"Livin' on a Prayer" is a song by the American rock band Bon Jovi, and is the band's second chart-topping single from their third album Slippery When Wet. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child, the single, released in late 1986.
The first version of this song, which can be discovered as a hidden track on 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong, did not sit well with Jon Bon Jovi. Lead guitarist Richie Sambora, on the other hand, persuaded him that the song was decent, and they rewrote it to include it on Slippery When Wet, adding a new bassline, various drum fills, and the usage of a talk box.
The song spent two weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, from January 31 to February 14, 1987, and four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, from February 14 to March 14. It also hit number four on the UK Singles Chart.
Lyrics
Once upon a time not so long ago
Tommy used to work on the docks
Union's been on strike
He's down on his luck
It's tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man
She brings home her pay
For love, for love
She says, "We've gotta hold on to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love we'll give it a shot."
Whoa, we're half-way there
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it. I swear
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
Tommy's got his six string in hock
Now he's holding in
What he used to make it talk
So tough, it's tough
Gina dreams of running away
When she cries in the night
Tommy whispers
"Baby, it's okay, someday
We've gotta hold on to what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love we'll give it a shot
Whoa, we're half-way there
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it. I swear
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
Livin' on a prayer
We've gotta hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got
Whoa, we're half-way there
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
Whoa, we're half-way there
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear
Whoa, livin' on a prayer
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