Prayer for the Dying

"Prayer for the Dying"
Single by Seal
from the album Seal
B-side	"Dreaming in Metaphors" (piano version)
Released	9 May 1994 (1994-05-09)
Genre	Soul [1] funk [1]
Length	5:30 (album version) 4:16 (single version)
Label	ZTT
Songwriters	Seal Isidore
Producer	Trevor Horn
Seal singles chronology
"Love Is Powerful" (1993) "Prayer for the Dying" (1994) "Kiss from a Rose" (1994)
"I'm Alive" (1995) "Don't Cry" / "Prayer for the Dying" (1995) "Fly Like an Eagle" (1997)

UK CD1 and Australian CD single [9] "Prayer for the Dying" – 4:16 "Dreaming in Metaphors" (piano version) – 5:02 "Prayer for the Dying" (instrumental) – 4:15 "Crazy" (acoustic version) – 3:31 UK CD2 [10] "Prayer for the Dying" – 4:15 "Prayer for the Dying" (Eren/Ollie mix) – 4:57 "Prayer for the Dying" (Psalm dub) – 6:37

UK 7-inch and cassette single [11] [12] US CD and cassette single [13] [14] "Prayer for the Dying" – 4:15 (4:16 on UK 7-inch) "Dreaming in Metaphors" (piano version) – 5:02 US 7-inch single [15] A. "Prayer for the Dying" (album version) – 5:28 B. "Prayer for the Dying" (Divine Spirit mix) – 4:34

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1994–1995) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [16] 56 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [17] 33 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [18] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) [19] 24 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [20] 35 Europe (European AC Radio) [21] 8 Germany (GfK) [22] 62 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) [23] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [24] 40 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [25] 13 Scotland (OCC) [26] 17 Scotland (OCC) [27] Double A-side with "Don't Cry" 54 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [28] 49 UK Singles (OCC) [29] 14 UK Singles (OCC) [30] Double A-side with "Don't Cry" 51 UK Airplay ( Music Week ) [31] 6 US Billboard Hot 100 [32] 21 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [33] 16 US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [34] 3 US Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [35] 11

Year-end charts Chart (1994) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM) [36] 25 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) [37] 49 UK Singles (OCC) [38] 176 US Billboard Hot 100 [39] 83 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) [40] 24 US Cash Box Top 100 [41] 40

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	9 May 1994	7-inch vinyl CD cassette	ZTT	[42]
Australia	30 May 1994	CD cassette		[43]

References

1. Sinclair, David (7 May 1994). "Pop Singles; Recordings". The Times .
2. Flick, Larry (4 June 1994). "Single Reviews: Pop" (PDF). Billboard . p. 85. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
3. Newman, Melinda (28 May 1994). "The Beat: Seal Delivers On Fab Sophomore Set; Recording Added To School Curriculum" (PDF). Billboard . p. 11. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
4. Augusto, Troy J. (11 June 1994). "Pop Singles — Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box . Retrieved 28 February 2022.
5. Masterton, James (15 May 1994). "Week Ending May 21st 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
6. Sutherland, Mark (28 May 1994). "Long Play". NME . p. 33. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
7. Gittins, Ian (4 June 1994). "Albums". Melody Maker . p. 34. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
8. Jones, Alan (7 May 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles – Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
9. Prayer for the Dying (UK CD1 & Australian CD single disc notes). ZTT Records. 1994. ZANG 51CD, 4509-96442-2.
10. Prayer for the Dying (UK CD2 disc notes). ZTT Records. 1994. ZANG 51CD2, 4509-96613-2.
11. Prayer for the Dying (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). ZTT Records. 1994. ZANG 51, 4509-96400-7.
12. Prayer for the Dying (UK cassette single cassette notes). ZTT Records. 1994. ZANG 51C, 4509-96400-4.
13. Prayer for the Dying (US CD single disc notes). Sire Records. 1994. 9 18138-2.
14. Prayer for the Dying (US cassette single cassette notes). Sire Records. 1994. 9 18138-4.
15. Prayer for the Dying (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). ZTT Records. 1994. 7-18138.
16. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 31 Jul 1994". ARIA . Retrieved 8 March 2016.
17. "Seal – Prayer for the Dying" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
18. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2592." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
19. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2565." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
20. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 23. 4 June 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
21. "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 11, no. 29. 16 July 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
22. "Seal – Prayer for the Dying" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
23. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 14 July 1994. p. 16. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
24. "Seal – Prayer for the Dying" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
25. "Seal – Prayer for the Dying". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
26. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
27. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
28. "Seal – Prayer for the Dying". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
30. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
31. "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week . 18 June 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
32. "Seal Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
33. "Seal Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
34. "Seal Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
35. "Seal Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
36. "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994". RPM . Retrieved 8 August 2019– via Library and Archives Canada.
37. "Árslistinn 1994". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1995. p. 25. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
38. "1994 – Singles". Hit Music . 7 January 1995. p. 31.
39. "Billboard Top 100 – 1994" . Retrieved 27 August 2010.
40. "The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard . Vol. 106, no. 52. 24 December 1994. p. YE-62. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
41. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1994". Cash Box . Archived from the original on 10 October 2012.
42. "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week . 7 May 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
43. "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 30/05/94: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 224. 29 May 1994. p. 21.