As you probably realize, being out of the spotlight for so long can essentially end an artist’s career, so I was especially glad to see her releasing new music as no person should have to remain tied to their abuser.
She released “Praying” on July 6th and it is just so, so good. If you have not heard it yet, here it is just with lyrics so you focus on listening:
Breaking Down “Praying”
This song is incredibly powerful, especially when you know what she’s been dealing with, so I wanted to break down my favorite parts! I should probably preface this by saying I have no musical expertise and I also don’t really like Kesha’s music prior to this release. I’m not part of the Kesha fandom at all. Really the only song I can listen to is Tik Tok” when it’s set to this Doctor Who video because the video editing is so great:
The Lyrics
At first I felt it was a little overt, like No Strings Attached from N*SYNC, where you know they just went through a long legal battle with their producer and are finally…no strings attached. But as I listened longer and then again, the lyrics kept getting more deep and more powerful.
I especially love the lyric “I’m proud of who I am.”
Basically Kesha’s been dragged through the mud for a couple of years now simply for accusing a man of sexual misconduct and multiple forms of abuse. It’s a common story, which is why the majority of women don’t report rape or assault. Kesha’s been made to question her motives, her identity, her values, her truths, her self worth throughout this process even though she is the victim. It’s super fucked up. So, that she could state that lyric, and in the pure way that she does, really clarifies that she is on the other side of this. That you can come out the other side of it.
The other lyric that I love is “I’ll just say this is I wish you farewell” because it functions as a homonym in that she is bidding him goodbye, but also that she hopes he fares well. The whole song is about her being through it and on the other side of this, but hoping that he can mend his soul as he continues in life. That he will come out of it wiser, stronger, and with an altered soul. I mean, the chorus literally says “I hope your soul is changing.”
Speaking of the chorus, it is just so beautiful. In a Lenny letter, Kesha spoke to the song’s message overall, and I feel like the chorus’ lyrics highlight that message:
“The song is about coming to feel empathy for someone else even if they hurt you or scare you. It’s a song about learning to be proud of the person you are even during low moments when you feel alone. It’s also about hoping everyone, even someone who hurt you, can heal.”
The Music
This song is a total change from what we’re used to from Kesha. I wasn’t sure what’d she come back with, but I didn’t think it’d be this. This is like an Adele power ballad. I love how it uses church instruments like piano, organ, and choir to draw out the lyrics. The organ sounds a little synth-like and wobbly, like the audio on an old VHS tape, which I feel ties in her electronic sound from before. I just love how simple the music is, so that her voice can be the most powerful thing about the song.
That Battle Cry
As the song builds to its peak, Kesha belts out a new lyric set that is something I feel the song was actually built around.
Sometimes I pray for you at night
Some day maybe you’ll see the light
Some say in life you’re gonna get what you give
But some things only God can forgive.
That last line of this verse always makes me tear up, but then she releases that screaming high note and my heart literally swells up. The first time I listened to the song it felt so raw and animalistic. Truly like a battle cry. Both a “fuck you, this is what I can do” and a “I’m back. Hear me roar.” Maybe I’ve had Wonder Woman on the brain too much lately, but I can’t even handle how perfect this part of the song is.
It’s so deeply personal, that line about ‘some things only God can forgive,’ and I feel like it reaches right into the darkest parts of anyone who has experienced abuse or assault. Especially from a partner, from someone they trusted. Her primal scream directly following it becomes so empowering. It’s just this ultimate release of every dark emotion and mental state that she’s been through. It was so powerfully relateable and so cathartic, and I seriously can’t even write this without getting really emotional. It was like when you saw this scene the first time, and you had to figure out why it made you so emotional:
The Music Video
I first heard the song on Spotify, without any video element, so I didn’t want to introduce her video until the end. I’m not going to give any commentary on it, except that it feels a little too Burning Man for my taste, but it’s certainly interesting and it definitely fits both the song and Kesha.
And to save you the trouble, I looked up what pigs mean in your dream… and I can definitely see why she would make this choice looking at the accusations against her in the lawsuits.
To see a pig in your dream symbolizes gluttony, greediness, stubbornness, and dirtiness depending on the context. Dreams regarding pigs can relate to how you perceive pigs in your waking life, as well as how they interact with you within your dream. They may symbolize a particular life style or person that exhibit qualities of greed and selfishness.
A pig’s head or the face part in the dream symbolizes some form of call to action. Try to remember the context and actions that you have taken during the dream of a pigs head in focus. If the pig’s head is on a silver platter, it can suggest that the reward is within arms reach, you simply have to make the call and act upon the plan. If the pig’s head is full of blood and dismantled, it may suggest that your plans might get messy once you act upon them.
If the pig is attacking and chasing you within the dream, and you are running or hiding away from the aggressive boar. It is a sign that you need to focus on the sanitary conditions of your household and work. There are unclean parts of your life’s environment that may cause infectious diseases.
Slaughtering a pig in a dream is a positive sign that your hard work can pay off in the near future. However, it can also typically suggest some form of sacrifice, you may be willing to let go one or few of your projects to reap the rewards that they offer.
Drinking or touching pig blood in the dream suggest that you have to fight to claim what is rightfully yours.
If you or someone you know is suffering from depression or suicide, visit Suicide Prevention Life.
If you or someone you know is experiencing relationship abuse, get help at National Domestic Violence Hotline or 1-800-799-7233.
