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Burt Bacharach

 Here is my understanding of "Say a Little Prayer." A woman has "breathed through" her boyfriend's departure; he is off to Vietnam. Though the woman is ostensibly making her way through mundane weekday life, she is really, spiritually, in a jungle, guiding this one guy above and around and under the paths of various bullets:


The moment I wake up, before I put on my makeup--
I say a little prayer for you.

(It seems to me that Hal David had an impact on Sondheim: "The sun comes up, I think about you. The coffee cup, I think about you.")

Our heroine hoists herself out of bed:

While combing my hair now, and wondering what dress to wear now--
I say a little prayer for you.

And, inevitably, we make our way into the office:

At work, I just take time--and all through my coffee-break time--
I say a little prayer for you.

The yearning becomes overwhelming; the speaker forgets she is praying to God, and instead directs her pleas to the guy in Vietnam:

My darling, believe me--
For me, there is no one but you.
Please love me true. 
Answer my prayer....

Form matches content: When Aretha Franklin reaches the middle of the bridge, her voice seems to crack open. You can feel the "need"--even if you're not following the syllables that are spilling out of her mouth.

Thanks, Burt Bacharach!

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