I Say a Little Prayer is a 1967 song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick. It was recorded in 1966 and released in October 1967 on the album The Windows of the World, with the B-side (Theme from) Valley of the Dolls. The tune blends soul and pop in a brisk Brill Building style, and runs about 3 minutes. The lyrics express a woman’s concern for her partner who is serving during the Vietnam War, sending a quiet prayer for his safety. Warwick’s version became a major hit, peaking at No 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1967 and No 8 on the R&B chart, and it earned a gold record in 1968. In 1968 Aretha Franklin gave the song another top-ten rendition on Aretha Now, reaching No 10 on the Hot 100 and No 3 on the R&B chart, with strong UK success as well. The song has endured through many covers and uses in film and TV, including a reggae-inspired 1997 version by Diana King for Think Like a Girl and My Best Friend’s Wedding, and it was listed at No 117 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2021.
