Lament
Antonio Banderas Lyrics
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The choice was mine, and mine completely
I could have any prize that I desired
I could burn with the splendor of the brightest fire
Or else, or else I could choose time
Remember I was very young then
And a year was forever and a day
I saw the lights, and I was on my way
And how I lived, how they shone
But how soon the lights were gone
(Che:)
The choice was yours and noone else's
You can cry for a body in despair
Hang your head because she is no longer there
To shine, to dazzle, or betray
How she lived, how she shone
But how soon the lights were gone
(Embalmers:)
Eyes, hair, face, image
All must be preserved
Still life displayed forever
No less than she deserved.
The lyrics of Antonío Banderas/Madonna’s song Lament depict the choices and consequences of two separate individuals. The song is a duet between Eva and Che. Eva remembers her past when she was young, and how she had a choice of whether to live life with passion or just waste time. She chose to live and pursue her dreams as a famous actress, and how she relished in the spotlight, but soon realized it was not everlasting. On the other hand, Che reminds Eva that her choice was hers alone, and not anyone else's, and now she must cope with the pain and loneliness of losing celebrity status. He reminds her of the temporary nature of fame and how ones’ glory could come crashing down in a snap.
The final verse of the song is sung by the Embalmers, who represent death, and how they insist that Eva's physical image be preserved forever. This line could symbolize the obsession with physical beauty and the significance of preserving one’s memory. Overall, the lyrics of Lament convey the bitter truth that fame and fortune are short-lived, and ultimately, one must learn to live without it.
Line by Line Meaning
The choice was mine, and mine completely
I was the only one in charge of making the decision
I could have any prize that I desired
All the best things were available for me
I could burn with the splendor of the brightest fire
I had the potential to achieve greatness
Or else, or else I could choose time
I had the option to wait and take my time
Remember I was very young then
I was not yet mature enough to make wise decisions
And a year was forever and a day
Time felt like it moved slowly
So what use could fifty, sixty, seventy be?
I did not understand the value of time
I saw the lights, and I was on my way
I was easily swayed by the allure of fame and success
And how I lived, how they shone
I enjoyed the glory of success
But how soon the lights were gone
Success was short-lived
The choice was yours and noone else's
You alone are responsible for your choices
You can cry for a body in despair
You can mourn the loss of someone or something that was important to you
Hang your head because she is no longer there
Acknowledge the sadness of the loss
To shine, to dazzle, or betray
Success and fame can lead to deception and negative actions
Eyes, hair, face, image
A person's physical appearance
All must be preserved
A person's image should be maintained
Still life displayed forever
A person's image should be kept alive even after they are gone
No less than she deserved.
A person's image and legacy should be respected and preserved
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, TIM RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind