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
And I prayed till my knees had sores

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

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

Will prayer cut down the hoodlum bands
Will prayer stop in the lynchbug hands
If all of these things my prayers can do
I'll pray till I am black and blue
I'll pray till I am black and blue
I'll pray till I am black and blue
I'll pray till I am black and blue
I'll pray till I am black and blue

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 night to pray some more
My prayer with a union label
My prayer with a union label
My prayer with a union label

My prayer with a union label