Cover art for Livin’ On A Prayer by The Hyper Girls

Livin’ On A Prayer

Producer

Aug. 8, 19861 viewer

Livin’ On A Prayer Lyrics

[Intro]
"Once upon a time
It isn’t so long ago..."

[Verse 1]
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
Workin' for her man
She brings home her pay for love
Ooh, for love

[Pre-Chorus]
She said we've got to 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!

[Chorus]
Start me up! We're halfway there
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Start me up! We'll make it I swear
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
[Verse 2]
Tommy threw his six-string in hock
Baby, he's holdin' in
When he used to make it talk so tough
Ooh, it’s tough
Gina keeps on runnin' away
For when she cries in the night
Tommy whispers, "Baby, it's okay…
Someday."

[Pre-Chorus]
We've got to 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!

[Chorus]
Start me up! We're halfway there
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Start me up! We'll make it I swear
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer

[Bridge]
If you start me up
Kick on the starter, give it all you've got
You've got, you've got
I can't compete
With the riders in the other heat
Yeah, yeah
I’ll make a grown man cry
I'll make a grown man give it a shot!
[Chorus]
Start me up! We're halfway there
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Start me up! We'll make it I swear
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Livin' on a prayer!

[Guitar Solo]

[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, we've got to hold on, ready or not
You live for the fight when that's all that you've got!

[Chorus]
Ohhh! We're halfway there
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, and we'll make it I swear
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer

Start me up!
(If you start me up, I’ll never stop)
I’ll never stop! (Livin’ on a prayer)
Take my hand, and we'll make it I swear
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer

Ohhh! We're halfway there
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, and we'll make it I swear
Ohhh, oh! Livin' on a prayer
(Fade out)

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About

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Genius Annotation

“Livin' on a Prayer” originally by Bon Jovi, is a song written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richard Sambora and Desmond Child (adapted by guitarist Mandy Collins, keyboardist Charlotte Spencer and professional songwriter Desmond Child) and performed by English rock band, The Hyper Girls. Considered as their signature song, the band’s famous hit was charted to the top of MTV in the late 1980s, releasing it as the second single from their third album Will Heilm’s Keep in 1986. This song is a mash-up combined with two songs Bon Jovi’s “Livin' on a Prayer” and The Rolling Stones' “Start Me Up” and it has a beginning of an instrumental of the verse of “May It Be” by Irish singer and composer Enya. It also serves as the end title song from Kevin Henkes' Lilly Part 2 during the credits.
In this music video, filmed on September 17, 1986, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and was directed by Wayne Isham. It all starts with a silhouette of the band walking down the hall and it features shots of the band rehearsing, filmed in black and white, then playing in front of a crowd, in color.

In the beginning of the video, Chloe has a harness attached by professional stunt coordinators and stunt spotters, and during the final chorus, she soars over the crowd via overhead wires attached to the harness.

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Credits
Producer
Release Date
August 8, 1986
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