[Verse 1]
I hear that prayer and praying
Will change this world around
I fold my hands I bow my head
I kneel down on the ground
I prayed and prayed by night and day
And then I prayed some more
I prayed till my tongue was dry as dust
I prayed till my knees had sores
[Verse 2]
Will prayer change shacks to decent homes
Will prayer change sickness into health
Will prayer change hate to works of love
Will prayer get me my right to vote
[Verse 3]
Will prayer give jobs at honest pay
Will prayer bring stomach full of food
Will prayer make rich treat poor folks right
Will prayer take out the Ku Klux Klan
[Verse 4]
Will prayer cut down the hoodlum bands
Will prayer stop the lynchbug hands
If all of these things my prayers can do
I'll pray 'til I am black and blue
[Refrain]
I'll pray 'til I am black and blue
I'll pray 'til I am black and blue
I'll pray 'til I am black and blue
I'll pray 'til I am black and blue
[Verse 5]
If prayer will bring us union love
I'll pray and pray and pray some more
I'll pray all day from door to door
And fall at nite to pray some more
My prayer with a union label