Toad The Wet Sprocket — Pray Your Gods
Album: FearAvg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 1372
Length: 4:50
Plays (last 30 days): 0
share
tweet
I will give the secrets you request
And you will be the one to sacrifice
So lay your olive arms upon my breast
Sing the poems, free the butterflies
Pray your gods who ask you for your blood
For they are strong and angry jealous ones
Or lay upon my altar now your love
I fear my time is short
There are armies moving close
Be quick, my love
I feel my body weakened by the years
As people turn to gods of cruel design
Is it that they fear the pain of death?
Or could it be they fear the joy of life?
Pray your gods who hold you by your fear
For they are quick and ruthless punishers
Or lay upon my altar now your love
I fear my day is done
There are armies moving on
Be quick, my love
Dona nobis pacem
And you will be the one to sacrifice
So lay your olive arms upon my breast
Sing the poems, free the butterflies
Pray your gods who ask you for your blood
For they are strong and angry jealous ones
Or lay upon my altar now your love
I fear my time is short
There are armies moving close
Be quick, my love
I feel my body weakened by the years
As people turn to gods of cruel design
Is it that they fear the pain of death?
Or could it be they fear the joy of life?
Pray your gods who hold you by your fear
For they are quick and ruthless punishers
Or lay upon my altar now your love
I fear my day is done
There are armies moving on
Be quick, my love
Dona nobis pacem
Comments (138)add comment
Prayer is good when combined with action.
Thanks Bill. Most apropos for the recent events.
"Rick Stardust, lead electric triangle player with Toad The Wet Sprocket, has had to have an elbow removed following their recent worldwide successful tour of Finland."
An amazing band with so many great songs, seen them twice. How good would a show be with Snow Patrol, such similar brilliance;-)
Looks a lot like that Massive Attack album cover....which also looks a lot like the cover to Scott Hardkiss' Acid Funk....just saying...an album cover connection..
Sounds like he sings "truthless punishers", not "ruthless punishers"
"Truthless" is a much more damning, haunting phrase.
"Truthless" is a much more damning, haunting phrase.
Nice song!, Lyrics are very evocative in reflection of all the wars men fight on behalf of their gods...today. Shabbat Shalom!
Great song, from a great album, from an extraordinary band!
Brilliant...soothing and haunting. Excellent. Respect the Toad.
Oh yeah, and if you've ever heard (or sang in) a 4-part choral arrangement of "Dona Nobis Pachem" in round, a capella, then that just sends this track into the stratosphere of "Respect".
Nearly everything off of Fear is a fantastic track....landed this gem on a PSD, and can't believe I haven't heard it hear on RP before.
More Toad!
More Toad!
malvey254 wrote:
Butterflies is a fantastic track.
If RP starts playing "Butterflies" from this album, I'll donate $50.
That's not a threat, that's a promise.
That's not a threat, that's a promise.
Butterflies is a fantastic track.
bindi wrote:
we are of like minds my friend. . .a rare talent indeed.
You know .. I'm gonna put this out there and you can call me crazy, but if you ever listen to the song "Brandy" by the group Looking
Glass, you will hear exactly that rare voice. Exactly.
we are of like minds my friend. . .a rare talent indeed.
You know .. I'm gonna put this out there and you can call me crazy, but if you ever listen to the song "Brandy" by the group Looking
Glass, you will hear exactly that rare voice. Exactly.
malvey254 wrote:
That's payola, isn't it? Bill?
If RP starts playing "Butterflies" from this album, I'll donate $50.
That's not a threat, that's a promise.
That's not a threat, that's a promise.
That's payola, isn't it? Bill?
If RP starts playing "Butterflies" from this album, I'll donate $50.
That's not a threat, that's a promise.
That's not a threat, that's a promise.
Heard the name but not the music before. Not bad, worth further investigation.
I feel my body weakened by the years
As people turn to gods of cruel design
Is it that they fear the pain of death
Or could it be they fear the joy of life?
Pray your gods who hold you by your fear
For they are quick and ruthless punishers
Or lay upon my altar now your love
I fear my day is done — there're armies moving on — be quick, my love
As people turn to gods of cruel design
Is it that they fear the pain of death
Or could it be they fear the joy of life?
Pray your gods who hold you by your fear
For they are quick and ruthless punishers
Or lay upon my altar now your love
I fear my day is done — there're armies moving on — be quick, my love
yes it is quite nice ziakut wrote:
Underrated song...compelling and spiritual. Excellent.
sirdroseph wrote:
we are of like minds my friend. . .a rare talent indeed.
Not one of my fav Toad songs, but Glenn Phillips could sing anything and I am hooked, just one of my personal favorite vocalists of any genre!
we are of like minds my friend. . .a rare talent indeed.
Bill must have been touched by an angel recently, 'cause he's playing a boatload of sappy religious crap...like this song. Ugh.
natural_tools wrote:
Bill can you make this happens...every time I hear this roll around I think it is Pink....
For anyone who cares, you can flow almost seamlessly from Pink Floyd's Goodbye Blue Sky into this song.
Bill can you make this happens...every time I hear this roll around I think it is Pink....
Underrated song...compelling and spiritual. Excellent.
Not one of my fav Toad songs, but Glenn Phillips could sing anything and I am hooked, just one of my personal favorite vocalists of any genre!
lysisphere wrote:
The depth of your library never fails to wow me RP!
The depth of your library never fails to wow me RP!
Fast Eddie and I saw Toad last year at The Birchmere—original band! They were good, but Philips was remote, almost disengaged. Saw Philips with his new band, W.P.A., last week at Wolftrap and it was like a different guy: strange stony patter, needling bandmates (Sean Watkins and Luke Bulla—awesome 3-part harmonies) on stage—and not once did he stop smiling.
Wow, its been a while since I heard this one. My twin sister and I used to play this song at coffee shops back in the day.
The depth of your library never fails to wow me RP!
The depth of your library never fails to wow me RP!
Take this one along with a good glass of wine out on the patio late at night, turn it up, look at the stars, and you know:
Life is good! ( - if not for anything else, then just for the music...)
One of my "take on a lonesome island" CDs in category "pop music"
( "hey, we told you you could only take 5 CDs with you" -
"oh, i thought that was per category!" -
"well, no... but that explains the wardrobe trunk"... )
Life is good! ( - if not for anything else, then just for the music...)
One of my "take on a lonesome island" CDs in category "pop music"
( "hey, we told you you could only take 5 CDs with you" -
"oh, i thought that was per category!" -
"well, no... but that explains the wardrobe trunk"... )
Toad The Wet Sprocket - Pray Your Gods
Midge Ure - Dear God
The worst two loads of dross I've heard RP play. Come on something ballsy like Jimi Hendrix to salvage the situation...
Midge Ure - Dear God
The worst two loads of dross I've heard RP play. Come on something ballsy like Jimi Hendrix to salvage the situation...
no words...
Don't know where I was when these guys were together, but in the last year or two they've gotten to be one of my favorite bands.
This set is simply retro-awesome. i just re-postponed the postponed meeting cuz i can't take RP with me if i step out the door.
Love me some Toad.
A Gregorian chant perhaps next?
I'll have to investigate this CD
renegade_X wrote:
D A G?
Great album and AWESOME song! This one is a bit odd to play on the guitar BTW.
D A G?
Great album and AWESOME song! This one is a bit odd to play on the guitar BTW.
Nice flowing set....
| 12:09 pm | Toad The Wet Sprocket Pray Your Gods | ||
| 12:03 pm | Pearl Jam Black | ||
| 11:47 am | Beatles You Never Give Me/The End | ||
Lot of emotion 1991. . .
Great song. I just don't hear it much anymore.
Astonishing. Eased from an "8" to an easy "9" during the latin bit at the end.
Goosebumps big-styley...
CCinSB wrote:
Love me some Toad.
Go Toad, go.
Toad The Wet Sprocket - Pray Your Gods
Midge Ure - Dear God
Bad memories of Red State Christian Radio options
For anyone who cares, you can flow almost seamlessly from Pink Floyd's Goodbye Blue Sky into this song.
Love me some Toad.
Always loved Toad the Wet Sprocket, and glad to hear a slower song that is not like the others.
MartiniSlacker wrote:
And there's that Sarah McLachlan ripoff of Van Halen's "Ice Cream Man".....
Her song sounds nothing like "Ice Cream man", which is not a Van Halen original btw. That one dates from the 1920s (I think) by John Brim.
djblitz wrote:
Hhhhmm I don't know if the 10 streak will continue, but I'm digging this after hearing it for the first time.
Um the Burl Ives comment made me laugh, but the 10 streak has gone. Which isn't a bad thing really. Every hill needs a valley.
Stunningly beautiful.
Hhhhmm I don't know if the 10 streak will continue, but I'm digging this after hearing it for the first time.
This dude songs like Burl Ives. Not a good thing.
One of the best sets Bill has put together in months.
i love toad the wet sprocket! thanks for keeping them in your rotation.
Platypus wrote:
their newer music (post-AJFA) is so friggin awful, that i can't even listen to their good older stuff anymore. and yeah, the napster thing was pretty ludicrous, and turned me against them as well. millionaire rock-stars too full of themselves to even smell their own rot.
that being said, it's far more than just the riff / arpeggio (which is a dead-ringer for FTB, anyway)... it's the entire sound, production, pacing, tone, etc that the Toad rips off here. at least that is the best part of the song, though. it's all downhill after their "Fade To Black" intro.
I was in fact convinced that Bill had drunk the Metallica Kool-Aid and was playing FTB. Which is a kick ass tune. They were outstanding back in the day.
Always more TOAD!!!!!!
Always loved this one!
This song will always remind me of my RP friend ColdBear... 
Never got into this band but I like this.
ok... but no more coldplay. Please.
What about the twelfth one? There's twelve- ask Shoenberg- they're not "eleven tone rows". Or your piano tuner. Or take a look at a guitar.
psycholynx wrote:
I've said it once and I'll say it again. There are only 11 notes, one right-after the other for every octive. No one can possible write anything that doesn't sound like something else.....especially since the Beatles and Bob Dillon have already written everything anyways.
Boosiewolf wrote:
The little aria-like descants with the female vocalists at the end of this song really MAKES the song!!! :headphones:
Yup, that and the great band name. I wonder if "toad" is a noun or a verb in this context? :o)
The little aria-like descants with the female vocalists at the end of this song really MAKES the song!!! 
Ya, Toad were the shit back in the day...Shame they aren't really doing it anymore but great to see RP has the wisdom to play some of their songs. This is a really good album and of course produced their one big hit with Walk on the Ocean. All I Want got some airplay, too, and was quite the basic pop ditty I have to say. But it's so easy to dig deeper into albums like this and find extremely good songs like Pray Your Gods. Something to Say is probably my favorite cut, I Will Not Take These Things for Granted is also wonderful.
I see there are a good number of Toad tracks in the library. Some key oldies are missing though that I'll have to upload and see if they don't get REJECTED! 
And once again instead of just commenting on a song I've gone and done a synopsis of both the album and the history of the band. Oops 
And once again instead of just commenting on a song I've gone and done a synopsis of both the album and the history of the band. Oops Beautiful song...great band to see live if you get the chance.
Wow. Wish I would have heard TTWS songs like this before now. This is fantastic, but I never would have known listening to the radio. I had pretty much written them off as another trite pop band. Another lesson learned.
If you write music that uses notes and a beat of some sort and some words or not, you most likely ripped someone off somewhere down the line.
I will give the secrets you request
And you will be the one to sacrifice
So lay your olive arms upon my breast
And sing the poems, free the butterflies
Pray your gods who ask you for your blood
For they are strong and angry jealous ones
Or lay upon my altar now your love
I fear my time is short
There are armies moving close
Be quick, my love
I feel my body weakened by the years
As people turn to gods of cruel design
Is it that they fear the pain of death
Or could it be they fear the joy of life
Pray your gods who hold you by your fear
For they are quick and ruthless punishers
Or lay upon my altar now your love
I fear my day is done
There are armies moving on
Be quick, my love
And there's that Sarah McLachlan ripoff of Van Halen's "Ice Cream Man".....
Having read the "Metallica" comments about this fine introspecive song, I say congrats to both bands.
Both tunes are quite good, and they are original. "Fade To Black" and "Pray Your Gods" are not the same song.
Accept my discipline! 
But I want to know what Platypus thinks of this song?
Platypus wrote:
AMEN to that.
sounds like they just sampled the acoustic into from "Fade To Black" and sing over top of it.
scrap this wet toad bunk already.
I was about to comment on the FTB comparison. But then again, the progression is used in a lot of songs. Metallica pretty much ripped off themselves with the intro to One.
And Blink 182 ripped off Metallica by playing the intro to One faster and renaming it Adam's Song. So the beat goes on, I guess.
A little Pink Floyd-esque, but in a good way.
radiojunkie wrote:
Bob Dillon! Is he any relation to Marshall Dillon? (Wonder if Miss Kitty is layin' across his big brass bed?)
...now that's funny!
S.
psycholynx wrote:
It's funny standing up for Metallica when they go against Napster and then have song stealing in their past.
i'm certainly not "standing up for Metallica" here. their newer music (post-AJFA) is so friggin awful, that i can't even listen to their good older stuff anymore. and yeah, the napster thing was pretty ludicrous, and turned me against them as well. millionaire rock-stars too full of themselves to even smell their own rot.
that being said, it's far more than just the riff / arpeggio (which is a dead-ringer for FTB, anyway)... it's the entire sound, production, pacing, tone, etc that the Toad rips off here. at least that is the best part of the song, though. it's all downhill after their "Fade To Black" intro.
psycholynx wrote:
.....especially since the Beatles and Bob Dillon have already written everything anyways.
Bob Dillon! Is he any relation to Marshall Dillon? (Wonder if Miss Kitty is layin' across his big brass bed?)
Platypus wrote:
AMEN to that.
sounds like they just sampled the acoustic into from "Fade To Black" and sing over top of it.
scrap this wet toad bunk already.
It's funny standing up for Metallica when they go against Napster and then have song stealing in their past.
(click here)
I've said it once and I'll say it again. There are only 11 notes, one right-after the other for every octive. No one can possible write anything that doesn't sound like something else.....especially since the Beatles and Bob Dillon have already written everything anyways.
masterhead wrote:
Now MsJudi.....This song has been played here on RP and regular radio for a while and also it is in the Best Taod album...hummmm 
What? There are people who don't listen to RP 24x7? I'm shocked. Shocked, I say!
Ho Hum 
Bring me to tears
DONA NOBIS PACEM !!!
odyleonard wrote:
I liked this song the first time around -- when it was Metallica's "fade to black."
AMEN to that.
sounds like they just sampled the acoustic into from "Fade To Black" and sing over top of it.
scrap this wet toad bunk already.
Bruceg wrote:
what does it mean?
Give Us Peace
AliGator wrote:
Dona Nobis Pacem.
what does it mean?
Great song. Toad never got enough recognition, such a quality band. I'm glad I got to see them live once.
Dona Nobis Pacem.
I love this song, one of the gems gone unnoticed from many of TTWS albums.
Well, unnoticed by everyone except RP. :)
MsJudi wrote:
Always loved Toad and have never heard this tune before. WOW, I loved it!
Now MsJudi.....This song has been played here on RP and regular radio for a while and also it is in the Best Taod album...hummmm
I think it's a wonderful song on a really tight album. And yeah, what's not to like about Glen Phillips?
MrKite wrote:
There's something about this song that makes it very special 
Yeah! I'm right behind you on that! This song is one that just takes me away.
There's something about this song that makes it very special :umbrella.gif:
Meh.
RichardPrins wrote:
:verysorry: Throw it back in the pond...
my sentiments exactly.
LOVE this song! LOVE this band!
:verysorry: Throw it back in the pond...
Great song! Some classic New York Toad memories:
1) MY friend Bruno from high school met the band at a hotel in NYC before a show. At the end of their meeting he handed them a note. Later that night at the showthey read his note which said "I will pay you a dollar if you let me sing a song." They called him up, he paid them a dollar, and he sang "Walk on the Ocean" with them. Every time we saw them after we all would yell "BRUNO BRUNO BRUNO" - they would always respond!!!!!!!!
2) Toad and Hootie and the blowfish are good friends. The Singer from Hootie came out and sang "Crowing" because they were taping David Letterman that night.
3) I met Glen the singer before a show at Hofstra on Long Island. When I mentioned that "Pray YOur Gods" was my favorite track, he said Toad never has played it Live.
Anyway, if you ever see the Band "Lap Dog" (members of Toad are in) or Glen Philips (singer now solo) live yell out BRUNO BRUNO BRUNO!!!!!!
Every year I'm reminded how much I liked and miss Toad. I spend the next few weeks having them on "heavy rotation" in my life. Now I have to go home and get all their c.d.s ready for the rest of August. Thanks, RP, and more Toad!
Always loved Toad and have never heard this tune before. WOW, I loved it!
Play more Toad....Play more Toad....Play more Toad
Not my favorite from this album, but Fear is probably their best album next to Pale.
Rod wrote:
Love these guys, local boys done good! Just saw Glen the other night at the Lobero Theatre. He's so fun to watch! Just pure joy on his face when he's singing.
Cool , love the songs , good writing, warm familiar sequences, quirky individuality and lots of reverb as well.
britrock wrote:
Wow - living in London for 3 pounds. Gone up a bit since then!!
Not at all BR. Lots of room for sleeping bags in Hyde Park, jump in the Serpetine for a quick bathe in the morning and then on to the soup kitchen. Life is GRAND! (Broadband access can be a hassle.........)
Love these guys, local boys done good! Just saw Glen the other night at the Lobero Theatre. He's so fun to watch! Just pure joy on his face when he's singing.
mr.selfdestruct wrote:
Bought this used CD when I was living in London in 1995 for 3 pounds. Great deal, and it brings me back to a life highlight.
Wow - living in London for 3 pounds. Gone up a bit since then!!
lovebuzz wrote:
Please play more Toad. :goodvibes: I miss Them too!
For those who miss Toad, I highly recommend Glen Phillips solo albums, and also check out Lapdog, fronted by Todd Nichols and also including Toad's drummer Randy Guss. Glen's solo work is more like the quiet and quirky side of Toad (though he did write some of the best rocking Toad tunes), while Todd/Lapdog carry on the more rocking sound. Either one without the other is no good, which is what made Toad so awesome.
Please play more Toad. :goodvibes.gif: I miss Them too!
I remember recording from my local independent station (WYEP) here in Pittsburgh when they had this frequent ovenight like 3am full album broadcast.... Good old tape....
Oh bet RIAA wouldn't like my recording them for free and playing it without commercial sponsorship infusions over and over....
Man, I miss these guys. And I missed the tour earlier this year. What a drag. "pray your gods will let us back on tour..."
Killer.
:meditate.gif:
I miss these guys.
Kerberos wrote:
Toad fits a person like a wooly pull over..
yeah. it's all itchy and irritating, and i want to take it off immediately. oh yeah, and it stinks when it gets wet.
DavidCarrico wrote:
Dudes are from my hometown, santa barbara...makes me feel important although i'm not :D
dude.............there is no doubt in my mind that you ARE important to someone!!!
this tune is worth listening to...........
PaulG wrote:
Never heard of this band i must confess.
The song's not too bad but what the hell is that name about! :-s
How drunk/stoned were they when they came up with that!?
Taken from a Monty Python skit.
Dudes are from my hometown, santa barbara...makes me feel important although i'm not :D
Never heard of this band i must confess.
The song's not too bad but what the hell is that name about! :-s
How drunk/stoned were they when they came up with that!?
Originally Posted by jpalembas:
FYI -- dona nobis pacem, chanted at the end, means "give us peace" in latin. adds even more meaning to this song when you know that!
Really? Did not know that. (pimp)
this is a great song. lots of interesting layers of stuff happening. even if it\'s been done before.
aMAZING SONG. Ahhh, memories :-)
An excellent chance to take my head phones off and give my ears a rest. :oops:
and I've met these guys. Trust me they didn't copy this from Lars and his boys.I liked this song the first time around -- when it was Metallica\'s \"fade to black.\"
Gosh golly good lord! I LOOOOOOVE this song, and had totally forgotten about it. You guys rock!