My Sunday Song – “Livin’ On A Prayer” – Bon Jovi

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

For My  Sunday Song #200 and the final in the Bon Jovi set of 10 songs, we are discussing the classic song, “Livin’ On A Prayer”.  The song is off the band’s mulit-platinum selling album ‘Slippery When Wet’.  The song was the second single off the album and the second to go all the way to #1. The song and the album put Bon Jovi in to super star status and nothing would be the same afterwards.

The song was written by Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi with a lot of help from songwriter Desmond Child who was brought in by the record label to help the boys finish the album and work on some songs.  The song is loosely based on Desmond and his girl-friend as she worked in a Diner, but he was a taxi driver and not working at the docks.  It was that Blue Collar feel to the song that made it resonate with so many people.  It was a time when Bon Jovi actually wrote songs that told a story that connected with people and not try to write just to make a hit.

However, after recording it, Jon didn’t really like the song and wanted to leave it off the album.  Richie thought it was great and convinced Jon to re-work the song.  It was much improved by changing the bass line and recording with Hugh McDonald and not Alec John Such.  Funny thing, Hugh would become a band member less than 10 years later (unofficially of course).  Richie also added a talk box to the guitar to give it that extra boost in the same way Peter Frampton used it and made it famous.  The song was turned in to a complete masterpiece.

The song opens with a long keyboard intro that slowly builds and then some finger cymbals before Tico kicks in the drums and you hear Richie on the guitar with the talk box.  It is a very memorable opening.  The song is pure pop rock gold with a massive hook, a catchy chorus, a slick guitar solo and then you throw in the good looks of Jon and that killer voice and it was over.  It is no wonder the song shot up the charts.  I miss the Bon Jovi of these days.

Give the song a listen below and let me know what you think.  Is it their best song ever??  I don’t think so, but it is up there.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a Happy Sunday!!

“Livin’ On A Prayer”

Once upon a time not so long ago

Tommy used to work on the docks
Union’s been on strike
He’s down on his luck
It’s tough, so tough

Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man
She brings home her pay
For love, for love

She says, “We’ve gotta hold on to what we’ve got
It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not
We’ve got each other and that’s a lot
For love we’ll give it a shot.”

Whoa, we’re half-way there
Whoa, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand, we’ll make it. I swear
Whoa, livin’ on a prayer

Tommy’s got his six string in hock
Now he’s holding in
What he used to make it talk
So tough, it’s tough

Gina dreams of running away
When she cries in the night
Tommy whispers
“Baby, it’s okay, someday

We’ve gotta hold on to what we’ve got
It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not
We’ve got each other and that’s a lot
For love we’ll give it a shot

Whoa, we’re half-way there
Whoa, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand and we’ll make it. I swear
Whoa, livin’ on a prayer

Livin’ on a prayer

We’ve gotta hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it’s all that you’ve got

Whoa, we’re half-way there
Whoa, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand and we’ll make it, I swear
Whoa, livin’ on a prayer

Whoa, we’re half-way there
Whoa, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand and we’ll make it, I swear
Whoa, livin’ on a prayer

Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child

24 thoughts on “My Sunday Song – “Livin’ On A Prayer” – Bon Jovi”

      1. Did you watch that Bob Rock Gibson Int.
        In it he says that him and Fairbairn knew it would be a hit not just how big and if anyhting they were hoping to get more work out of it with other acts if the single did well.
        Understatement of the 80s lol

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

          1. Like you I like that inside stuff. Rock could write a real good book.
            The VH and Doobie Bros stuff is gold in the Ted book. Heck Ted talks about working with the Bullet Boys!

            Liked by 2 people

            Reply

            1. See, that is the stuff…even the Bullet Boys. I would love for Rock to do one as I’d get that one too. has Mutt done a book yet? I want him to do one and Brendan O’Brien. Those would be some juicy books.

              Liked by 2 people

              Reply

Leave a comment