Madonna's "Like a Prayer": A Misinterpreted Anthem of Devotion and Submission
Every now and then, a song comes along that transcends its time, becoming a cultural touchstone for generations. Madonna's "Like a Prayer," released back in 1989, is one such track. But imagine my shock when I stumbled upon a video of it apparently sung as a Christmas carol. Yes, you read that right. The juxtaposition of this iconic song, known for its controversial themes, with the serene setting of a choir, had me laughing out loud. It was this absurdity that led me down a rabbit hole of rethinking and reinterpreting the lyrics. My conclusion? The song is a submissive thinking about her Dominant and here is why.
When you strip away the religious imagery and the interracial Jesus from the video, or the absurdity of the choir singing it at Christmas what are you left with? A song that, at its core, speaks of intense devotion, submission, and the power dynamics of a D/s relationship.
"I Want to Take You There" - The Real Journey
Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
When you call my name, it's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel your power
Just like a prayer, you know I'll take you there
The line "I want to take you there" immediately stands out. Who is "you"? And where is "there"? In a religious context, this doesn't make sense. You don't take God or a deity anywhere; you seek guidance or enlightenment from them. But in the world of kink, this line takes on a whole new meaning. "You" becomes the Dominant figure, the one whose presence and command hold power over the submissive. "There" isn't a physical location but a psychological or emotional space where submission is fully realized.
When she sings, "I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there," she's not talking about a spiritual journey. It's a declaration of submission, where the act of kneeling signifies readiness to serve, to please, and to enter into a deep bond of trust and control. This is not about a journey to heaven or enlightenment; it's about being led into the depths of submission, where the Dominant's desire becomes the submissive's command. She is down on her knees and her mouth is busy.
Misdirection Through Spectacle
Madonna, the Queen of Pop, has always been known for her clever marketing and ability to generate buzz. By intertwining religious symbolism with themes of love and desire, she created a spectacle that overshadowed the song's true essence. The video, with its burning crosses, stigmata, and interracial Jesus, was a masterpiece of misdirection. It stirred controversy, diverting attention from the song's intimate, personal, and, kink related themes.
This strategy isn't unique to "Like a Prayer." Take "Like a Virgin," for instance. When Madonna sings, "Like a virgin, touched for the very first time," what does she mean? Is it about physical touch, the literal act of first-time sex, or something deeper? Quentin Tarantino's character in "Reservoir Dogs" suggests it's about the experience being so good that it feels like the first time all over again.
Madonna uses her music to explore themes of sexuality, power, and identity, often cloaking them in layers of meaning. Her visual narratives create spectacles, ensuring her songs become cultural phenomena through imagery rather than lyrical depth alone. But peel back the layers, and you find songs rich with personal, often taboo, themes.
The Real Meaning Behind the Mask
So, when I heard "Like a Prayer" being sung in a church, I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. Here was a song about submission, power, and eroticism being sung at Christmas time. It's worth noting that the choir was German and Germans view kink a little differently than we do. This further highlights how Madonna's genius lies not just in her music but in her ability to layer meanings, creating songs that can be interpreted in multiple ways.
An older and wiser me says "Like a Prayer" isn't about religion. It's about the profound connection between two people, where one surrenders, and the other leads. It's about the ecstasy of submission, the thrill of control, and the dance of power dynamics. When she sings, "When you call my name, it's like a little prayer," she's not invoking a divine presence; she's calling out to her Dominant, ready to submit, to be taken to that place where her physical act of love becomes a form of worship.
In a world where music often gets boxed into genres or themes, Madonna's songs remind us that art, like life, is about layers, about the interplay of light and shadow, the sacred and the profane. "Like a Prayer" might have been misinterpreted as a Christmas carol, but in reality, it's an anthem of devotion, submission, and the complex, thrilling dance of power in intimate relationships. And for that, I salute the Queen of Pop for her audacity and for giving us songs that we can keep reinterpreting, rethinking, and, most importantly, enjoying.
Lyrics
Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
When you call my name, it's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel your power
Just like a prayer, you know I'll take you there
I hear your voice
It's like an angel sighin'
I have no choice
I hear your voice
Feels like flying
I close my eyes
Oh God I think I'm fallin'
Out of the sky
I close my eyes
Heaven help me
When you call my name, it's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel your power
Just like a prayer, you know I'll take you there
Like a child
You whisper softly to me
You're in control
Just like a child
Now I'm dancing
It's like a dream
No end and no beginning
You're here with me
It's like a dream
Let the choir sing
When you call my name, it's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel your power
Just like a prayer, you know I'll take you there
When you call my name, it's like a little prayer
I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour, I can feel a power
Just like a prayer, you know I'll take you there
Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home
Just like a prayer (oh-oh), your voice can take me there (oh-oh)
Just like a muse to me (oh-oh), you are a mystery (oh-oh)
Just like a dream (oh-oh), you are not what you seem
Just like a prayer, no choice your voice can take me there
mmm mm
(Just like a prayer, I'll take you there) I'll take you there
(It's like a dream to me) whoa oh-oh-oh
(Just like a prayer, I'll take you there) I'll take you there
(It's like a dream to me) oh yeah, oh yeah yeah yeah yeah
(Just like a prayer, I'll take you there) oh yeah yeah yee
(It's like a dream to me) whoa oh-oh
Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there (just like a prayer)
Just like a muse to me, you are a mystery (your voice can take me there)
Just like a dream, you are not what you seem (just like a prayer)
Just like a prayer, no choice your voice can take me there
Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there (just like a prayer)
Just like a muse to me, you are a mystery (your voice can take me there)
Just like a dream, you are not what you seem (just like a prayer)
Just like a prayer, no choice your voice can take me there
your voice can take me there
(Your voice can take me there) just like a prayer
(Just like a prayer)
(Just like a prayer)
(Your voice can take me there)
(Just like a prayer)
(Just like a prayer)
(Your voice can take me there)
(Just like a prayer)
Source: Musixmatch
So yes. "Madonna sucks"😈.
