I Say A Little Prayer – English Lyrics

• By: Aretha Franklin
• Album: Aretha Now

Lyrics & Translation

Unlock the soul of the English language with Aretha Franklin's "I Say a Little Prayer." This timeless classic is a beautiful and emotional journey, making it a perfect song for language learners. The lyrics are clear and repetitive, helping you to easily grasp new vocabulary and phrases related to love, devotion, and daily routines. What makes this song special is its powerful blend of simple, heartfelt lyrics and Franklin's immense vocal talent, turning a personal prayer into a universal anthem of love.

[English]

The moment I wake up

Before I put on my makeup (makeup)

I say a little (prayer for you)

And while I'm combing my hair now

And wondering what dress to wear now (wear now)

I say a little (prayer for you)

(Forever) Forever (and ever) yeah

(You'll stay in my heart and I will love you)

(Forever) Forever (and ever) ever

(We never will part, oh, how I love you)

(Together) Together (together) together

(That's how it must be to live without you)

(Would only mean heartbreak for me)

I run for the bus, dear

And while riding I think of us, dear (us, dear)

I say a little (prayer for you)

And at work I just take time

And all through my coffee break time (break time)

I say a little (prayer for you)

(Forever) Forever (and ever) and ever

(You'll stay in my heart and I will love you)

(Forever) Forever (and ever) and ever

(We never will part, oh, how I love you)

(Together) together (together) together

(That's how it must be to live without you)

(Would only mean heartbreak for me)

Nobody but me

(Forever) Forever (and ever) ever

(You'll stay in my heart and I will love you)

(Forever) Forever (and ever) ever

(We never will part, oh, how I love you)

(Together) together (together) together

(That's how it must be to live without you)

(Would only mean heartbreak for me)

My darling, believe me (believe me)

For me there is no one but you

Please love me true

I'm in love with you (Answer my prayer)

Answer my prayer, baby (Answer my prayer)

Say you'll love me true (Answer my prayer)

Answer my prayer, baby (Answer my prayer)

(Forever) Forever (and ever) ever

(You'll stay in my heart and I will love you) Ever

(Forever) Forever (and ever) ever

(We never will part, oh, how I love you)

(Together) together (together) together

(That's how it must be to live without you)

(Would only mean heartbreak for me)

Oh, nobody but me

My darling, believe me (Believe me)

For me there is no one but you

Please love me true

This is my prayer (Answer my prayer)

Answer my prayer now, baby (Answer my prayer, baby)

This is my prayer (Answer my prayer, baby)

Answer it right now, baby (Answer my prayer, baby)

Say you'll love me true (Answer my prayer, baby)

This is my prayer, baby (Answer my prayer, baby)

I'm in love with you (Answer my prayer)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wake /weɪk/ A1	verb - to stop sleeping
makeup /ˈmeɪkʌp/ A2	noun - cosmetics applied to the face to enhance or alter appearance
prayer /preər/ B1	noun - a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity
comb /koʊm/ A2	verb - to tidy and untangle hair using a comb
hair /her/ A1	noun - any of the fine threadlike strands growing from the skin of humans, mammals, and other animals
dress /dres/ A1	noun - a one-piece garment for women or girls that covers the body and part or all of the legs verb - put on clothes
wear /wer/ A1	verb - have (something) on one's body as clothing, decoration, or protection
stay /steɪ/ A1	verb - remain in a place
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a strong feeling of affection for (someone) noun - an intense feeling of affection
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move at a speed faster than a walk
bus /bʌs/ A1	noun - a large motor vehicle carrying passengers by road, typically one serving the public on a fixed route and for a fare
work /wɜːrk/ A1	noun - activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result. verb - be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a purpose or result.
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
break /breɪk/ A2	noun - an interruption of something verb - to separate into pieces
coffee /ˈkɔːfi/ A1	noun - a hot drink made from roasted and ground coffee beans
heartbreak /ˈhɑːrtbreɪk/ B2	noun - overwhelming distress
darling /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/ A2	noun - a beloved person
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of

Key Grammar Structures

• Before I put on my makeup...

  ➔ Subordinating conjunction "before" + clause

  ➔ The conjunction "before" introduces a time clause, indicating the action of putting on makeup happens after the action of saying a prayer.

• And wondering what dress to wear now...

  ➔ Indirect Question with "what" + infinitive

  ➔ "What dress to wear" is an indirect question functioning as the object of "wondering". It's a shortened form of "wondering what dress I should wear."

• You'll stay in my heart and I will love you

  ➔ Future Simple (will) for prediction

  ➔ "You'll stay" and "I will love" use the future simple tense to express a promise or prediction about the future.

• That's how it must be to live without you

  ➔ Modal verb "must" expressing necessity + "to" infinitive

  ➔ "Must be" expresses a strong conviction or necessity. The "to" infinitive phrase explains the reason for this necessity.

• Would only mean heartbreak for me

  ➔ Conditional Sentence Type 2 (implied condition) + "would"

  ➔ This implies a condition (e.g., "If I lived without you"). "Would" expresses a hypothetical result.

• While riding I think of us, dear...

  ➔ Participle clause indicating simultaneous action with "while" + gerund

  ➔ "While riding" is a reduced adverbial clause. The full clause would be "While I am riding...", but it's shortened for conciseness.

• For me there is no one but you

  ➔ Existential "there is" + "but" meaning "except"

  ➔ "There is no one but you" means that you are the only person for me, excluding all others. "But" functions as a preposition here, meaning "except".