PFR (originally called Pray For Rain, but they changed their official name to the acronym to avoid a legal naming conflict with another band) is a name many 1990s Christian music fans may recognize. While known for many of their chart-topping hits, they are also known for being a more artsy and prestigious act than the average radio band. With lyrics that challenged listeners theologically and intellectually, balanced with an artistic acoustic-rock-driven sound that often pushed genre barriers, the band always proved themselves especially worthy of time and attention. Their music bore influences of the soft rock popularized by bands like Jars of Clay during the 1990s, mixed in with sprinklings of 1960s pop influences.
These are some songs of theirs I remember well, and you might too.
Word is they are working on a new album that may release this year.
"Pray For Rain"
My dad played this song nonstop growing up. My mother was convinced that whenever Dad played this, it would rain within the day. Of course, the rain in the song is a lot more metaphorical, with a rainstorm serving an image of what the living water of Christ can do to our sinful natures. The song's imagery works surprisingly well at showing how we're "born in a dry season" and yet we need to continually refresh ourselves with Christ throughout our lives, or else we'll go through a drought. The song has a soft rock hook and memorable melody that make it a standout song among 1990s Christian music. "I pray for rain to come/And wash away what has made me numb/I pray for a raging storm/To drown what's in me/And the rain comes in the nick of time/I swallow hard 'cause my throat's been dry/The rain comes beating on my skin/Till I'm washed away/Nothing left within/When Your rain comes."
"Great Lengths"
Singing of the folly of seeking our own will instead of Christ's, this title track to the band's 3rd full-length album is a perfect exploration of several of their sounds. It has a distinctly 1990s Christian soft rock sound while also bearing harmonic influences of decades past. The song is a brief exercise that leaves its mark without overstaying its welcome. It's definitely one of the more memorable hits from the trio.
"The Love I Know"
One of the band's softer and more low-key songs, "The Love I Know" was a staple on Contemporary Christian stations in the 1990s. The song tackles the popular Christian theme of examining what real love looks like. This song takes on some particularly strong imagery of failed loved that is sure to make even this more accessible "radio song" stand out from the pack. "He painted 'I love you' on the bridge/Then watched them burn/She bet all she had upon the love/Now she's holding her cards And lost her turn."
"That Kind Of Love"
Similarly themed to the previous song on this list, "That Kind Of Love" takes a more upbeat approach to pondering the nature of the love of Christ. Asking and answering its own question of "where does that kind of love come from?" with "they say it runs in his blood." The song will be a memorable staple of PFR classics and 1990s Contemporary Christian Music as a whole.
"Anything"
"Anything" is one of the band's best anthems. This one balances the melodic radio side and guitar-driven rock hooks to create a memorable highlight of their discography. This song speaks of how nothing matters without Christ in our lives. A simple message spoken through great poetry. "Nothing I can say/Will matter anyway/Just a faint display/With me in the middle/No more empty words/Will anymore be heard/All my minds and verbs/Mean very little/Like whispers thrown against the wind/Empty phrases caving in."
"Forever"
PFR's initial run came to a close after a rather brief five or so years of actively touring after their label debut, releasing for critically acclaimed albums. (Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see a band go about four or five years between their debut and sophomore album release.) Their "farewell" project was a Hits collection with songs chosen by fans, and three new tracks. This was one of the new tracks, and a big hit for Christian radio. The song proclaims a belief in how Christ paid the price so that we could be with him forever. The song's soaring chorus is one of the band's most memorable and helps elevate this song to among the band's strongest ever. "I believe He paid the price/A sacrifice so we could be together/Forever/And I know when I see Jesus' face/All my tears will be erased forever."
"Kingdom Come"
Released as part of a compilation called Roaring Lambs, this song was the beginning of a brief comeback for the band, only a few years since their initial disbanding. While the album had a planned tour that the band was expected to headline, the tour never materialized. Still, this song was welcomed by radio and by fans who found one more worthy hit from a band they did not expect to get.
"Missing Love"
The band returned the following year with a full-length album titled Disappear. "Missing Love" was a big single from it, and showed that PFR still found room to grow and mature their sound while disbanded. The song still sounds like a PFR song with it's profound musing on how success means nothing if we're missing love. The acoustic rock of the song is crisp and sounds great. While perhaps not as gritty as some of their earlier work, this song proved that PFR still had more to give.
Alas, it's been ages since we've gotten a proper new song from the band. 2004 saw them release The Bookhouse Recordings with a few new songs. We've gotten a live recording and another hits compilation over the years. But those releases feel so far in the rearview as of 2025.
But it seems we might finally be on the brink of new PFR.
The band started a GoFundMe after reuniting in 2022 and is currently at work on a new album, Target and the Arrow. At last update, the hope was to release it sometime this year. I suppose we will see just what awaits us as we wait to again Pray For Rain.
These were some of my favorites from them. I'm sure I missed some of yours. Let us know your favorites.
J.J. Francesco is a longtime contributor to the NRT Staff. He's published the novel 'Because of Austin' and regularly seeks new ways to engage faith, life, and community. His new novel, 'When Miracles Can Dream,' is out NOW!
NEW!THE YEAR THAT WAS
Top 10 Editorial 2024
NRT Staff interviews, devotionals, and editorial that took off this year
ADVERTISEMENT
NEW!THE YEAR THAT WAS
Top 10 News 2024
The top Christian music news headlines of the year
NEW!THE YEAR THAT WAS
Top 10 Songs 2024
NRT's Kevin Davis shares his favorite songs from the past year
NEW!THE YEAR THAT WAS
Top 10 Albums 2024
NRT's Kevin Davis shares his favorite albums from the past year
NEW!NRT EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Amanda Jenkins
The Chosen's Bible Series author talks to NRT
