The Mystery of The Meaning Behind Madonna's Like A Prayer

Last year’s release of Deadpool and Wolverine was a highly anticipated event. Along with bringing the merc with a mouth back to the big screen, and fans finally seeing Wolverine and Deadpool together, it brought back a couple of famous songs through its soundtrack. It also reignited some controversy.

Like a Prayer

Madonna’s 1989 release of Like a Prayer was used in one of the pivotal scenes of the movie. It brought a resurgence in popularity to the song, as the movie was the number one hit in the world for several weeks and raked in over one billion dollars at the box office. Everybody loved it!

It didn’t take long for the whispered discussions about Like a Prayer to become water cooler chatter. Why would it? Madonna is one of the most iconic singers and songwriters of the last fifty years. There was a time, not that long ago, when you could barely turn on a radio and not hear her angelic voice.

As anyone who lived through the 80s and 90s knows, Madonna was no angel. And Like a Prayer is one of the songs that exemplified that, if you believe the interpretations of the song. The song could be about religion. Or, it might be about a sexual act. What do you think?

Let’s look at the lyrics:

Life is a mystery

Everyone must stand alone

I hear you call my name

And it feels like home

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 power

Just like a prayer

You know I’ll take you there

I hear your voice

It’s like an angel sighting

I have no choice

I hear your voice

Feel like flying

I close my eyes

Oh God, I think I’m falling

Out of the sky

I close my eyes

Heaven, help me

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 power

Just like a prayer

You know I’ll take you there

Like a child

You whisper softly to me

You’re in control

Just like a child

Now I’m dancing

It’s like a dream

No end and no beginning

You’re here with me

It’s like a dream

Let the choir sing

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 power

Just like a prayer

You know I’ll take you there

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 power

Just like a prayer

You know I’ll take you there

Life is a mystery

Everyone must stand alone

I hear you call my name

And it feels like home

Just like a prayer

Your voice can take me there

Just like a muse to me

You are a mystery

Just like a dream

You are not what you seem

Just like a prayer, no choice

Your voice can take me there

Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there

It’s like a dream to me (Mmmm…)

Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there (I’ll take you there)

It’s like a dream to me (Oh, oh-oh-oh yeah)

Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there (I’ll take you there)

It’s like a dream to me (Oh yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah)

Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there (Oh, yeah)

It’s like a dream to me (Oh, oh)

Just like a prayer

Your voice can take me there

Just like a muse to me

You are a mystery

Just like a dream

You are not what you seem

Just like a prayer, no choice

Your voice can take me there

Just like a prayer

Your voice can take me there

Just like a muse to me

You are a mystery

Just like a dream

You are not what you seem

Just like a prayer, no choice

Your voice can take me there

Your voice can take me there

Like a prayer

It’s like a prayer, your voice can take me there

It’s like a prayer

It’s like a prayer, your voice can take me there

It’s like a prayer

It’s like a prayer, your voice can take me there

It’s like a prayer

It’s like a prayer, your voice can take me there

It’s like a prayer

If you’re one of those who interpret the song as being about a popular sexual act loved by men, you might want to rethink your thoughts.

In 1989 interviews, Madonna herself explained her life like a prayer to Rolling Stone Magazine. Like many songwriters, their lives are their muse. Madonna commented on sharing a part of her life she hadn’t shared yet, having been raised Catholic.

The visualization of the line, “When you call my name, It’s like a little prayer, I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you there,” has been the central focus of people’s debates.

While there appears to be a sexual undertone, once causing a Pepsi commercial to be pulled Like a Prayer also has spiritual undertones and pushes the transformation people have with a religious experience.

What do you think the song was about? If you haven’t heard it for a while or need a refresher, play the video below and enjoy.

Madonna was a genius songwriter and performer. Only the icon could somehow mix music with religion and transformation and get everybody thinking about oral sex. Or, she was a girl remembering her Catholic upbringing and two worlds collided in entertainment. The innuendo exists, but Madonna has denied the interpreted meanings centered around one of those things that guys love.