Live to Tell
Madonna
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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
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
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.
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Film ConnectionMadonna 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.
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SongwritersThis 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.
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Chart SuccessReleased 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.
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ThemeThe 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.
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Music Awards"Live to Tell" earned Madonna her third nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 29th Grammy Awards.
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Music VideoThe 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.
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Pop CultureIt has been covered by several artists and has been featured in a few Madonna concert tours, maintaining its popularity in pop culture.
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LegacyWith 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.
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Public ReactionSome 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.
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InstrumentationThe 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 Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3007601/Madonna/Live+to+Tell>.
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