Live to Tell

Madonna

About Live to Tell

"Live to Tell" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released as the lead single from Madonna's third studio album True Blue (1986) on March 26, 1986 by Sire Records. It later appeared on compilation albums The Immaculate Collection (1990), Something to Remember (1995), and Celebration (2009). Originally composed by Patrick Leonard for the score of the film Fire with Fire, the instrumental was shown to Madonna, who decided to use it for then-husband Sean Penn's film At Close Range. Madonna wrote all the lyrics, co-composed the melodies, and co-produced it with Leonard. A pop ballad, the song includes instrumentation from guitars, keyboards, drums and a synthesizer, and its lyrics deal with deceit, mistrust and childhood scars. It is also about being strong, which Madonna recalled in an interview that she thought about her relationship with her parents, while writing the lyrics. The music video, directed by James Foley, shows Madonna's first image makeover, featuring her with a cleaner look, shoulder-length wavy golden blond hair, conservative wardrobe and subtle make-up. This toned down blond appearance was inspired by Marilyn Monroe, a performer Madonna had previously been influenced by. 


Year:
1986
5:52
80 

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I have a tale to tell
Sometimes it gets so hard to hide it well
I was not ready for the fall
Too blind to see the writing on the wall

A man can tell a thousand lies
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, 'till then
It will burn inside of me

I know where beauty lives
I've seen it once, I know the warm she gives
The light that you could never see
It shines inside, you can't take that from me

A man can tell a thousand lies
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, 'till then
It will burn inside of me

The truth is never far behind
You kept it hidden well
If I live to tell
The secret I knew then
Will I ever have the chance again

If I ran away, I'd never have the strength
To go very far
How would they hear the beating of my heart
Will it grow cold
The secret that I hide, will I grow old
How will they hear
When will they learn
How will they know

A man can tell a thousand lies
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, 'till then
It will burn inside of me

The truth is never far behind
You kept it hidden well
If I live to tell
The secret I knew then
Will I ever have the chance again

A man can tell a thousand lies
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, 'till then
It will burn inside of me

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Madonna

Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone /tʃɪˈkoʊneɪ/ chi-KOH-nay; August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, director, dancer and entrepreneur. She has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is recognized as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. Considered to be one of the "25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century" by Time for being an influential figure in contemporary music, she is known for continuously reinventing both her music and image, and for retaining a standard of autonomy within the recording industry. Critics have praised her diverse musical productions which have also been known to induce controversy. more »

16 fans

Written by: Madonna Ciccone, Patrick Leonard

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Album Origin
"Live to Tell" is a song by American artist Madonna which was featured in her third studio album "True Blue," released in 1986.
Film Connection
Madonna initially wrote the song for a film called "Fire with Fire". Later, it was used in the film "At Close Range" which starred Madonna's then-husband Sean Penn.
Songwriters
This song was co-written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch. It was Madonna's first collaboration with Leonard, and they wrote it within a few hours.
Chart Success
Released as the album's lead single, "Live to Tell" was a commercial success - reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. It also topped the charts in Canada and Italy, and reached the top ten in several other countries.
Theme
The song marked a definitive shift from Madonna's earlier work, with a deeply emotional theme that deals with deceit, mistrust, and childhood scars. It's considered a significant point of artistic growth for Madonna.
Music Awards
"Live to Tell" earned Madonna her third nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 29th Grammy Awards.
Music Video
The music video, directed by James Foley, references the story of 'At Close Range' while Madonna performs the song seated on a chair, wearing a simple dress and minimal makeup - a notable departure from her previous glamourous image.
Pop Culture
It has been covered by several artists and has been featured in a few Madonna concert tours, maintaining its popularity in pop culture.
Legacy
With a style often replicated by other artists, it helped Madonna assert herself as a versatile artist who could balance her dance-pop origins with soul-stirring ballads.
Public Reaction
Some of the public, particularly parents and conservatives, were upset with the music video for its portrayal of Madonna as Christ on the cross, but it was generally well-received for its emotionally resonant and mature theme.
Instrumentation
The track is known for its use of the Synclavier, a synthesizer, and early digital sampler - a characteristic of 1980s pop.

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    Live to Tell

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1986

    Billboard #1


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