[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

[Outro]
My prayer with a union label
My prayer with a union label
My prayer with a union label
My prayer with a union label