About the song
A story for this song hasn’t been added yet.
Words from the artist’s archive
City-Side Prayer lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Intro
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name Sirens under stained-glass panes
Verse 1
Neon halos on the corner store Chicago winds shake a busted door Detroit chrome sleeps under streetlight glare Philly train breath fogs the prayer Thy kingdom come, thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven Atlanta heat hums, Miami drenched New Orleans brass, but the spirit’s clenched We look up past the wires and soot For mercy that can still take root
Verse 2
(Hi-hats double) Give us this day our daily bread L.A. freeway veins, red lights ahead New York rush, tight jaws, cold stares Houston flood lines climb the stairs Seattle rain dots bus-stop glass Vegas glow hides a shaking past And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us Baltimore stoops, D.C. tense nights Memphis blue notes, Phoenix dry fights We don’t just speak it, we try to live it Hands unclenched when the hurt hits vivid
Verse 3
And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil Oakland drums in the distance, tight St. Louis hearts still want daylight Cleveland gray turns gold at dawn San Francisco fog, then it’s gone For thine is the kingdom, and the power And the glory, for ever Amen One prayer thread through every block Turn locked-up pain to an open lock
Outro
From Tulsa streets to Boston stone We carry that line like a backbone Our Father, make these cities home
Inside the recording
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name Sirens under stained-glass panes
L.A. freeway veins, red lights ahead New York rush, tight jaws, cold stares
From Tulsa streets to Boston stone We carry that line like a backbone
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.