Justify My Love
Front Line Assembly (feat. Kristy Thirsk) (Madonna) Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

i want to hold and kiss you in paris
i want to hold your hand in rome
i want to run naked in a rainstorm
make love in a train cross country
you put this in me
so now what? so now what?
so now what? so now what?
i want to know you no not like that

i don't want to be your mother
i don't want to be your sister either
i just want to be your lover
i want to be your baby
kiss me that's right
kiss me that's right
i want you to justify my love my love my love
i want you to justify my love
justify
i want you to justify my love my love my love
i want you to justify my love my love my love
i want you to justify my love my love my love
i want you to justify my love
poor is the man
whose pleasures depend
on the permission
of another
on the permission
permission
i want you to justify my love my love my love

i want you to justify my love my love my love
i want you to justify my love my love my love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Justify My Love" depict the singer's desire to be intimately involved with someone, specifically in cities such as Paris and Rome, while also exploring the idea of being objectified and breaking away from societal norms. The repeated question "so now what?" suggests a willingness to take risks and explore new territory without necessarily knowing what the outcome may be. However, the singer also makes it clear that she does not want a traditional relationship where she is treated as a mother or sister, but instead wants a lover who will fulfill her desires and justify her love.

The line "poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another" highlights the theme of breaking away from societal expectations and norms. The singer is not interested in seeking permission or validation from anyone else and wants to fully embrace her desires without apology. The song portrays a sense of liberation and an unapologetic desire for passion and intimacy, while also challenging the traditional roles and expectations placed on women in relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

i want to hold and kiss you in paris
I desire to hold you and kiss you romantically in the city of love.

i want to hold your hand in rome
I long to hold your hand while strolling around the city of Rome.

i want to run naked in a rainstorm
I crave the freedom to run naked and feel the rain drops hitting my body.

make love in a train cross country
I yearn to make passionate love while on a train journey across the country.

you put this in me
You have ignited a fire in me, and now I am filled with desire.

so now what? so now what?
What are we going to do about this intense attraction between us?

i want to know you no not like that
I want to understand who you are as a person, not just in a physical way.

i don't want to be your mother
I don't want to take care of you like a mother would her child.

i don't want to be your sister either
I don't want to have a sibling-like relationship with you.

i just want to be your lover
I simply desire to have a romantic, physical relationship with you.

i want to be your baby
I want to be your loved and cherished partner.

kiss me that's right
Kiss me just like that. You are doing it perfectly.

i want you to justify my love my love my love
I want you to prove that your love for me is genuine and authentic.

justify
Show me the validity of your feelings for me.

poor is the man whose pleasures depend
A man is unfortunate if his happiness and satisfaction hinge on the approval of others.

on the permission
He is powerless and controlled by others' opinions.

permission
The power to decide whether his happiness is valid or not lies with others.

Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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01Justify My Love3:00

PT3M

Front Line Assembly (feat. Kristy Thirsk) (Madonna)

02Justify My Love (Madonna)

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Comments from YouTube:

Phillip Rodriguez

8y↑29

This isnt supposed to sound like Madonna . This is what makes it a cover song on a tribute compilation . Absolutely amazing cover.

twisted view labs

4y↑3

Madonna's version is a cover too. It's actually a Lenny Kravitz track

Daniel Lasher

51w↑1

I wish front line assembly made more music like this. So good.

Leatherscent

5y↑4

I can't believe it's taken me this long to discover this song. A phenomenal cover! I'm so glad that Delerium came from such an awesome band... love FLA and Delerium!!

Phillip Rodriguez

8y↑6

Best thing about music is it doesnt have to appeal to everyone. That is what makes it brilliant!!!!!!!

K Sfac

6y↑1

Loved it since i was 16 and i am coming back to it when i am 28. Love this track

IG Squibbits

12y↑3

They should collaborate on a whole album. This is pure win!

Mottenfresser

16y↑1

GREAT COVER !!!

Brad Bradley

14y

I have these two cd's and think theyre great.

Dominus

16y

awesome cover!

dAve mUster

14y↑2

i always go back to this track when i need to remember who im dealing with

writermachine80

15y↑4

Dude, Ohgr did a cover of "Borderline" for this Madonna Tribute album. I have it. It's fuckin wicked!

finn3242

7y↑2

Classic FLA. While very different from the original, another masterpiece, this is pretty hot and creepy noentheless

Bryce Fischer

I believe it was supposed to be Delirium, even has Kirsty Thirsk on vocals...

DRUID Research

So good.

Stompy Blondie!

11y↑6

I've always thought this being listed as FLA was a mistake. It's a pretty nice Delerium track though of course. :D

twisted view labs

4y↑1

There's a very legal reason why the proper band name isn't listed. Has to do with Cleopatra not being allowed to release it under the Delerium name per Nettwerk.

Pat Mackie

Quality tune... 1luv 😎...

MagnitudePerson

15y↑2

Fucking awesome.

codeMATZE

14y

Best Cover EVER!

dAve mUster

14y

i love thiis album

LthrnZack

14y

FLA also did an awesome cover of U2's New Year's Day. I cannot remember the name of the female vocalist however.

Mottenfresser

16y↑2

Best Version !

Julián D. Rendón Rúa

I liked it.

PaniacThrilla

14y↑1

I had this track as part of a playlist playing while I had people over. One girl asked "what is this?" genuinely curious and seemingly enjoying it and I reply FLA. Next track on the playlist was Body Count. Same girl; "what is this garbage!?" this time very annoyed. Me; "Same band. I thought you liked them?"

dAve mUster

12y↑1

i agree great cover

electroplate

15y↑1

This is cool as fuck.

Gremlin AfterMidnight

5y↑10

I suspect this was the moment Delerium was born.

Leatherscent

5y↑1

LOL... I suspect you're right!!! Absolutely love Delerium!!

twisted view labs

4y↑4

Nope. Delerium has been around since 1987 or so. This direction featuring Kristy Thirsk was explored on Semantic Spaces in 1994.

twisted view labs

4y↑4

Also, Cleopatra couldn't get this on the comp using the Delerium name because of their (Delerium) contract with Nettwerk. Because FLA & Delerium are essentially the same act band member wise and FLA's agreement with Metropolis is less restrictive....it's why the FLA name is associated with it. This is actually a Delerium track...

fungifago

@twisted view labs total sense

What Colors the Steel Sky Blue?

Oh no they were a full grown teenager

hombarfej

16y

And awesome music ;)

merbywerby

15y

I to have been looking for this, I tried buying it at several times only to find it was no longer available. suddenly it dawned on me to look for it here. yay!!

Wulfe Argent

11y↑1

good enough for me, frakking excellent song

Gavin Paisley

7y↑1

thanks very much for uploading

Lynn Bradford

14y↑3

I have known of this song since this cd was released, I did not care for the disc is general, however, this cover is even sexier than the original

M. K.

Oh yes, Kristy!

nexxudrine

12y↑1

I didn't appreciate the fembot-like vocal delivery until 3:46. "Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another," is a creepy, disturbing line. FLA and Kristy Thirsk did an outstanding job of pointing this out.

НетМошенникам 100

it sounds more like Delerium than FLA

Ivan Luxou

31w

Я один тут русский что-ли, кому понраву сей трек?!)))

shakallo3

7y↑3

Better than the original one! A lot!

Sudet Chobot

13y↑2

this is Kristy Thirsk's voice? no bullshit? o.O damn.....

GoodOleUltraviolence

6y↑1

Orgasmic cover.

John Driscoll

43w

I love both Delerium and FLA, and I also like a lot of what Madonna does. Having said that, I personally thought this was a very uninspired cover. They didn’t explore any new directions with the source material. It just sounds like a dull copy of the original with some extra synth lines thrown in. And as much as I like Kristy Thirsk both as a guest vocalist and as a solo musician, I think she completely missed the spirit of the original song.

~Whitewolf

10y

that's the lyrics off the original Madonna version from 1990

Dimi Ob

One of the tracks, when cover is much better than original. Pity, FLA didn't release it

twisted view labs

4y↑1

89k people became pregnant after hearing this cover.

AntiMusick

14y↑1

the Sleep Chamber cover is a much better and much darker version.

Z Blackerby

7y↑2

so freaking amazing. better than the original. I love Kristy Thirsk. He uses her voice on a lot of the COnjure One and Delerium side projects (as Rhys Fulber is no longer with Front Line Assembly).
This kicks fuckin ass!!!

Mark Sinnamon

i thought it was tiffany and not KT

~Whitewolf

10y

I miss that too :)

Offensive Username

13y↑1

Couldn't they choose a woman that isn't bored and doesn't fall asleep while singing this cover?

JessieK links

This was written for Don.

John Olbrias

7y↑4

I am a HUGE Madonna fan & I've been to all 10 of her tours & Madonna's version of Justify My love is amazing & I have to say this version is god awful, I honestly don't understand how so far there's 437 likes & only 19 dislikes. This person singing sounds so out of tune!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KR

not just out of tune ,,,the vocals arent matching the musical beat. she sounds out of breath and not because she is steamy sexually its because she isnt taking any breaks in the lyrics which is another problem,,,she is monotone as well. total disrespect of this song:( love you Madonna

Mark Sinnamon

its Tiffany

Holden

4y↑1

Huge fan of Kristy, but I agree that her style didn't really work on this cover.

Gio The Great

46w

What are you talking about?! This cover is fucking amazing! I don’t care much about Madonna I rather to listen to Lisa Gerard if you want to listen to real music but apples to apples!! Madonna is just a mainstream singer and nothing else.

Alex Jestaire

15y

Dude, Front Line Assembly and Delerium are the same people.

merbywerby

15y

Kristy is from delerium

greekarticles

13y

@ElRhialto OH YES!!!

Flare Zorg

7y↑7

I love the raging Madonna fans here. :-D

PoseurGoth

4y↑2

Ironically, a ton of goths/rivetheads love Madonna too. She was my favorite musician before I discovered goth music, and I still have a great appreciation for her.

TheVeneth

14y

this is ebm, not tribute some madonna or whoever, nor what-ever..

cibat

It's Delerium, not FLA, legal reasons

FRANCK LELOUP

13y

pour manue49XX. bon anniv .

noface49

14y

tiffany

James Roman

This is terrible! The epitome of a band trying too hard. But that comes as no surprise given the people involved. Front Line Assembly and Delerium could never manage to do anything that was fully original or that didn't sound like cheap emo drivel.