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"We Pray" (stylised in all caps) is a song by British rock Coldplay from their upcoming tenth studio album, Moon Music (2024). It is the third track on the album and features British rapper Little Simz, Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boy, Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna, and Argentine singer and actress Tini. The song was released as the second single from the record on 23 August 2024 through Parlophone in the United Kingdom and Atlantic Records in the United States.

Background and conception[]

A collaboration between Coldplay and British rapper Little Simz — reportedly under the working title "Supernova" — was first reported by The Sun on 25 May 2024, alleging that the song had been recorded in anticipation of Coldplay's Glastonbury headline performance in late June and that filming for a music video had taken place the week before the article was published. The tabloid newspaper further wrote that the song was set to be the lead single for Moon Music and expected Little Simz would join the band on the song's live debut during their Glastonbury set, as Simz would also perform before them.[2]

Besides Little Simz, "We Pray" also features Burna Boy, Elyanna and Tini. Preceding the collaboration, Chris Martin was featured as a guest artist on Burna Boy's song "Monsters You Made" from his 2020 album Twice as Tall, whilst Tini joined Coldplay onstage for two nights in Buenos Aires during the Music of the Spheres World Tour in November 2022, performing "Let Somebody Go" and her original song "Carne y Hueso".

Regarding its creative process, Chris stated that "We Pray" arrived in the middle of the night — around 3 am — in November 2023, while the band was in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for two nights of shows; the idea for the song came from the singer's reflection on the various contemporary conflicts around the world and how all different people are collectively “praying for the same things” as a result. The collaborators were chosen due to their linguistic and continental diversity: Europe (Little Simz), Africa (Burna Boy), Asia (Elyanna) and America (Tini). Recording alternative versions of the track in the featured artists' native language would highlight the song's theme that there is no separation between people, regardless of who they are or where they come from.[3][4]

In an interview with Tracy Clifford for Irish radio station RTÉ 2fm, guitarist Jonny Buckland recalled that the band had been working on the song for a long time but were not succeeding, mentioning that one of its previous arrangements was a “slightly prog-rock and slightly weird” piece.[5]

Release and promotion[]

On 5 August 2024, without any prior announcement, a 30-second preview of "We Pray" was made available to be listened to on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.[6] The following day, the band posted a teaser revealing the song's release date for 23 August 2024, confirming Little Simz, Burna Boy and Elyanna's involvement, and adding Argentine singer and actress Tini as a featured artist on the track.[7]

A limited CD single and 12" vinyl editions were issued on 9 August, featuring four alternative versions of the song as B-Sides, including versions by Tini and Elyanna, and the live recording from Glastonbury Festival — exclusive to the physical release. Coldplay's mailing list members had 24-hour exclusive early access to the pre-sale before the general public.[8]

Live performances[]

We Pray Glastonbury 2024

Coldplay performing "We Pray" at Glastonbury with Little Simz and Elyanna.

Coldplay debuted "We Pray" during their record-breaking fifth headline slot at the Glastonbury Festival's Pyramid Stage on 29 June 2024. Little Simz and Elyanna joined them onstage as surprise guests while clips of Burna Boy were screened in the background. The performance also featured a live orchestra called the Baltic String Orchestra.[9][10]

Lyrics[]

[Intro: Little Simz, Elyanna, Chris Martin & Burna Boy]
Woah
Oh
And so we pray
Ooh

[Verse 1: Chris Martin]
I pray that I don't give up, pray that I do my best
Pray that I can lift up, pray my brother is blessed
Praying for enough, pray Virgilio wins
Pray I judge nobody and forgive me my sins
I pray we make it, pray my friend will pull through
Pray as I take it unto others, I do
Praying on your love, we pray with every breath
Though I'm in the valley of the shadow of death

[Chorus: Chris Martin, Chris Martin & Little Simz, Burna Boy]
And so we pray
For someone to come and show me the way
And so we pray
For some shelter and some records to play
And so we pray
We'll be singing "Baraye"
Pray that we make it to the end of the day
And so we pray
I know somewhere that Heaven is waiting
And so we pray
I know somewhere there's something amazing
And so we pray
I know somewhere we'll feel no pain
Until we make it to the end of the day

[Verse 2: Little Simz, Chris Martin & Little Simz, Chris Martin, Little Simz & Choir, Burna Boy]
I pray that love will shelter us from our fears
Oh, I pray you trust to let me wipe off your tears
Confront all the pain that we felt inside
With all the cards we been dealt in life
Pray I speak my truth and keep my sisters alive
So for the ones who parted seas (Ah, yeah)
For the ones who's following dreams (Ah, yeah)
For the ones who knocked down doors (Ah, yeah)
And allowed us to pass down keys (Ah, yeah)
Pray that we speak with a tongue that is honest
And that we understand how to be modest
Pray when she looks at herself in the mirror
She sees a queen, she sees a goddess

[Chorus: Chris Martin, Chris Martin & Little Simz, Burna Boy]
And so we pray
For someone to come and show me the way
And so we pray
For some shelter and some records to play
And so we pray
We'll be singing "Baraye"
Pray that we make it to the end of the day
And so we pray
I know somewhere that Heaven is waiting
And so we pray
I know somewhere there's something amazing
And so we pray
I know somewhere we'll feel no pain
Until we make it to the end of the day

[Bridge: Burna Boy]
On my knees, I pray, as I sleep and wake
'Cause inside my head is a frightening place
Keep a smiling face, only by His grace
'Cause love's more than I can take, hey

[Chorus: Chris Martin & Little Simz, Chris Martin, Burna Boy, Chris Martin, Elyanna & Tini]
And so we pray
For someone to come and show me the way
And so we pray
For some shelter and some records to play
And so we pray
We'll be singing "Baraye"
Til nobody's in need and everybody can say (Oh)

[Post-Chorus: Choir, Little Simz, Burna Boy, Burna Boy & Choir]
La-la-la, la-la, la-la (La-la)
La-la-la, la-la, la-la (La-la-la, la)
La-la-la, la-la, la-la (Sing it to me)
La-la-la, la-la, we pray, we pray
La-la-la, la-la, la-la (I know somewhere that Heaven is waiting, is waiting)
La-la-la, la-la, la-la (I know somewhere there's something amazing, something amazing)
La-la-la, la-la, la-la (Until we feel no pain)
La-la-la, la-la, we pray, we pray

[Outro: Chris Martin & Choir]
La-la-la, la-la, la-la
La-la-la, la-la, la-la
La-la-la, la-la, la-la
La-la-la, la-la, we pray, we pray, we pray

Official audios[]

Critical reception[]

Aaron Williams from Uproxx praised "We Pray" as an “operatic, epic-sounding anthem that finds [Coldplay and guest artists] reflecting on their hopes for the future and fears of the present, manifesting greatness amid adversity”.[11] Writing for HotNewHipHop, Elias Andrews appreciated the collaborative nature of the song, set on “a warbling bass line underneath and a massive string section”.[12] Ranking the song as one of the week's best releases, the New Zealand Listener called it “a life affirming chunk of memorable, lyrically catch-all pop which touches a lot of musical bases”.[13]

Gallery[]

Promotional photos[]

Physical copies[]

References[]

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