Pray

Written by  Johnnie Taylor    [Conrad Music-BMI]

Information

• There are two versions of this song, one solo and one with the Soul Stirrers, which was never completely finished
• Written by Johnnie Taylor when he was a member of the Highway QC's, a gospel group Sam started in in Chicago

With the Soul Stirrers

Recorded on August 17, 1955 at Master Recorders in Hollywood by Art Rupe

Soul Stirrers    Sam Cooke, Paul Foster [leads]    /    Senior Ray Crain    [first tenor]    /    Leroy Crume, R.B. Robinson [baritones]    /    Jesse J. Farley [bass]

Musicians    guitar: either Bob King or Leroy Crume    /    drums unknown

MP3 at Amazon.com

Albums    

• Complete Recordings of Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers (incomplete)   
• Jesus Gave Me Water (incomplete)

Solo

Recorded:   September 9, 1960    Studio: RCA New York, Studio B

Producer: Hugo & Luigi    Engineer: Bob Simpson

Musicians:    Hank Jones - piano

Albums        Swing Low

Lyrics

O pray when you're feeling low
when the ill wind blows
don't forget to pray

pray when you go to bed
for your daily bread
don't forget to pray

you can awake to beautiful morning
when you got troubles remember this warning
and pray until judgement day
God the devil to pay
if you never pray

pray, lalalalala
pray, lalalalala

you can awake to beautiful morning
when you got troubles remember this warning
and pray until judgement day
God the devil to pay
if you never pray

if you'd only pray