The Power Of Prayer – English Lyrics

• By: Bruce Springsteen
• Album: Letter To You

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the soulful rock of Bruce Springsteen's "The Power of Prayer" and unlock a rich tapestry of American music heritage. This track, infused with nostalgia and a spiritual appreciation for love and song, offers a fantastic opportunity for language learners to connect with authentic English storytelling. Its clear lyrical narrative and the E Street Band's vibrant performance make the language accessible and enjoyable, revealing how everyday experiences and profound emotions are expressed through the Boss's iconic songwriting.

[English]

Dreamy afternoon 'neath the summer sun

We'd lie by the lake 'til the evening comes

I run my fingers through your sun streaked hair

Baby, that's the power of prayer

Summer nights, summer's in the air

I stack the tables with the chairs

It's closing time and you're standing there

Baby, that's the power of prayer

It's a fixed game without any rules

An empty table on a ship of fools

I'm holding hearts, I play the pair

Darling, it's just the power of prayer

...

It's a fixed game without any rules

An empty table on a ship of fools

I'm holding hearts, I play the pair

I'm going all in 'cause I don't care

They say that love, love comes and goes

But darling, what, what do they know?

I'm reaching for heaven, we'll make it there

Darling, it's just the power of prayer

Baby, it's just the power of prayer

Darling, it's just the power of prayer

Last call, the bouncer shuts the door

"This Magic Moment" drifts across the floor

As Ben E. King's voice fills the air

Baby, that's the power of prayer

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
prayer /prɛər/ B1	noun - a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship.
power /ˈpaʊər/ A2	noun - the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way. noun - control and authority over others.
summer /ˈsʌmər/ A1	noun - the warmest season of the year, between spring and autumn.
air /ɛər/ A1	noun - the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the Earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen.
game /ɡeɪm/ A1	noun - an activity or sport involving skill, knowledge, or chance, in which people compete according to a set of rules.
rule /ruːl/ A2	noun - one of a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct or procedure within a particular area of activity.
empty /ˈɛmpti/ A2	adjective - containing nothing; not filled or occupied.
table /ˈteɪbəl/ A1	noun - a piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, providing a level surface for eating, writing, or working.
ship /ʃɪp/ A2	noun - a large boat for transporting people or goods by sea.
fool /fuːl/ B1	noun - a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person.
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system. noun - the emotional or moral nature of a human being.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection. verb - feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to (someone).
heaven /ˈhɛvən/ B1	noun - (in some religions) the place where God or the gods live and where good people go after they die.
bouncer /ˈbaʊnsər/ B2	noun - a person employed by a bar, nightclub, or other establishment to prevent troublemakers from entering or to eject them.
drift /drɪft/ B1	verb - be carried slowly by a current of air or water.
voice /vɔɪs/ A2	noun - the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song.
fixed /fɪkst/ B2	adjective - (of a game, race, or election) arranged in advance to achieve a particular result, often illegally.
dreamy /ˈdriːmi/ B2	adjective - having a magical or pleasantly unreal quality; ethereal.
streaked /striːkt/ B2	adjective - marked with streaks or stripes of a different color or texture.
stack /stæk/ B1	verb - arrange (a number of things) in a pile, typically a neat one. noun - a usually neatly arranged pile of objects.

Key Grammar Structures

• We'd lie by the lake 'til the evening comes

  ➔ Contraction & Future in the Past

  ➔ "We'd" is a contraction of "We would", indicating a habitual action in the past. "'til" is a colloquial shortening of "until". The phrase describes a repeated action in the past, suggesting a regular occurrence. The use of 'comes' implies a future event viewed from a past perspective.

• I run my fingers through your sun streaked hair

  ➔ Present Simple for Vivid Description

  ➔ The present simple ("run") is used here not to describe a habitual action, but to create a sense of immediacy and vividness, as if the action is happening *now* while the singer remembers. It's a stylistic choice to draw the listener into the scene.

• It's a fixed game without any rules

  ➔ Indefinite Pronoun 'any'

  ➔ "Any" is used in negative contexts to mean 'not one' or 'not a single'. Here, it emphasizes the complete lack of rules in the 'game' being described. It's used with a negative construction ('without').

• I'm going all in 'cause I don't care

  ➔ Informal Contraction & 'Cause as Conjunction

  ➔ "I'm" is a contraction of "I am". "'Cause" is an informal shortening of "because". This line demonstrates colloquial language, typical of Springsteen's storytelling style. It shows a reckless abandon.