Member Of The Illuminati she displays the “all seeing eye” & Many Other Such Satanic symbolism in All Her videos!! I knew what the song/& video was About as a Child,Because I’d felt the exact power She sang & Still sings of!! Like A lot of Psychiatrists & Psychologists Even Though I’m Diagnosed as a Psychopath,I Donnot Believe In Psychopathy,But Demonic Posession,you couldn’t explain it to someone who doesn’t know or felt it it would be like trying to explain a colour to a blind man! There IS NO DOUBT!!

  8. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 21st 2018 !⃝

    I love that song. Because Madonna is very talented and so. The song is reminding how much I prayed every night. Then I would say, oh god. Bless my heart, my faith would come to you.

  9. anonymous
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    Sep 29th 2018 !⃝

    I think this song looks like being praying about that, god is there for us, we used to have our prayers, and thank god to be his friend. That’s why Nathan told me that I have to praise gods word.

  10. anonymous
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    Jan 23rd 2017 !⃝

    She is in love with a man of color (she is understanding what has been happening especially to the people of color)and due to the circumstances of what others believe to be true, the world is messed up and hateful, period. In a way, she is explaining, life isn't what it seems...what we have been taught is not always the truth. There is a lot of racism, murder, hate etc behind even religious, politics, cultures (cults) etc...

  11. anonymous
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    Aug 14th 2015 !⃝

    I have seen this song performed in a church and no it was not the church of satan. But it was hilarious to see because the song has very obvious sexual aspects that are not very well hidden except to the most naive. But then, popular music for decades often mixed in sexual messages as it helps to sell the song. Elvis' Jail House Rock is a famous old example.

  12. anonymous
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    Oct 20th 2014 !⃝

    It is about the relationship of a master slave connection in the BDSM lifestyle. Maybe oral sex is part of it but there is so much more, the trancelike state people can go to in that lifestyle can be compared to a religious experience. Only those who have gone there would understand and it is amazing when it is a consentual experience between adults.

  13. anonymous
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    Jan 20th 2013 !⃝

    This song has a very interesting meaning. Madonna gives her Love to her man and by giving Love she receives Love from God (because "to love" is divine thing). It's old Vedic conception that a person in a female body can receive Love only
    1). from man or (from God through the man she loves)
    2). to generate love herself (when the "spiritual virginity" is present)
    3). from GOD directly (only if 1). is out of the program (monastery or smth like that).
    Man is more primitive that's why he receives God (Love) directly or "from woman".
    IMHO the version about oral sex is impossible because Madonna was a victim of rapist and he made her suck his dick with the knife agains her throat (see autobiographic part of "Dangerous Game" by Ferrara).

  14. anonymous
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    May 5th 2012 !⃝

    I think the Song is about Madonna having a conversation with her mother who is heaven! Sounds weird but it is the only thing makes sense!

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  15. anonymous
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    Feb 5th 2012 !⃝

    The part that got me is falling from the sky. You know the devil was a falling angel.

  16. anonymous
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    Sep 29th 2011 !⃝

    its about satan she wrote it for the guy who introduced her to the church of satan its a great song but if u really read into it 1.. a falling angel 2 midnight hour thats when spells etc have stronger power demons etc

  17. anonymous
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    Mar 26th 2011 !⃝

    Oral sex? Oh, come on! I know that most guys seem to think that fellatio is the peak of all sexual activity, but "down on my knees" could mean doggy style just as well. And why on earth would she write about that as a religious experience instead of, I don't know.. an act that would actually give her some pleasure too?

  18. anonymous
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    Jan 30th 2011 !⃝

    I believe this song is about God, not about sex. I think the lyrics can be interpreted that way, but it's clearly inccorect. Considering the music video, and they places she's performed this song, I'm going to say it is about having faith in God. If you look at lyrics besides the chorus, it's very obvious.

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