Learning to Pray with Coldplay?

A Sky Full of Prayers?

Radio stations worldwide have been full of a surprising new anthem this past week, with Coldplay’s ‘We Pray’ turning heads not just for its catchy melody, but for its unexpectedly spiritual theme.

With chart-topping hits that wrestle with love and loss, to albums that sound like soundtracks for a cosmic journey, Coldplay have never shied away from an underlying current of existential searching. Indeed, some described Coldplay's last album as their most religious, with psalm-like lyrics such as 'Holy, holy, God defend; shield me, show me; when I need a friend' (When I need a Friend) and 'Oh the Lord will shine a light' (BrokEn).

But now, with ‘We Pray,’ have the global superstars given us their most overtly spiritual single yet? And, more importantly, if so, what might that tell us about our cultural moment?

Take a listen...

Fall, Redemption, Restoration?

But is this track a call to 'a higher power', a plea for help, or just a moment of late-modern introspection?

Having debuted the song at Glastonbury in June, Chris Martin sings alongside a troop of collaborators, Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna, and TINI. Each offer their own verses capturing some of the desperate realities of life for which they pray. Borrowing straight from the Bible, these describe fallen 2024 life in 'the valley of the shadow of death':

'Pray Virgilio wins' refers to the case of Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, a teen migrant from Guatemala who was seemingly unlawfully accused of the death of a Florida police officer. 'We'll be singin' "Baraye"' references the song "Baraye", which became an anthem in Iran after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year old Iranian woman, died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. Coldplay are to be commended for their willingness to publicly lament for all that is broken in our world - something the church has not always done so well (unsubtle plug for this Lent devotional)!

But then the repeated response of the chorus is unavoidable:

"And so we pray / for someone to come and show me the way;
And so we pray / for some shelter and some records to play;
And so we pray / we'll be singing "Baraye" / Pray that we make it to the end of the day
And so we pray / I know somewhere that Heaven is waitin'
And so we pray / I know somewhere there's something amazin'
And so we pray / I know somewhere we'll feel no pain
Until we make it to the end of the day"

Is this not some spiritual yearning for what Christians would call 'Redemption' (even Incarnation!) and 'Restoration'? For all their emphasis on loving one another as fellow human beings, Martin & friends don't seem to simply be wishing, hoping, longing for a humanist solution. 'And so we pray...' articulates something more substantial. It first cries out to the heavens for 'someone to come and show me the way', before then resting in the hope that 'I know somewhere that Heaven is waiting... I know somewhere there's something amazing... I know somewhere we'll feel no pain.'

In a world often caught up in individualistic self-defining narratives, is this not an appeal for a bigger and better story?

How to Pray

In a time when the ‘thoughts and prayers’ mantra has become a cultural cliché, often now avoided by some, could Coldplay be reclaiming the power of prayer?

You might recall how Google searches for 'how to pray' spiked during the first few months of lockdown. As Madeleine Davies reported in the New Statesman last week, it does feel like we're operating in a very different spiritual landscape to, say, a decade ago.

Fascinatingly, a few days ago the band uploaded a 'Blank Verse Version' to YouTube, suitable for listeners (and fellow pray-ers?) to add their own verse/prayer:

And who said liturgy is dead?!

Spontaneity is often celebrated, but there's clearly something powerful about joining in with someone else's words. Maybe Coldplay have stumbled upon a perfect combination, modelling crafting your own prayer alongside joining in with a corporate refrain?

So, what would your verse be?

The Scientist with a Head Full of Dreams?

If you're looking for something to do before the release of the full album, Moon Music (on October 4), then have a go at trying to track lead singer Chris Martin’s spiritual journey through Coldplay's back catalogue. In many ways his life seems to be a personal search for healing and meaning, amidst both a background of religion and the clamours of success and celebrity.

It's been frequently reported that Martin grew up with Christian parents, but in media interviews he has tended to articulate something akin to a generic belief in 'the divine' being found in all things. As far back as 2008, Martin described himself to Independent.ie as an 'alltheist', a clever term that the award-winning songwriter apparently coined himself. He's also commented to The Times that, "I think God is love. And God is the magic in every molecule, even in people you don't like." Martin even has 'God is Love' tattooed on his arm (apparently a creative adaptation of the 'G' tattoo, originally for his ex-wife Gwyneth!):

More recently, in a radio interview in 2021, Martin put it like this:

“My God, for me is all things and all. God is everywhere and everyone and it's also the unknowable, the vast majesty behind everything. And it's just the point where you get to the place where you can't think any further, that's where I think God is.'

Wrapping his answer up, he remarked, "I don’t think that God is a man in the sky with a grey beard.”

Who is Missing?

This might seem like a clumsy caricature of Christianity to some, yet it resonates with many in the West who are grappling with faith while questioning whether modern substitutes have truly fulfilled their deepest longings.

But perhaps the real question is: to whom are we praying? For Christians, it's a loving Father in heaven—infinitely personal and approachable through Jesus. While the term "Father" can be misunderstood, especially in a world where fatherhood is often flawed, the Christian belief transcends these imperfections, offering a relationship where prayer becomes more than just ritual; it’s a conversation with the Creator, a source of comfort, and a pathway to peace.

And although 'We Pray' doesn't go as far as referencing the 'F-word', it does hint of a unmerited relationship: 'Keep a smilin' face only by His grace'. In a culture seemingly just learning to reframe its relationship with its spiritual heritage and yet often consumed by the superficial, the track cuts through the noise with a call to something deeper—an invitation to connect with a divine presence that is not only near but profoundly personal.

Yet, this longing finds its most radical answer in the Christian gospel, where the divine doesn’t just sit outside our earthly frame - and is certainly not abstract or generic. The Word made flesh steps into our broken world, offering not just individual comfort but lasting transformation. In a world teetering on the edge, perhaps what we truly need is not just to pray, but to recognise the One who hears.

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