Riley Clemmons – Broken Prayers

Christian pop and CCM artist Riley Clemmons is a more recent artist, beginning her career in 2015.  She released her self-titled album in 2018 and three EP’s in 2019: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas / Silent Night, Fighting For Me, and The First Christmas.  She is best known for her breakout hits Better For It, Fighting For Me, and Broken Prayers.  She received a Dove nomination in 2019 for New Artist of the Year.

I also reviewed Better For It.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Riley-clemmons-broken-prayers-lyrics.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Clemmons’ prayer life stunk. She was taught to pray using a filter, carefully removing all the hurt, the anger, and the sadness that she felt. Her prayers were sanitized to hide her true self and express herself only in a positive light.

It finally dawned on her that God doesn’t want this type of prayer.  He wants the real “her”, scars and all.  He wants to hear genuine worship and praise, but He also wants to hear her anger, sadness, depression, worries, and fears.  He wants to meet us where we are, not where we want to be.  It doesn’t have to be pretty.  It doesn’t have to be eloquent.  It doesn’t even have to be coherent.  But, it must be honest.  It must come from the heart.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All of it is consistent with Scripture, specifically, the entire book of Psalms.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-8: This way in which Clemmons was taught to pray is to hold back her feelings rather than come before Him with open honesty.

[Pre-Chorus 1]

Lines 1 and 2: Clemmons questions the way in which she prays, contemplating realism in her prayer life.  Perhaps she got her ideas from reading the Psalms?

[Chorus 1]

Lines 1-8: The Psalms teach us that open honesty with God is the correct way to pray.  No holding back.  God will not despise a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17).  Jesus wants us to cast all our anxieties onto Him (Matthew 11:28-30).  Here are a few examples, though certainly not an exhaustive list:

• Brokenness before God (Psalm 6:6-7)
• Anger with God (Psalm 13:1-6)
• Unreasonable requests to God (Psalm 137:9)
• Joyfully praising God (Psalm 150:1-6)

A more exhaustive list can be found on the Desiring God site.

Line 9: Repeats line 8.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: Expresses more of the same message in Chorus.

[Pre-Chorus 2]

Lines 1 and 2: More words to express the same theme as Chorus.

[Bridge]

Lines 1-4: Yet more of Chorus in different words.

[Chorus 2]

Lines 1-11: Repeats Chorus 1, lines 1-8.

[Outro]

Line 1: Essentially repeats Chorus, line 8.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers should have little issue comprehending Clemmons’ basic message, with some breathing a sigh of relief.  Her language is clear, using common, everyday words to express herself.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God through honest expression that God wants from us.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Riley Clemmons’ Broken Prayers is a great song. She sings about something that many have not understood, namely, that when we pray to God, we come before Him as we are. We don’t cleanse it. We don’t make excuses. We pray honestly like the Psalmists did, bringing glory to God. That is the core of her message, comprehensible by Christians and non-Christians alike.

It is an inspirational song, but does not communicate congregational worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Broken Prayers (listen to the song)

Artist: Riley Clemmons

Album: Riley Clemmons

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 3:13

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Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.