Having conquered the charts with the track You Give Love a Bad Name, Bon Jovi continued his triumphal march to the top of the charts with the song Livin’ on a Prayer. The story of a working-class couple in love who never manages to find a place under the sun appealed to young Americans, because they faced the same problems of adulthood.
John, who knew firsthand about such difficulties, was able to perform the song as sincerely as possible, which was appreciated by the audience.
The history of creation and the meaning of the song Livin’ on a Prayer
The song was written by Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, as well as Mercury studio guest Desmond Child. The first fruit of their joint work was the aforementioned composition You Give Love a Bad Name. They wrote it in the basement of Richie’s parents’ house, on the outskirts of a working-class neighborhood, between a swamp and an oil refinery.
Inspired by the result, the guys decided to continue working together. But this time, Desmond insisted that John and Richie come to him in New York, where in the apartment of a friend of Childe they began to compose a song about Tommy and Gina. Let’s hear what the authors have to say about it.
Desmond Child:
I think that for each of us there was something autobiographical in it … For John with his relationship with Dorothy, because they had been in love since school. As for me, I dated the girl with whom I started my first band called Desmond Child & Rouge. Her name was Maria Vidal. I was at home writing songs and she was a waitress at a place called Once Upon a Stove. [«Однажды на плите»].
They are [Джон и Ричи] gave her [героине песни] the name Gene because it reminded them of Gene Lollobligide. So we started writing a song about Johnny and Gina, because my real name is Johnny. And John said, “I can’t sing about Johnny. Because that’s my name.” Then it went like this: “Okay… Then let it be Tommy. Tommy and Gina. At that moment, Tommy and Gina were born.
The Tennessee
Richie Sambora:
I think the most interesting thing about the song is that it was the first time we used characters. And she was quite sincere… All we knew at that time was constant traveling and women, so we sang mostly about that. Then we decided to take on social writing with Livin’ on a Prayer and introduced two characters, Tommy and Gina. In fact, they were some kind of working people who barely make ends meet in life, just like my parents.
At that time, John and I could have been like that. This could be anyone, but they have become the embodiment of almost any person in the world. Without exception, all couples go through hardships as they try to make ends meet, and it’s never easy. We have to overcome various difficulties. So it was a very inspirational song…
Fuse TV
Interestingly, Bon Jovi doubted the success of Livin’ on a Prayer and did not want to include the track on the Slippery When Wet album. But Richie convinced him to leave the song, although this had to make significant changes in the parties of different instruments.
Release and achievements
October 31, 1986 Livin’ on a Prayer was released as a single with Wild in the Streets on the back. The song topped several Billboard charts, including the Hot 100, and rose to the top of the charts in other countries.
Some listeners tried to interpret the words of the song in their own way. For example, many took it as an attack on unions organizing strikes. Once in an interview, John was directly asked if Tommy was a strikebreaker, to which the musician replied:
No. He just lost his job. It was not like he crossed the picket line. There was no industry left in the city, and he was unable to regain his job. It was a fictional character. Initially, a young couple who were expecting a child and abandoned everything that she had was generally conceived, but it all didn’t sound very good, so we changed the story.
The Guardian, 2009
Clip Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
The music video, directed by Wayne Isham, includes cards from Bon Jovi rehearsals and live performances. The video was filmed at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles.
Interesting Facts
- The characters of Livin’ on a Prayer are referenced in the track It’s My Life (2000).
- John performed a slow version of Livin’ on a Prayer at the 9/11 Tribute to Heroes telethon.
- Bon Jovi sang the song at the closing of the 2002 Olympics.
- In November 2013, the song reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to a viral video by Jeremy Fry, a flamboyant Boston Celtics fan.
Livin’ on a Prayer Lyrics Bon Jovi 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.”
We’re half way there
Livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand and we’ll make it – I wear
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.”
We’ve gotta hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it’s all that you’ve got
Livin’ on a Prayer Lyrics Bon Jovi Lyrics
Once upon a time not so long ago
Tommy used to work hard at the docks
And then the union went on strike
The guy is now very tight,
Extremely hard
Gina works at the diner all day
Working for her man
She brings home the paycheck
For love, for love
She says, “We have to hold on to what we have.
It doesn’t matter if we succeed or not.
The main thing is that we have each other.
Let’s try for our love”
We’re halfway there
We live by prayers
Take my hand and we’ll make it through I swear
We live by prayers
Tommy pawned the guitar
Now he keeps to himself
What are you used to talking about?
It’s hard, so hard
Gina dreams of leaving
When she cries at night
Tommy whispers:
“Baby, everything will be fine, someday…
We must hold on to what we have.
It doesn’t matter if we succeed or not.
The main thing is that we have each other.
Let’s try for our love”
We must stand firm whether we are ready or not
You live to fight when that’s all you have
