My Prayer is a 1939 popular song that has resonated through generations with its haunting melody and heartfelt lyrics. The music was composed by the salon violinist Georges Boulanger, while the poignant lyrics were crafted by Carlos Gomez Barrera and Jimmy Kennedy. Originally, the piece was titled “Avant de mourir” (Before dying) when Boulanger first wrote it in 1926 — but it was the addition of English lyrics by Kennedy in 1939 that transformed it into the beloved classic known today.
That very year, the legendary Glenn Miller recorded the song, soaring it to a memorable number two hit on the charts. Alongside him, the soulful Ink Spots featuring Bill Kenny also garnered massive acclaim with their version, reaching number three in the same year. Yet, it wasn’t until the mid-1950s that “My Prayer” truly solidified its place in music history — thanks to a doo-wop rendition by The Platters in 1956. Their single exploded to number one on the Billboard Top 100 during that summer and finished the year ranked fourth overall. This rendition also dominated both the R&B Airplay and R&B Juke Box charts at number one.
The Platters’ magnetic performance has since been immortalized on the big screen, capturing the emotional core of several films. It’s been featured in the 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the 1985 movie Mischief, the 1999 film October Sky, and even two gripping episodes of the 2017 revival of Twin Peaks. Meanwhile, the version by the Ink Spots echoed powerfully in the acclaimed 1992 film Malcolm X. Notably, vocalist Vera Lynn brought the song to life in the British film One Exciting Night in 1944.
Beyond English borders, “My Prayer” also blossomed into a tango classic with the Italian rendition titled “Sì, voglio vivere ancor!”, performed by Norma Bruni alongside Cinico Angelini’s orchestra in 1940, illustrating the song’s wide-reaching impact and adaptability.
The heartfelt lyrics of “My Prayer” plunge deep into the themes of longing, love, and devotion, wrapped in the tender yearning of a night’s dream. The melody calls to the soul just as a prayer does — with a hope that love will eternally stay near, whispered softly in a dream that’s divine:
When the twilight is gone
And no songbirds are singing
When the twilight is gone
You come into my heart
And here in my heart you will stay while I pray
My prayer is to linger with you
At the end of the day in a dream that’s divine
My prayer is a rapture in blue
With the world far away
And your lips close to mine
Tonight while our hearts are aglow
Oh, tell me the words that I’m longing to know
My prayer and the answer you give
May they still be the same for as long as we live
That you’ll always be there at the end of my prayer
This timeless song continues to capture the hearts of listeners of all ages, especially evoking nostalgia and profound emotion among those in their golden years, connecting generations through its powerful melody and moving words.
