Prayer to God Lyrics
Shellac of North America
Catalogue number TG211 CD
Audio compact disc
44.1 kHz sample rate
16-bit word length
Samples represented in 2's-complement binary
8 to 14 expansion
Set reproducer for reference level
1000 hurts
[Verse 1]
To the one true God above:
Here is my prayer -
Not the first you've heard, but the first I wrote
Not the first, but the others were a long time ago
There are two people here, and I want you to kill them
[Verse 2]
Her - she can go quietly, by disease or a blow
To the base of her neck
Where her necklaces close
Where her garments come together
Where I used to lay my face...
That's where you oughta kill her
In that particular place
Him - just fucking kill him, I don't care if it hurts
Yes I do, I want it to
Fucking kill him but first
Make him cry like a woman
No particular woman
Let him hold out, hope that
Someone or other might come then fucking kill him
[Verse 4]
Fucking kill him
Kill him already, kill him
Fucking kill him, fucking kill him
Kill him already, kill him
Fucking kill him!
Fucking kill him!
Kill him already, kill him
Just fucking kill him!
Fucking kill him!
Fucking kill him already, kill him
Ah, fucking kill him
Fucking kill him
Kill him already, kill him
Kill him already
Kill him already
Kill him, fucking kill him
Just fucking kill him
Fucking kill him
Kill him already, kill him
Fucking kill him
Kill him
Fucking kill him already, kill him
Kill him, fucking kill him
Kill him, just fucking kill him
Kill him already
Kill him already
Kill him
About
In an interview with Evelyn Morris for LISTEN which focused on Shellac’s relationship with gender issues and feminism, Albini noted that “Prayer to God”
examines the different facets of impotent male rage. The greater point is that his presumption of a natural order, having been upended by what are after all totally normal turns of events, warrants not just death as revenge but a righteous death, administered by a loving god who agrees with his perspective. This precise thinking trickles down into many male quasi-religious contexts, like the athlete praising god for his successes, praying for mitigation of natural disasters or political outcomes. The commingling of expectation, religion and patriarchy is one of the least examined yet most pernicious influences in our culture. If things like this remain unspoken, the thinking doesn’t die, it spreads sub-cutaneous like a fungus, making everything sick. To exorcise this kind of thinking it has to be stated plainly. Daylight is a great disinfectant.
later in the interview, he added,
It was inspired by a casual reflection on the idiom of the murder ballad, and how fucked up it was that we have a tradition of song that is basically dedicated to men murdering women. Then what if there was a guy who was too much of a wimp to actually murder anybody but just as frustrated and entitled.
“Prayer to God” is the opening track from Shellac’s 3rd studio album, 1000 Hurts. The album was praised by the NME and Pitchfork, both of whom paid special attention to this song, the NME saying that it “conveys more authentic rock'n'roll savagery than a swarm of killer bees unleashed on Satan’s pecker.”
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Steve Albini discussed the song and many cover versions of it with The Quietus:
I remember that period and thinking we had somehow gone into a nasty cul-de-sac in the text of some of those songs. I have no idea why. There was no real personal turmoil in our lives or anything.
Have you seen any of the terrible acoustic covers of ‘Prayer To God’ that can be found on YouTube?
Sadly, yes. The few seconds of each that I have been able to endure have not been rewarding. I feel slightly bad that there is an earnest interpretation of that song that I can’t get behind, even though there is another earnest interpretation of that song that I could get behind. I feel like there are dudes not getting it who think I am voicing their deepest thoughts when I am trying to expose a fundamental weakness in a male identity.
Are you aware of Frank Turner’s version?
I don’t know who Frank Turner is.
He’s a sort of libertarian Billy Bragg figure from Hampshire with a fashionable beard.
That sounds horrible. I like the actual socialist Billy Bragg. What’s his name? I’m going to Google this fucker after we’re done. However bad it is, whatever cringing I have to do when this is over, it’s on you.
He introduces his version by saying how much the song chimed with his own “situation in life” which makes you wonder if he’s one of those dudes who’s maybe not getting it.
Everything you’ve said to me makes me think I want this guy to jump in well but I haven’t actually heard his music and I’m not familiar with him so I’m going to maintain the indifference of ignorance for now.