Unanswered Prayers

"Unanswered Prayers" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Garth Brooks which hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in 1991. It was released in October 1990 as the second single from his album No Fences and also appears on The Hits, The Limited Series, Double Live and The Ultimate Hits. It was written by Brooks, Pat Alger and Larry Bastian.

The song is one of Brooks' most popular recordings, and is one of the key tracks that helped his No Fences album stay on the top of the charts for many months (the album spent over 30 weeks at number 1 on Billboards Country Charts).

Content

A man runs into his high school sweetheart at a football game in their hometown. As he introduces her to his wife, he reminisces about that past relationship and how he had once prayed so fervently that this girl would be his significant other forever. Both he and the ex-girlfriend, by this point, no longer see each other in the same way, as "time had changed" both of them, and neither can remember their relationship well. As he turns to his wife, he thanks God for not answering his original prayer, showing better judgment, and instead putting him with a better woman, whom he sees as one of the blessings in his life. The chorus advises the listener that, if God is not answering his or her prayers, that "just because He doesn't answer doesn't mean He don't (sic) care," and that unanswered prayers are "some of God's greatest gifts."

Background and Production

According to Brooks, the song is based on a true story:

"Man, 'Unanswered Prayers' was a big part of my heart that went out on that record. A true life thing that happened to Sandy and myself. In October of '89, I saw my old high school flame. And I can say this now at the time I couldn't. For the first two years of my married life, I really thought the girl that was for me was still that girl that was in high school. And now man just the realization that what you have is the best for you, and the best you could ever do in your lifetime. It sure makes you sleep well at night."^[1]

Garth provided the following background information on the song in the CD booklet liner notes from The Hits:

"Pat Alger and I worked on this song quite a long time without a hook, without the line. We passed it by Larry Bastian and it was as if it was meant to be. Larry, his wife Myrna and I were taking a walk down 18th Avenue, and he looked at me and said, 'Oh, that's simple. This song should be called 'Unanswered Prayers' because some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.' This is probably the truest song I have ever been involved with as a writer. This actually happened to my wife and me when we went back home to Oklahoma. Every time I sing this song, it teaches me the same lesson... happiness isn't getting what you want, it is wanting what you've got."^[2]

Chart positions

Chart (1990–1991)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[3]	1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)^[4]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)	Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)^[5]	32
US Country Songs (Billboard)^[6]	9

Other versions

Pat Alger, a co-writer of the song, recorded his own version of "Unanswered Prayers" in 1994. It was included as the closing track on his album Seeds. Singer Joey Sontz recorded "Unanswered Prayers" for his debut album "Chasing The Dream" in 2012.

Adaptations

A television film based on the song starring Eric Close and Samantha Mathis was broadcast on Lifetime TV in 2010.^[7]

References

↑ Transcription from "The Garth Brooks Story" (1995)
↑ Garth Brooks - The Hits: transcription from the CD booklet (bar code 7-2438-29689-2-4)
↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1421." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. January 26, 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
↑ "Garth Brooks – Chart history" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Garth Brooks.
↑ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1991". RPM. December 21, 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
↑ "Best of 1991: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
↑ Garth Brooks song 'Unanswered Prayers' to become Lifetime movie

Preceded by "I've Come to Expect It from You" by George Strait	Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks number one single January 12-January 19, 1991	Succeeded by "Forever's as Far as I'll Go" by Alabama
	RPM Country Tracks number-one single January 26-February 2, 1991	Succeeded by "Rumor Has It" by Reba McEntire

Garth Brooks singles

Garth Brooks	"Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)" "If Tomorrow Never Comes" "Not Counting You" "The Dance"

No Fences	"Friends in Low Places" "Unanswered Prayers" "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" "The Thunder Rolls" "Wild Horses" (released in 2001)

Ropin' the Wind	"Rodeo" "Shameless" "What She's Doing Now" "Papa Loved Mama" "The River"

The Chase	"We Shall Be Free" "Somewhere Other Than the Night" "Learning to Live Again" "That Summer"

In Pieces	"Ain't Goin' Down ('Til the Sun Comes Up)" "American Honky-Tonk Bar Association" "Standing Outside the Fire" "One Night a Day" "Callin' Baton Rouge" "The Red Strokes"

Fresh Horses	"She's Every Woman" "The Fever" "The Beaches of Cheyenne" "The Change" "It's Midnight Cinderella" "That Ol' Wind"

Sevens	"Longneck Bottle" "She's Gonna Make It" "Two Piña Coladas" "You Move Me" "Do What You Gotta Do" (released in 2000)

The Limited Series	"To Make You Feel My Love"

Double Live	"It's Your Song"

Greatest Hits (as Chris Gaines)	"Lost in You" "It Don't Matter to the Sun" "That's the Way I Remember It"

Scarecrow	"When You Come Back to Me Again" (released in 2000) "Wrapped Up in You" "Squeeze Me In" (with Trisha Yearwood) "Thicker Than Blood" "Why Ain't I Running"

The Lost Sessions	"Good Ride Cowboy" "Love Will Always Win" (with Trisha Yearwood) "That Girl Is a Cowboy"

The Ultimate Hits	"More Than a Memory" "Workin' for a Livin'" (with Huey Lewis) "Midnight Sun"

Man Against Machine	"People Loving People" "Mom"

Gunslinger	"Baby, Let's Lay Down and Dance"

Guest singles	"Whatcha Gonna Do with a Cowboy (with Chris LeDoux; uncredited) "In Another's Eyes" (with Trisha Yearwood) "One Heart at a TIme" (charity single) "Burnin the Roadhouse Down" (with Steve Wariner) "Where Your Road Leads" (with Trisha Yearwood) "Katie Wants a Fast One" (with Steve Wariner) "Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)" (with George Jones)

Other songs	"Hard Luck Woman" "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy" "The Call" (with Trisha Yearwood)

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