80 Sung Prayers Before Dinner

Mealtime prayers are an important routine in any Christian family. Not only does a meal bring the family together, but the grace said at supper invokes the divine presence of God in our day. No matter whether we are eating an ordinary dinner around the table, or enjoying hotdogs at a baseball game, or picnicking at the park, it is worth every family’s time to take a moment to reflect on the day and thank God for the graces he has bestowed on us.

There is an image of the Lord’s Last Supper hanging in my family’s dining room. It is a constant reminder of the suffering Jesus Christ endured for our sins. As my family holds hands and gather for our daily mealtime prayer each evening, I look upon the image of our Lord and reflect on his humility up until his death, I resolve to commit myself to Jesus’ humility in my daily life.

Then, with a humble heart, I bow my head and pray with my family. This prayer connects us to each other and connects us to God. I am thankful for this time in which we can pull ourselves out of our siloed way of living into a connected, Christian family. Praying before we eat offers us the opportunity to reflect on the blessings of the day and giving thanks to God for the meal before us.

Prayer should not always be somber. When we are saying grace, we are giving thanks to our Lord. We are appreciating our food, shelter, and family. It should be a time of extraordinary thanksgiving. These fun songs help remind the family to keep our hearts positive, no matter how hard of a day we might have had.

Here are a list of fun prayer songs to sing at the dinner table with your family.

 

TV Show Theme Song Graces and Dinner Prayers from Movie Tunes

 

FLINTSTONES GRACE (Tune: Flintstones Theme Song)

God is–great–and God is-good
And let us thank Him for our food.
God is–great–and God is-good
And let us thank Him for our food.
Amen. Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-men.
Amen. Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-men.
God is–great–and God is–good And let us thank Him for our…
We’ll thank Him for our… We’ll thank Him for our food!

 

ZIP A DEE DO DAH (Tune: Zip A Dee Do Dah from Song of the South)

Zip a dee do dah,
Zip a dee ay,
I am grateful for God’s blessings today.
I’ve plenty to eat, to drink and to share,
I sit at God’s table and see love everywhere.

 

ADDAMS FAMILY GRACE (Tune: Adams Family Theme Song)

Da-da-da-da (snap fingers twice)
Da-da-da-da (snap fingers twice)
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da (snap fingers twice)

We thank you for this food, Lord
For mom and dad and me, Lord
We thank you for this food, Lord
To get us through the day

Da-da-da-da (snap fingers twice)
Da-da-da-da (snap fingers twice)
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da (snap fingers twice)

Version 2
Da-da-da-dum (snap, snap)
Da-da-da-dum (snap, snap)
Da-da-da-dum, Da-da-da-dum,
Da-da-da-dum (snap, snap)

We know that God is great
We know that God is good
We know that we should
Thank Him for our food.

Version 3
Da-da-da-dum (snap, snap)
Da-da-da-dum (snap, snap)
Da-da-da-dum. Da-da-da-dum, Da-da-da-dum (snap, snap)

We thank You, Lord for giving
The things we need for living
Like food and fun and friendship,
We thank You, Lord, today,

Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen

Version 4
Da-da-da-dum (snap, snap)
Da-da-da-dum (snap, snap)
Da-da-da-dum. Da-da-da-dum, Da-da-da-dum (snap, snap)

We thank you Lord for giving,
This food we need for living,
So watch us while we eat it
Because we really need it!

A-a-amen,
A-a-amen,
A-a-amen, A-a-amen, A-a-amen!

T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U THANK YOU, LORD! (Tune: of Mickey Mouse)
T-H-A-N-K-Y-O-U thank you, Lord
Thank You, Lord (echo – Thank you, Lord)
Thank You, Lord (echo – Thank you, Lord)
For the blessings you have given us today!
HEY HEY HEY T-H-A-N-K-Y-O-U Thank you, Lord!!!

 

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD (Tune: Animal Crackers from the Shirley Temple film “Curly Top”)

Fruit from the tree, and from the vine.
Bread from the oven, tastes divine.
Gosh, oh gee but I have fun,
Counting my blessings one by one.

God is so very good to me,
Sends me strength and energy,
Thank you God eternally.

 

WE KNOW, WE KNOW (Tune: Hi Ho Hi HO / Heigh-Ho by Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs)

We know, we know,
From whom all blessing flow
We thank him then
We say Amen
We know, we know!
(We know, We know, We know– repeat ’til tired!)

 

 

Sung Graces for Mealtime Prayer

 

AMAZING GRACE (Tune: Amazing Grace)

Amazing grace how great Thou art,
You meet my every need,
You quench my thirst,
You guard my home,
My soul and body feed.

 

DOO WA DITTY DITTY (Tune: doo wa ditty ditty dum ditty doo)

Thank you Lord for the food that we receive
Singing doo wa ditty ditty dum ditty doo
Thanks to Thee for bread and butter and the meat
Singing doo wa ditty ditty dum ditty doo
Looks good
(echo: looks good)
Tastes Fine
(echo: taste fine)
Looks good, tastes fine
And we praise God for all time!
Singing doo wa ditty ditty dum ditty dooooo.

 

ROCK YOU GRACE (Tune: We Will Rock You)

Heavenly Father, Lord and King, You provide us with everything.
We’ve got Food on our plate, it’s tastin’ great.
Thank you for the food we already ate.

Singing thank you Father, THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Thank you Father THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

 

ALMIGHTY GOD (Tune: Oh My Papa)

Almighty God to me you are so wonderful.
Almighty God to me, you are so good.
None could be more generous.
Almighty God you’ve always understood.

 

HE HEARS (Tune: On top of old smokey)

My God is so great, and I am so small,
But it doesn’t matter, he hears when I call!
He hears when I whisper, he hears when I shout.
He hears my “thank you”, ’cause I love Jesus.

 

BLESS OUR FOOD (Tune: Edelweiss)

Bless our food, bless our friends
Come oh Lord and sit with us.
Make our talk glow with peace
Come with your love to surround us.
Friendship and peace may they bloom and grow
bloom and grow forever.
Bless our food, bless our friends,
Bless our dear land forever.

 

Auld Lang Syne Grace (Tune of Auld Lang Syne)

For all the bounty He provides,
Let us give Him thanks and praise.
Let’s keep Him always in our hearts,
As we live our joyful days.

 

FOR GOODNESS (Tune: She’ll be coming ’round the mountain)

Let us all thank God for goodness at this meal, (at this meal)
Let us all thank God for goodness at this meal, (at this meal)
Let us all thank God for goodness,
Let us all thank God for goodness,
Let us all thank God for goodness at this meal.

 

BEFORE THE NIGHT (Tune: After the ball)

Before this day is over Before the night begins Help me protect the planet Be one of it’s caring friends I thank you for all your blessings May I earn the right To live in harmony with them
Before the night

 

BLESS THIS FOOD (Tune Jingle Bells)

Bless this food, Bless this food,
Bless this very meal.
God you are so good to me,
This is how I feel.

 

ALLELUIA, AMEN (Tune: Happy birthday)

Alleluia, Amen
Alleluia, Amen
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen

 

ALLELU (Christian version)

Allelu. Allelu, Allelu, Allelujah
Praise ye the Lord
Allelu. Allelu, Allelu, Allelujah
Praise ye the Lord Praise ye the Lord
Allelujah
Praise ye the Lord
Allelujah
Praise ye the Lord
Allelujah
Praise ye the Lord

 

BLESS THIS HOUSE (Tune Edelweiss)

Bless this house, bless this bread,
Come oh Lord and sit with us.
May our hearts grow with peace.
Come with your love and surround us.

Friendship and love may they bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.

Bless our friends, bless us all,
Bless us faithful forever.

Version 2
Thank you God, for this day,
Bless all those who greet it.
May your love glow with peace,
may your love go forth from us.

Friendship and peace may they bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever.

Bless our friends, bless our work
Bless each of us forever.

Version 3
Come dear Lord, be our guest
As we gather together
May our heart glow with love,
Keep us close to you ever.

Friendship and joy, may they bloom and grow.
Bloom and grow forever,

Bless our homes, bless our friends,
Bless our common endeavors.

 

BOARD IS SPREAD

(two part round)[Morning, Noontime, Evening) is here, the board is spread,
Thanks be to God who gives us bread.

Hear how the Scouts sing this tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPHSerSlurA

 

BOOM BOOM TA-RA-RA (Tune: Roll Out The Barrel)

Give thanks for good friends, We have a barrel of fun.
Give thanks for good food, We won’t waste one single crumb.
Boom Boom Ta-ra-ra! Sing out a song of good cheer.
Now’s the time for us to give thanks, The food and friendship’s here!

 

INDIAN TAPS (Tune: Taps, The Bugler’s Cry)

Day is done (raise hands up)
Gone the sun (lower hands)
From the lakes (arms stretch in front of you)
From the hills (arms stretch upward and diagonal, like a hill)
From the sky (arms reach up to sky) All is well (arms in front, bend at elbow toward you)
Safely rest (arms together cross in front of body-like folding vour arms in front of you)
God is nigh. (bow head on your crossed arms.)

 

DO LORD (Tune: Do Lord)

Do Lord, oh do Lord Oh do accept from me, Oh Lordy,
Do Lord, oh do Lord Oh do accept from me Oh Lordy,
Do Lord, oh do Lord, Oh do accept from me
The thanks I give to Thee.

 

DO WE EVER? (Tune: Waltzing Matilda, live in Australia)

Do we ever stop and pray
For the food we’ve had today,
Counting all our blessings one by one.
We are privileged to be here
Living out our Promise dear
Let us sing praises to our God.
Praise be to God, Praise be to God
Extending friendships far and near
They will live forever
Though we’re not together.
Praise be to God
For our blessings here
(The first half is sung to the verse tune and the second to the chorus tune)

 

EVERYDAY (Tune: Camp town races)

Thank you God for all you do
Thank you God for all you do
Every single day.
Ale-luya

 

FROM MY HEART (Tune: Heart and Soul)

I give God thanks and praise.
From my heart for all these happy days.
Thankful for all the gifts I hold (long pause)
Thanks from my heart and soul!

 

FATHER GOD (Tune: Edelweiss)

Father God, Father God,
For thy blessings we thank Thee,
Telling us of Thy Grace
And Thy goodness towards us.
Grant that our service may be of use
In our life’s endeavor Father God,
Father God, Bless us now and forever.

 

FOREVER AND A DAY (Tune: My hat it has 3 corners)

My Lord God almighty,
Bless us here today
Grant that we will be worthy
Forever and always

 

TURKEY IN THE STRAW GRACE (Tune: Turkey in the straw)

Oh, I have a Christian family,
So I say Grace when I eat.
Whether it’s a full meal or a tasty little treat. I can sing it, I can say it or sign it silently.
My grace is a thank you to God from me!
Please bless this good food and me!
GOD HAS CREATED A NEW DAY
God has created a new day
Silver and green and gold Live that the sunset may find us
Worthy his gift to hold.

 

GOD IS GREAT (Tune: Rock Around the Clock)

God is great, God is good
Let us thank Him for our food
We’re gonna thank Him morning, noon and night
We’re gonna thank Him ‘cuz He’s outta sight
Amen, amen, amen, amen….do do do! Yeah!

Alternate ending: Amen ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch Amen

 

LET’S EAT (Tune: Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye)

Na na na na
Na na na na
This food looks
Like such a treat.

Thank you Lo-ord
Thank you Lo-ord
I’m hungry,
Let’s Eat!

 

GOD IS GREAT, GOD IS GOOD (Tune: Michael Row the Boat)

God is great, God is good, Alleluia Let us thank him for our food, Alleluia. By His hand we all are fed, Alleluia Thank you Lord, for daily bread, Alleluia.

 

GOD MADE THE MOUNTAINS (Tune: I love the mountains)

God made the mountains,
God made the rolling hills,
God made the flowers,
God made the daffodils.
God made the field of wheat,
For all the bread we eat,
Alleluya, alleluya, alleluya, alleluya
(repeat and fade out)

 

GOD, OUR FATHER (Tune: Frere Jacques / Are You Sleeping Brother John?)

God our Father, God our Father.
Once again, once again,
Thank you for your blessings, thank you for your blessings.
A-amen, a-amen.

 

GOD’S WORD (Tune: Morning has broken)

God’s word is spoken,
Goodness surrounds me.
My word unbroken,
He sees my soul.

I praise Him with music,
I praise Him with laughter,
And ’til the hereafter.
I’ll thank Him each day!

 

GOLDEN RULE GRACE (Tune: Ol’ Texas)

(echo each line)
I’m goin’ to break
This bread with friends
Pray I please God
Before this day ends.

I’ll try my best
To live this day
By the Golden Rule
Each and every way!

 

GRACE (Tune: Sing a rainbow)

Red, and orange, and pink, and green,
Purple, and yellow, and blue.
We thank God for rainbows,
And good friends. And good food too!

 

GRACIAS, ARIGATO (Tune: Las Chipanecas)

Gracias, arigato, merci beaucoup (clap clap)
Gracias, arigato, merci beaucoup (clap clap)
Spanish, Japanese, French words too
I can say Thank you to God (clap clap)

 

GRACIAS SENOR

Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia.
Gracias senor
Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia.
Gracias senor
Gracias senor alleluia
Gracias senor alleluia
Gracias senor alleluia
Gracias senor.

 

GUIDES, COME AND JOIN (Tune: Kookaburra)

Guides, come and join in a grace with me
Thanking God for all to see Praise Him,
O Praise Him
In humility

 

HAWAIIAN GRACE (Tune: Aloha Oy)

Aloha to God above
Aloha a word that means
I love you.
Mahalo too means
I thank you.
Mahalo aloha to God. (Ma/hallow)

 

JOHNNY APPLESEED (Tune: Johnny Appleseed)

The Lord is good to me
And so I thank the Lord

For giving me the things I need
The sun and rain and the appleseed.
The Lord is good to me.

(or, continue with long version)
And every seed that grows
Will grow into a tree,
And one day soon there’ll be apples there,
For everyone in the world to share.
The Lord is good to me.

Oh, here I am ‘neath the blue, blue sky
Doing as I please.
Singing with my feathered friends
A song that seems to never end,
Humming with the bees.

I wake up every day,
As happy as can be
Because I know that with His care
My apple trees, they will still be there.
The Lord’s been good to me.

Here is a link to how the short version is sung: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAHhSZkg2BM

 

KEEP ME (Tune: Tammy)

Eternal Spirit, Please hear my prayer.
Keep me, keep me In your tender care.
Bless all the children, By day and by night.
Keep me, keep me In your guiding light.

 

LIKE THE PEARL (Tune: Pearly shells)

(echo each line)
Like the pearl
In the ocean
Made by God
From a grain of sand.

Like the pearl
May God’s blessings
surround me.

Make a pearl
From this little grain of sand.

 

LORD, GOD OF POWER (Tune: Down by the station)

Lord, God of power,
Guide me every hour
Please bless this food
We’re about to eat.

 

MAY IT BE YOUR WILL (Tune: Down in the Valley)

Birds in their nest wait to be fed,
Some little children wait for their bread.
If parents can’t feed them, Lord, then who will?
I pray to heaven You’ll give them their fill.

(Chorus)
May it be your will, Lord,
May it be your will.
Thank you for my gifts
May it be your will!

 

FRENCH GRACE: MERCI BEAUCOUP (Tune: Alluetta)

Merci Beaucoup Lord God almighty
Merci Beaucoup Thank you very much.

(Chorus)
Merci beaucoup
Merci beaucoup
Thanks to you
Thanks to you oh, God

 

MOUNTAIN MEADOWS GRACE (Mountain Meadows is a resident camp in California)

We thank the Lord for the food we eat,
For our daily bread and the friends we meet,
For the rushing streams and the calm cool breeze,
For lovely meadows and tall green trees.

 

MY GOD (Tune: My Guy)

Before every meal. I show how I feel To my God,
There’s nothing you can bet, that’ll make me forget – to thank – my God
I gave my Christian word of Honor to serve my God – and I’m gonna
So I’m telling’ it came from the start.
The praise comes from my heart to my God!!

What do you say?
My God! Who? (softer) My God! Yeah!!

 

NAMASTE (Tune: The More We Get Together)

(na/ma/stay)
Namaste means thank you.
Means thank you, means thank you.
Namaste means thank you. Namaste my Lord.
For good food and good friends, and love that doesn’t end.
Namaste means thank you.
Namaste my Lord.

 

ORCHARD AND OCEAN (Tune: Tell me why)

Orchard and ocean
Farm and field We thank our maker
For all they yield. For earth and water
For flower and seed
We thank you God In thought, word and deed.
PEACE IS!
Peace is the bread we break:
Love is a river rolling
Life is the chance we take When we make this world our home. Gonna make this world our home.

 

SCOTTISH GRACE or SELKIRK GRACE (Tune: Auld Lang Syne)

O some hae meat and canna eat.
And some hae nae that want it.
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord we thank-ed.

 

SEED GRACE (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)

The seed goes in the ground,
The seed goes in the ground,
The sun, the rain will make the grain,
The seed goes in the ground.
The grain goes to the mill,
The grain goes to the mill.
God’s wind and power make the flour.
The grain goes to the mill.
The flour makes the bread,
The flour makes the bread.

God keeps us fed, God keeps us fed.
That’s how God’s love is spread!
For all these happy days.
For all these happy days.
Thanks for all the gifts I hold (long pause)
Thanks from my heart and soul!

 

THANKS TO GOD (Tune: Taps)

Thanks to God, for our food
For our milk, for our stew, for our bread.
God is joy, God is love
Bow your head.

 

THE REAL THING (Tune: Coke song, it’s the real thing)

The sun will always shine,
The birds will always sing.
As long as there is God,
There’s always the real thing.
Jesus Christ came down to die for our sins.
And now we thank you Lord as this meal begins.
Do do do do do do do do do do, Amen.
Do do do do do, Jesus is the real thing.

 

TIME TO EAT (Tune: Ain’t she sweet)

Time to eat, food and shelter is a treat!
We thank God for his generosity — Time to eat!

 

WAYFARERS GRACE S (Tune: For The Beauty of the Earth)

For all the glory of the way,
For all Thy protection, night and day,
For roof, tree, fire, and bed and board,
For friends and home, we thank Thee, Lord.

 

WE GIVE THANKS (Tune: Mairzy Doats)

I give thanks and you give thanks,
We’ll give thanks together.
Let us all bow our heads while we do. (repeat)

God can hear our words so loud and clear.
Amen and alleluya.
So praise his name and spread his fame,
And let his grace flow through ya!

(back to the first verse.)

 

 

Mealtime Poem Prayers to Bring Your Family Together

Does your family prefer not to sing? Don’t worry! Here are grace poems your family can recite together at the dinner table before meals.

 

HEALTH AND STRENGTH

For health and strength and daily bread
We praise thy name, Oh Lord.
Within this camp and all our days Thy presence we adore,
We praise Thy name. We praise Thy name. We praise Thy name O Lord.

 

LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER

Let us break bread together on our knees
Let us break bread together on our knees
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
Oh, Lord have mercy on me.

 

IF WE ALL SAID A PRAYER

If we all said a prayer for each other every day,
what a wonderful world this would be.
I ask God to Bless you, and keep you every day,
will you please say the same prayer for me.

 

THANK YOU FOR THE WORLD SO SWEET

Thank you for the world so sweet
Thank you for the food we eat
Thank you for the birds that sing
Thank you God for everything.

 

SIGN GRACE / DINNER PRAYER WITH HAND MOTIONS

God is good to me, (raise hands in a fist, then turn thumbs up at “good”)
God is good to me,
He holds my hand (clasp hands chest high)
He helps me stand, (extend one arm waist high palm down)

God is good to me.
God is good to me,
God is good to me,
Although I’m small, (pinch fingers together)

He hears me call (cup one hand around an ear)
God is good to me.

 

IF WE HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT

If we have earned the right to eat this bread.
Happy indeed are we.
But if unmerited Thou gives to us.
May we more thankful be

 

SHOUT HIS PRAISES

We will honor God with goodness every day.
We will stand and shout His praises, Yeah God!

 

FOR HEALTH AND STRENGTH

For health and strength
And daily bread
We praise
Thy name oh Lord.

 

BACK OF THE BREAD

Back of the bread is the flour,
And back of the flour is the mill,
And back of the mill is the wind and the rain,
And the Father’s will.

 

BE PRESENT

Be present at our table Lord
Be here and everywhere I go
His mercies bless and grant that we
May learn to live and die for Thee.

 

WORLD HUNGER GRACE

For food in a world where many walk in hunger,
For faith in a world where many walk in fear,
For friends in a world where many walk alone,
We give Thee humble thanks, Oh, Lord.

 

TODAY

Today, God our father.
We thank you in prayer.
And ask you to bless
all the food that we share.

We ask you to keep us
in your precious sight
Guide us this day
and keep us this day
And keep us from harm
through the night

 

AMEN

A Amen, A Amen, A amen, Amen, Amen.
HEAR THE LITTLE CHILDREN A Amen,
STANDING AT THIS TABLE, A Amen
ASKING FOR YOUR BLESSING

 

NATIVE AMERICAN GRACE

May the God above (arms reach high)
As in the future (arms in front of you)
As in the past (arms behind you)
Bring to our hearts (hands crossed over your heart)
Much (roll hands) Love!
(pound fists on top of one another 2x)

 

SAILOR’S GRACE

Oh God the Giver, take the thanks we give,
For life and for the food by which we live,
Thinking of those who carry it by sea,
Upon our sailors may Thy blessing be.

 

NEATH THESE TALL GREEN TREES

Neath these tall green trees we stand
Asking blessings from Thy hand
Thanks we give to thee above
For Thy help and strength and love.

 

DOXOLOGY

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below:
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen

 

WE GATHER TOGETHER

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing He chastens and hastens his will to make known. The wicked oppressing cease them from distressing Sing praises to his name he forgets not his own.

 

COWBOY’S GRACE

Been out on the range
All dusty and tired
Been ridin’ and ropin’ all day
Around the chuck wagon
We bow down our heads
And sing out the cowboys’ grace
Allelujah, Amen Amen
Allelujah, Amen Amen

 

GERMAN PRAYER (GELOBET)

Gelobet sei
Gelobet sei
der herr mein Gott.
Gelobet sei
Gelobet sei
der herr mein Gott.
Gelobet, Gelobet, Gelobet sei.
derr mein Gott.

(translation: Praised be the Lord, my God.)

 

HARK TO THE CHIMES

Hark to the chimes
Come bow your head.
We thank thee God
For this good bread.

 

 

Consider ways your family can incorporate your faith into your daily lives, such as before your meal at the dinner table. Through prayer, we remind ourselves of the ultimate love and sacrifice Jesus Christ made for the world that began with His meal with His disciples. Not only are there prayers that families can pray together, but there are also individual prayers we can pursue, such as A Catholic Mother’s Prayer. May we, too, choose to be disciples of Christ in all of our daily actions. This can start with something so simple as praying with our family around the dinner table.

 

For more ideas on how to pray together as a family, check out