Lady Madonna
London String Orchestra Lyrics
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Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Who find the money when you pay the rent
Did you think that money was heaven sent
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlegs
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest
Pa pa pa pa,
See how they run
Lady Madonna lying on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head
Tuesday afternoon is never ending
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
Thursday night you stocking needed mending
See how they run
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
The song Lady Madonna by the London String Orchestra tells the story of a strong, independent and hardworking mother who is struggling to make ends meet, yet remains determined to provide for her children. In the first verse, we see her managing her finances by questioning whether money is truly heaven-sent, symbolising a potential conflict between the religious beliefs she may hold and financial hardships that she faces.
The second verse highlights the daily struggles that this mother faces, as she journeys through the week without a break. She is up late on Friday night and up early on Sunday morning, just like a nun, being unable to take time for herself. Her children are growing up too quickly on Mondays, already learning to tie their bootlegs. Even then, she continues to keep her head high and her determination strong.
In the third verse, we see the mother’s nurturing side, in which she feeds her child and wonders how she will feed them all. However, the stress of the week continues, and she is waiting for the papers on Wednesday morning but they never arrive. Heavy with exhaustion on Tuesday afternoon, she is again mending stockings on Thursday night. Despite all of the pressure, she continues to persevere and be the strong mother her children need.
Line by Line Meaning
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Addressing a woman, who manages to take care of children despite all the difficulties
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
People are amazed at how the woman manages to balance everything despite financial struggles
Who find the money when you pay the rent
The singer is asking the woman how she pays rent despite the difficulties
Did you think that money was heaven sent
The artist implies that it is a miracle how the woman manages to pay rent despite the challenges
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
The artist mentions how fast time flies, and it's already the weekend
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
The weekend is ending, and it is almost back to the daily routine
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlegs
A child is growing up and learning new things.
See how they run
Children are playing and running around
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
The woman is breastfeeding her baby
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest
The artist is amazed at how the woman provides for everyone in her family
Pa pa pa pa,
Just a repeat of sounds to maintain rhythm
See how they run
Children continue to play and run around
Lady Madonna lying on the bed
The woman is resting on her bed
Listen to the music playing in your head
The singer implies the woman probably has music playing in her head
Tuesday afternoon is never-ending
The singer complains that Tuesday seems to drag on forever
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
The artist is disappointed that the papers didn't arrive on time
Thursday night you stocking needed mending
The woman was so busy with her other responsibilities that she didn't even have time to mend her stockings
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind