Travelin' Prayer

"Travelin' Prayer" is a song written and performed by singer Billy Joel, and released as the third single from his 1973 album Piano Man. The song is described as an urgent, banjo-fueled gem.[1] It reached number No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 34 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1974. It was a slightly bigger hit in Canada, where it reached No. 61.

"Travelin' Prayer"
Single by Billy Joel
from the album Piano Man
B-side"Ain't No Crime"
Released1974
RecordedDevonshire Sound, Los Angeles
Genre
Length3:03 (single)
4:16 (album)
LabelFamily Productions/Columbia
Songwriter(s)Billy Joel
Producer(s)Michael Stewart
Billy Joel singles chronology
"Worse Comes to Worst"
(1974)		 "Travelin' Prayer"
(1974)		 "The Ballad of Billy the Kid"
(1974)

The country-flavored song has been covered by both Earl Scruggs and Dolly Parton. Parton's version is particularly noteworthy, having been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2001.

Lyrics and music

Joel wrote "Travelin' Prayer" about two years before it appeared on the album.[2] The song has four verses, the first of which is later repeated, and two instrumental breaks.[3] The lyrics offer a prayer that the singer's lover be protected until she returns to the singer.[3] The song has elements of country music, and is taken at a brisk pace.[3] Instrumentation includes honky-tonk piano, banjo, bass, violin and drums, the latter of which are played with brushes.[3] Joel plays mouth harp during the second instrumental break.[3] Author Ken Bielen sees the song as being influenced by a traditional Irish blessing for an easy return home.[3] Bielen also notes that the song fits with a trend during the period in which religious images were often used in popular songs.[3] Author Hank Bordowitz describes the song as a "pop-grass on-the-road-again song."[2] Bordowitz particularly praises the banjo playing of Eric Weissberg.[2]

Reception

Billboard regarded "Travelin' Prayer" as Joel's "best single effort yet," praising the banjo arrangement and the contrast between the prayer-like lyrics and the fast tempo of the song.[4]

Cover versions

"Travelin' Prayer" was covered by Earl Scruggs Revue in 1973 on the album Rockin' Cross the Country.[5] Billboard Magazine rated it as one of the "best cuts" on the album.[6] It later earned Dolly Parton a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, when she covered it in 1999 on the album The Grass Is Blue.[7][8] CMJ noted the song as a "recommended track."[9]

Parton has stated that she "always loved Billy Joel's 'Travelin' Prayer', which [she] thought lent itself to pure bluegrass."[10] The CMJ New Music Report confirmed that Parton's arrangement transforms the song into a "legitimate bluegrass tune."[9] AllMusic critic Philip Van Vleck agrees that it works as a bluegrass song.[11] Author Ken Bielen notes that "Parton recognizes the roots music element" of the song.[3] Bielen notes that Parton's version begins with a slow violin introduction that lasts almost a minute, but the rest of the song goes at "pedal to the metal" speed.[3] In addition to the violin, Parton's backing instruments include banjo, dobro, mandolin, guitar and bass guitar.[3]

Holly Dunn covered the song in her Across the Rio Grande album in 1988 though the song was not released.

Chart positions
Chart (1974) Peak
position
Canadian Singles Chart[12] 61
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[13] 77
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[14] 34
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References
  1. "Song of the Day: 'Travelin' Prayer,' Billy Joel". The Star-Ledger. November 7, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  2. Bordowitz, H. (2006). Billy Joel: The Life & Times of an Angry Young Man. Random House. pp. 74–75, 238. ISBN 9780823082483.
  3. Bielen, K. (2011). The Words and Music of Billy Joel. ABC-CLIO. pp. 27, 130. ISBN 9780313380167.
  4. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. August 3, 1974. p. 54. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  5. "Rockin' Cross the Country". AllMusic. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  6. "Billboard's Top Album Picks". Billboard. June 1, 1974. p. 48. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  7. Graff, G. (February 13, 2001). "Dolly Parton Makes Big Splash With Little Sparrow". ABC News. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  8. "Dolly Parton awards". IMDb. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  9. "Dolly Parton: The Grass is Blue". CMJ New Music Report. November 1, 1999. p. 28. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  10. Bessman, J. (September 25, 1999). "Parton Sings Bluegrass for the Fans". Billboard. p. 34. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  11. Van Vleck, P. "The Grass is Blue". AllMusic. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  12. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  13. "Billy Joel – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  14. "Billy Joel – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
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