The Prayer
Background
“It’s a real rocker, thanks to your friend.”
These words (of warning?) came from my producer accompanying the masters he sent me for “The Prayer”. In this case, my “friend” was long-time collaborator, Keith Kopatz, who had sent me an electric guitar, bass, and drum track for the song years earlier. Keith’s rock heavy concept was so different from what I had conceived, the track just sat in my GarageBand file for a good 3 years, frozen in time, while I tried to figure out what to do with it. It was hard to wrap my head around, though I had attempted to build on Keith’s creative effort a few times without success. Was it a bad mismatch of styles? I even considered just abandoning the rock version and starting over, recording a much tamer, safer version of this song that is based on the most famous prayer in history. (After all, hadn’t we learned the formal, King James version in Sunday School? “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…”) Matthew 6:9-13
Finally, late in 2022, I determined to give it one more shot before letting go. I tried to think of ways to smooth out some of the harsh edges of the driving guitar. I added a touch of acoustic guitar, some background vocals, and hand percussion. Then, I persuaded another musical friend to add some organ chords; legato, please. Eventually, after throwing all ingredients in a big pot, gently folding the parts together and proofing the mix over time – it finally gelled. Of course, King James was out, in favor of a more contemporary text.
In the end, I hope the importance of this timeless teaching from the Son of God will not be obscured or diminished by the electric, hard-charging, musical style that carries it along. And I hope that listeners will be drawn to sing these words with fresh sincerity, and a beat.
Credits
Song copyright © 2009, John C. Miner, TreasureField Music
Recorded in 2019, Minneapolis; and 2022-23, Ithaca
Mixed by John Miner
Mastered and produced by Doug Robinson
Guitars – Keith Kopatz and John Miner
Bass – Keith Kopatz
Drum programming – Keith Kopatz and John Miner
Hand percussion – John Miner
Organ – Rick Drake
Vocals – John Miner
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John Miner