Praying

“Praying” is a deeply personal and powerful ballad that chronicles Kesha's journey through immense emotional pain and her subsequent healing and empowerment. The song is widely interpreted as addressing her legal and personal struggles with producer Dr. Luke, whom she accused of sexual and emotional abuse. In an essay for the Lenny Letter, Kesha explained that the song is about “coming to feel empathy for someone else even if they hurt you or scare you. It’s a song about learning to be proud of the person you are even during low moments when you feel alone. It’s also about hoping everyone, even someone who hurt you, can heal.”

The lyrics move from a place of vulnerability and despair to one of strength and resilience. Lines like “You brought the flames and you put me through hell / I had to learn how to fight for myself” directly reference the hardship she endured, while the chorus, “I hope you're somewhere praying, praying / I hope your soul is changing, changing,” expresses a desire for her abuser's redemption rather than revenge. This act of praying for her tormentor is presented as the ultimate step in her own healing process, a way to release hatred and find peace. The song is a testament to overcoming victimhood, finding strength in vulnerability, and the transformative power of forgiveness.

The song begins with a reflection on a painful past, where the narrator was made to feel worthless and was deceived by someone they trusted. This person put them through immense suffering, described metaphorically as being brought through flames and hell. However, this experience forced the narrator to learn how to fight for themselves and become stronger. While acknowledging the truths they could reveal about the ordeal, they choose to simply say farewell and wish the person well, hoping they find peace through prayer.

As the song progresses, the narrator expresses a newfound sense of pride in who they have become. The 'monsters' of the past are gone, allowing them to breathe again. They confidently state that despite their tormentor's belief that they were finished, the best is yet to come. They have discovered a strength they never knew they possessed and can now stand on their own. The narrator vows to bring 'thunder' and 'rain,' suggesting they will no longer be silenced and will make their presence known, to the point where their abuser's name will be forgotten.

A significant shift occurs in the bridge, where the narrator reveals that they sometimes pray for the person who hurt them. There is a hope that this person will one day see the light and change their ways. The lyrics touch upon the concept of karma, acknowledging that while some believe you get what you give in life, some actions are so severe that only a higher power can grant forgiveness. This sentiment culminates in a powerful vocal release, a cry of both pain and liberation.

The recurring chorus reinforces the central theme: a sincere hope that the tormentor is somewhere praying, that their soul is undergoing a positive transformation, and that they find peace by falling to their knees in prayer. This is not a song of revenge, but one of profound empathy and a desire for healing, not just for the self, but for the one who caused the pain. It's a journey from victimhood to empowerment, marked by forgiveness and a triumphant reclamation of self-worth.

"Praying" was released on July 6, 2017, as the lead single from Kesha's third studio album, Rainbow. It marked her first solo release in nearly four years, a period dominated by her highly publicized legal battle with producer Dr. Luke. The song's creation began with producer Ryan Lewis (of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis fame), who developed the foundational piano melody and drum track, feeling it was destined to be a powerful female ballad. His wife suggested Kesha would be the perfect artist for it.

Lewis contacted Kesha, who was thrilled at the opportunity to work with him. Kesha, along with Ben Abraham and Andrew Joslyn, collaborated with Lewis to write the lyrics and complete the song. The process was reportedly very cathartic for Kesha, and the song was completed within two days of them starting work together. Lewis aimed to showcase Kesha's vocal range and represent her authentically as a person, a goal he felt the final track achieved. One of the most notable moments during the recording was Kesha hitting a whistle note, which surprised even Lewis and became a defining feature of the song's climax. The song was co-produced by Lewis and Jon Castelli, who refined the arrangement to create a dynamic contrast between the intimate verses and the powerful choruses.

"Praying" is written in the key of G minor with a moderately slow tempo of 74 beats per minute. The song's rhythmic structure contributes significantly to its emotional arc. The verses have a more spacious and free-flowing rhythmic feel, supported by a simple piano line, which allows for an intimate and conversational vocal delivery.

The rhyme scheme is generally simple and effective, often following patterns like AABB or ABCB in the verses, which gives the lyrics a direct and sincere quality. For example, in the first verse, "fooled" and "you" create a near rhyme, followed by the perfect rhyme of "done" and "become" in the subsequent lines. The pre-chorus uses the rhyme of "hell" and "myself" and the near rhyme of "tell" and "farewell" to build tension leading into the chorus.

The chorus itself has a more anthemic and rhythmically defined feel, with the repetition of "praying" and "changing" creating a memorable hook. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical arrangement is crucial; as the emotional intensity of the lyrics builds, the rhythm becomes more driving and the instrumentation fuller, culminating in the powerful bridge and final chorus. The syncopation in the rhythm can be tricky, with many chords changing on the upbeat, adding to the song's dynamic feel. The song is composed in 4/4 time but is often felt in a half-time feel, especially in the verses.

"Praying" marks a significant stylistic departure from Kesha's earlier electropop and dance-pop music. Musically, it is a pop piano ballad with strong gospel and soul influences. The arrangement is deliberately minimal in the verses, featuring a sparse piano accompaniment that highlights the vulnerability in Kesha's voice. The song then builds in intensity, incorporating strings (violins, violas, cellos), a choir, and drums to create a powerful, cathartic crescendo in the chorus and bridge.

Kesha's vocal performance is a key stylistic element. She utilizes a wide dynamic range, from a near-whisper and vocal fry in the lower-register verses to convey vulnerability, to a powerful, grainy belt in the chorus. The song's climax features a stunning whistle tone (F6), a virtuosic display that showcases her vocal prowess and represents a moment of emotional release and transcendence. This intentional use of her vocal range tells a story of its own, moving from insecurity to strength.

Lyrically, the song employs a direct address (apostrophe) to her tormentor, creating a deeply personal and confrontational narrative. The use of a homonym in the line "I wish you farewell" is clever, as it can be interpreted as both bidding goodbye and wishing the person well. The narrative structure itself is a powerful technique, taking the listener on a journey from suffering to forgiveness and empowerment.

"Praying" was met with universal acclaim from music critics upon its release, who praised it as a powerful comeback and a significant departure from Kesha's previous party-anthem persona. It was celebrated for its vulnerability, vocal performance, and empowering message. The song achieved commercial success, reaching the top 10 in Australia and the top 30 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. It was certified 5x Platinum in the US.

The song received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. Kesha's performance of the song at the 2018 Grammy Awards, alongside artists like Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, and Andra Day, became a pivotal moment for the Time's Up and #MeToo movements, cementing the song's status as an anthem for survivors of sexual assault. The music video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, also received widespread praise and was compared to Beyoncé's visual album *Lemonade* for its surreal imagery and personal themes. While some criticism arose regarding cultural appropriation in the video's imagery, its overall impact was overwhelmingly positive. "Praying" is widely regarded as one of Kesha's signature songs and a defining moment in her career, showcasing her resilience as an artist and a person.

The lyrics and accompanying music video for "Praying" are rich with symbolism and metaphors that enhance its themes of suffering, rebirth, and liberation.

• Flames and Hell: The line, "You brought the flames and you put me through hell," is a direct metaphor for the intense suffering and torment the narrator endured at the hands of her abuser.
• Rainbows: In her Lenny Letter essay, Kesha describes the song as being about "that moment when the sun starts peeking through the darkest storm clouds, creating the most beautiful rainbow." The rainbow symbolizes hope, peace, and new beginnings after a period of immense struggle, and it is also the title of the album.
• Walking on Water: The music video concludes with an image of Kesha walking on water, a clear biblical allusion to Jesus's miracle. This symbolizes her transcendence over her past trauma and her newfound sense of power and freedom.
• Pigs: The music video features men with pig heads, which can be interpreted as a reference to the oppressive figures in her life. This imagery is reminiscent of Homer's *Odyssey*, where Circe turns men into swine, and also draws comparisons to Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" video.
• Angel Wings and Religious Imagery: Throughout the video, Kesha is seen with angel wings and at Salvation Mountain, a piece of outsider art with a strong religious message. These symbols, along with crosses and prayer, represent a journey of spiritual salvation and finding a higher form of peace.
• Nets and Cages: The video also uses imagery of Kesha being trapped in nets, symbolizing her feelings of entrapment and helplessness during her legal battles and personal struggles. Her eventual escape from these restraints signifies her liberation.

Several lyrical phrases and musical motifs recur throughout "Praying," reinforcing its central themes of hope and transformation.

• "I hope you're somewhere praying, praying": This is the song's central lyrical motif and hook, repeated in every chorus. It encapsulates the core message of the song: a desire for the antagonist's spiritual healing and peace, which in turn brings peace to the narrator. Its repetition emphasizes the shift from anger to empathy.
• "I hope your soul is changing, changing": Also a key part of the chorus, this phrase underscores the theme of redemption. The narrator's hope is not for punishment but for genuine personal growth and change in the one who caused her pain.
• "Falling on your knees": This image, repeated in the chorus, has a dual meaning. It can signify surrender and defeat, but in a spiritual context, it represents humility, repentance, and prayer, tying directly into the song's title and central theme.
• The Piano Motif: The song is built around a distinct and relatively simple piano melody that opens the track and underpins the verses. This musical motif creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, which contrasts sharply with the full, orchestral sound of the choruses, mirroring the song's emotional journey from quiet suffering to powerful release.