The Tracks — Like a Prayer, Track 01
Like a Prayer
Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there.
At a Glance
Title
Like a Prayer
Record
Like a Prayer (1989) | Track 01
Single
Lead single | 3 March 1989
Writers
Madonna | Patrick Leonard
Producers
Madonna | Patrick Leonard
Video
Directed by Mary Lambert
Chart peaks
UK No. 1 | US No. 1
A guitar, a door slamming shut, and a choir rising: “Like a Prayer” is one of the defining songs of Madonna’s career.
The Song
Written and produced with Patrick Leonard, it moves between rock, pop and gospel, carried by a full choir. Early versions with Latin percussion were stripped back to organ and voices.
The Video
Mary Lambert’s video — burning crosses, stigmata and a kiss with a saint — was condemned by the Vatican and cost Madonna a sponsorship deal with Pepsi, which had premiered the song in a commercial.
The Charts
It reached number one in the UK, the US and around the world.
On Stage
It was performed on the Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990. It has been a part of almost every tour since.
LISTEN NEXT
Keep listening — headphones on, lights low.
