Matt Maher showcased “The Lord’s Prayer” in an entirely new light when he recently put a melody behind the words of Jesus to create “The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours).” In its original form, “The Lord’s Prayer” is found in two places in the Bible: first in Matthew 6, as part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and again in Luke 11 as Luke recounts how Jesus taught the disciples to pray. During his pivotal three years of ministry on Earth, Jesus gave us the blueprint for prayer, ultimately encouraging us to surrender our greatest needs and deepest desires to God — “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.” Maher’s latest makeover of the passage, often recited and/or sung in churches around the globe each week, made us remember other musicians before him who dared to put their own spin on what was once simply a liturgical reading for many formal traditions of faith. A deep dive into the canon of Christian music revealed that countless artists from a variety of musical genres have recorded a version of what is now considered one of the greatest “hymns” of all time, written by Jesus Himself. The lyrics hit a nerve so universal that the song crosses lines between secular and sacred and belief and unbelief. Here are 10 artists who have set “The Lord’s Prayer” to music.
“The Lord’s Prayer” by Steve Green (1992)
Steve Green was one of the earliest Christian artists of the essential ’90s CCM era to record “The Lord’s Prayer.” Still, he kept his version very traditional with a group of believers reciting the prayer before and after he lent his signature vocals to the familiar refrain. While Green offered his take on “The Lord’s Prayer” as a solo act on 1992’s collection of hymns, “A Portrait of Christ,” throughout his musical tenure, he was also a member of well-respected groups like Truth, the Gaither Vocal Band and White Heart.
LISTEN NOW: "The Lord's Prayer" Steve Green Audio
“As It Is In Heaven” by Michael W. Smith (1995)
Like much of Michael W. Smith’s preliminary work, 1995’s “As It Is In Heaven” started with a solid bed of piano, drums and guitar before escalating into a full-fledged musical opus, complete with a chorus of tribal voices. Suddenly, what began as a brooding take on “The Lord’s Prayer” exploded into a celebratory invocation open to the world with Smith’s distinct vocal leading the way. His decidedly ’90s version of “The Lord’s Prayer” hails from one of the 45-time GMA Dove Award winner’s seminal albums, “I’ll Lead You Home.”
LISTEN NOW: "As It Is In Heaven" Michael W. Smith Audio
“Let Us Pray” by Steven Curtis Chapman (1996)
“Let Us Pray” was one of the many highlights from Steven Curtis Chapman’s landmark release, “Signs of Life.” Debuting in 1996, the No. 1 single focused on the significance of prayer and the opportunity we have to practice it “everywhere, in every way.” It was in the pop song’s final refrain, however, where the 50-time chart-topper creatively worked in his own twist on “The Lord’s Prayer” — a memorable staccato recitation of “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name…”
LISTEN NOW: "Let Us Pray" Steven Curtis Chapman Audio
“The Lord’s Prayer” by Shane & Shane (2009)
On 2009’s “Everything Is Different,” Shane & Shane served up a jubilant, guitar-driven version of “The Lord’s Prayer.” The duo combined their flawless harmonies for an upbeat, passionate rendition of the portion of the Sermon on the Mount tailor-made for a musical score. Shane Barnard and Shane Everett’s buoyant effort stands out as one of the lone iterations that doesn’t automatically turn the sacred song into a ballad, giving the many college students they minister to an easy way to memorize Scripture.
LISTEN NOW: "The Lord's Prayer" Shane & Shane Audio
“The Lord’s Prayer” by Andrea Bocelli (2009)
Andrea Bocelli’s classical version of “The Lord’s Prayer” is perhaps the way we’re most accustomed to hearing it performed, complete with a staunch organ and high church choir. The world-renowned vocalist’s stunning range feels ready-made for the masterful work of art, immediately transporting listeners to a centuries-old cathedral in his native Italy, where artists like Tauren Wells, TAYA and Michael W. Smith, among others, recently joined the operatic tenor for “The Journey,” a theatrical music special. Ironically, Bocelli originally recorded “The Lord’s Prayer” for his 2009 Christmas collection.
WATCH NOW: "The Lord's Prayer" Official Lyric Video
“Our Father” by Jenn Johnson (2012)
Jenn Johnson brought a glimpse of heaven to earth on “Our Father” from 2012’s “For The Sake of the World.” A melding of soft strings, guitars and drums gave way to the slightest of country nods as a distinct pedal steel snaked its way into the melody that morphed into an unforgettable moment of praise while Johnson repeatedly declared, “Yours is the Kingdom. Yours is the power. Yours is the glory forever.”
WATCH NOW: "Our Father" Live Performance Video
“The Lord’s Prayer” by Susan Boyle (2013)
Unassuming Scottish singer Susan Boyle went from complete anonymity to worldwide fame, seemingly overnight, when her unmatched pipes were first brought to light on British talent show “Britain’s Got Talent.” Like Bocelli, she too recorded a traditional arrangement of “The Lord’s Prayer” for her 2013 holiday album, “Home For Christmas,” inviting listeners into a transcendent moment with bright piano, lush strings and her singular voice.
LISTEN NOW: "The Lord's Prayer" Susan Boyle Audio
“The Lord’s Prayer” by Benjamin William Hastings (2018)
Subtly backed by TAYA and Brooke Ligertwood, Benjamin William Hastings helmed a modernized version of “The Lord’s Prayer” on 2018’s “There Is More.” The thought-provoking singer/songwriter and his collaborators gave the orthodox offering an unorthodox atmospheric rock overhaul. Hastings’ reverent live take on the ancient passage featured a mix of drums, electric guitar and strings, which worked together to create a seamless iteration that was simultaneously fresh and timeless.
WATCH NOW: "The Lord's Prayer" Live Performance Video
“The Lord’s Prayer” by Citizen Way (2019)
Perhaps more than any other artist on our list, Citizen Way somehow managed to transform “The Lord’s Prayer” into a catchy modern pop song. The group’s lead singer, Ben Calhoun, added a new original chorus to the hand-clap-worthy edition of the refurbished selection after walking through a difficult season of personal loss and transition that ultimately made him realize the importance of praying, “Your will be done.”
WATCH NOW: "The Lord's Prayer" Official Music Video
“The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours)” by Matt Maher (2022)
Bringing “The Lord’s Prayer” full-circle into the 21st century, Matt Maher is the latest artist to renovate the popular Scripture passage. Maher added a reworked refrain, a fleet of electric guitars and a host of voices to ensure “The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours)” became a worship anthem for a younger generation, who didn’t grow up singing the liturgical hymn in church. Maher’s creative twist on the foundational doctrine set to music kicks off his most recent LP, “The Stories I Tell Myself.”
WATCH NOW: "The Lord's Prayer (It's Yours)" Official Music Video
BONUS ENTRY
“Thy Will,” Hillary Scott (2016)
We’d be remiss if we didn’t casually add Hillary Scott’s GRAMMY®-winning song, “Thy Will,” to this list. While Scott didn’t overtly set “The Lord’s Prayer” in its entirety to music, she did focus explicitly on Matthew 6:10 as she surrendered her deepest desires to her Creator in the song, which she wrote following a devastating miscarriage. Scott says when she didn’t know what else to pray during that season, four simple words — “Thy will be done” — were the ones she kept repeating. The awarded country singer — now a mom of three girls — crafted the exquisite “Thy Will” for 2016’s “Love Remains,” a special Gospel-centered project she recorded with her family.
WATCH NOW: "Thy Will" Official Music Video
