Who Wrote Percy Sledge'S 'My Special Prayer'?

As a kid who grew up on my grandma’s soul records, 'My Special Prayer' was my lullaby. I’d beg her to play it on repeat while she’d chuckle and say, 'Child, Homer Banks wrote that for folks with miles on their hearts.' Didn’t understand it then, but now? Whew. Banks and Bettye Crutcher bottled lightning with this track. It’s wild how they made pleading sound so dignified—like kneeling in church but with a backbeat. Crutcher’s contribution hits different knowing she co-wrote Carla Thomas’ 'B-A-B-Y' too; the woman had range for days. Sometimes I’ll put on the 45 just to hear that analog crackle before Percy’s voice comes in, all husky and worn-in like a favorite leather jacket. Makes me wanna write love letters with a fountain pen or something equally dramatic.

Man, diving into the soulful depths of 'My Special Prayer' always gives me chills. Percy Sledge’s voice is like melted butter, but the genius behind the lyrics? That’d be the legendary songwriting duo Homer Banks and Bettye Crutcher. These two were pillars of Southern soul, crafting hits at Stax Records that just oozed raw emotion. I stumbled upon their work while digging through my dad’s old vinyl collection, and it blew my mind how many classics they penned—like 'Ain’t That a Lot of Love' for Sam & Dave. Banks’ smooth, gospel-infused style and Crutcher’s knack for heartache anthems made them unstoppable. Every time I hear that opening line, 'When the world is cold…,' I’m transported to some dimly lit juke joint where the air smells like whiskey and heartbreak.

Funny enough, I first misattributed the song to Dan Penn out of wishful thinking (his 'Dark End of the Street' is my kryptonite). But nope—Banks and Crutcher’s fingerprints are all over this one. The way they balance vulnerability and resilience in the lyrics? Chef’s kiss. Makes me wish modern R&B had more of that gritty, unpolished honesty. Also, side note: Bettye Crutcher doesn’t get nearly enough credit for shaping soul music’s golden era. She was writing bangers while dudes hogged the spotlight. Icon behavior.

Fun fact: I once spent a whole rainy weekend dissecting the structure of 'My Special Prayer' like it was Shakespeare. Homer Banks and Bettye Crutcher crafted this masterclass in economy—every word pulls double duty. That opening verse? 'When the world is cold / I will hold you’? Twelve words that say more than most entire albums. It’s criminal how underrated they are outside soul circles. Banks’ background as a singer (he cut '60s gem 'A Lot of Love') gave him an ear for melodies that sit just right in the pocket. And Crutcher? She stacked hits like firewood at Stax—Ruby Johnson’s 'I’ll Run Your Hurt Away' is another tearjerker she co-wrote. What kills me is how they made desperation sound holy. Modern songwriters could learn a thing or ten about saying more with less. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go dramatically stare out a window while this plays on loop.

Bettye Crutcher and Homer Banks—two names every soul fan should tattoo on their heart. Their lyrics for 'My Special Prayer' turn Percy Sledge’s voice into a wrecking ball of emotion. Fun rabbit hole: compare their original demo lyrics (archived in some Memphis studio vault, probably) to the final version. Rumor has it they trimmed it down to its raw essence overnight. That’s artistry.