verse 1
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
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
chorus
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've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned,
Till then it will burn inside of me
verse 2
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
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
chorus
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've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned,
Till then it will burn inside of me
post-chorus
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?
You kept it hidden well
If I live to tell the secret I knew then
Will I ever have the chance again?
bridge
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? (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?
I'd never have the strength to go very far
How would they hear the beating of my heart?
Will it grow cold? (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?
chorus
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've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned,
Till then it will burn inside of me
post-chorus
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?
You kept it hidden well
If I live to tell the secret I knew then
Will I ever have the chance again?
chorus
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've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned,
Till then it will burn inside of me
song info:
Verified yes
LanguageEnglish
Rank−
Duration00:05:19
Charts
Copyright ©Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
WriterMadonna Ciccone, Patrick Leonard
Lyrics licensed byLyricFind
Added
Last updatedNovember 24th, 2022
About"Live To Tell" is a haunting, emotional ballad that served as the lead single from Madonna's third album True Blue. Released March 26, 1986, the song was also featured in then-husband Sean Penn's film At Close Range, which premiered April 18, 1986.
The Patrick Leonard-produced song uses mostly synthesized instrumentation and features a number of dramatic, suspended pauses before its verses and choruses. It was originally intended for the film Fire with Fire but was rejected by Paramount Pictures.
With its deep feeling and languid tempo, the song was played for Madonna who wrote lyrics inspired by her childhood and touches on themes of loyalty and distrust. Its music video presented a new Marilyn Monroe-inspired image for Madonna.
Madonna commented on her new look for the music video:
After a while I got sick of wearing tons of jewelry—I wanted to clean myself off. I see my new look as very innocent and feminine and unadorned. It makes me feel good. Growing up, I admired the kind of beautiful glamorous woman—from Brigitte Bardot to Grace Kelly—who doesn't seem to be around much anymore. I think it's time for that kind of glamor to come back. In pop music generally, people have one image. You get pigeonholed. I'm lucky enough to be able to change and still be accepted. If you think about it, that's what they do in the movies; play a part, change characters, looks and attitudes. I guess I do it to entertain myself.
The Patrick Leonard-produced song uses mostly synthesized instrumentation and features a number of dramatic, suspended pauses before its verses and choruses. It was originally intended for the film Fire with Fire but was rejected by Paramount Pictures.
With its deep feeling and languid tempo, the song was played for Madonna who wrote lyrics inspired by her childhood and touches on themes of loyalty and distrust. Its music video presented a new Marilyn Monroe-inspired image for Madonna.
Madonna commented on her new look for the music video:
After a while I got sick of wearing tons of jewelry—I wanted to clean myself off. I see my new look as very innocent and feminine and unadorned. It makes me feel good. Growing up, I admired the kind of beautiful glamorous woman—from Brigitte Bardot to Grace Kelly—who doesn't seem to be around much anymore. I think it's time for that kind of glamor to come back. In pop music generally, people have one image. You get pigeonholed. I'm lucky enough to be able to change and still be accepted. If you think about it, that's what they do in the movies; play a part, change characters, looks and attitudes. I guess I do it to entertain myself.
Album Details
![Madonna - Something To Remember [1995]](https://cdn.lsistatic.com/img/pixel.gif){kind=tracking}