Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone (born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan… Read Full Bio ↴Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone (born August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is considered one of the most influential figures in popular culture and has often been referred to as the "Queen of Pop". Madonna is noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting and visual presentation. She is also known for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression in mainstream music, while maintaining control over every aspect of her career. Her works, which incorporate social, political, sexual and religious themes, have generated both controversy and critical acclaim.

Born and raised in Michigan, Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands Breakfast Club and Emmy, she rose to solo stardom with her debut studio album, Madonna (1983). She followed it with a series of successful albums, including all-time bestsellers Like a Virgin (1984) and True Blue (1986) as well as Grammy Award winners Ray of Light (1998) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Madonna has amassed many number-one singles throughout her career, including "Like a Virgin", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes".

Madonna's popularity was enhanced by roles in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), and Evita (1996). While Evita won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, many of her other films received poor reviews. As a businesswoman, Madonna founded the company Maverick in 1992; it included Maverick Records, one of the most successful artist-run labels in history. Her other ventures include fashion brands, children's books, health clubs, and filmmaking. She contributes to various charities, having founded the Ray of Light Foundation in 1998 and Raising Malawi in 2006.

With sales of over 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is certified as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. She is the most successful solo artist in the history of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and holds the record for the most number-one singles by a female artist in Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. With a revenue of U.S. $1.5 billion from her concert tickets, she remains the highest-grossing solo touring artist of all time. Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, her first year of eligibility. She was ranked as the greatest woman in music by VH1 in 2012, and as the greatest music video artist of all time by MTV in 2003 and Billboard in 2020. Rolling Stone also listed Madonna among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.

Studio albums
Madonna (1983)
Like a Virgin (1984)
True Blue (1986)
Like a Prayer (1989)
Erotica (1992)
Bedtime Stories (1994)
Ray of Light (1998)
Music (2000)
American Life (2003)
Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
Hard Candy (2008)
MDNA (2012)
Rebel Heart (2015)
Madame X (2019)

Borrowed Time
Madonna Lyrics

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Do we need to start a war
Do we need to take a side
If we open up our eyes
Realize that we are dying
Is it all worth fighting for
It all comes down to

Who's wrong or right

Who's black or white
It doesn't matter what you're bleeding for
Straight or bi or
God almighty
Doesn't matter underneath it all

'Cause we're only here to love
Like there's no tomorrow
So let's live each moment like our time is only borrowed

Do we need to build a bomb
Do we need to fire a gun
If you have to stand your ground
It's a war that can't be won
Is it all worth dying for
It all comes down to

Who's rich or poor
Virgin or whore
It doesn't matter what you're praying for
Death or life
You're truth almighty
Doesn't matter underneath it all

'Cause we're only here to love
Like there's no tomorrow
So let's live each moment like our time is only borrowed

It all comes down to
Who's rich or poor
Virgin or whore
It doesn't matter what you're praying for
Death or life
You're truth almighty
Doesn't matter underneath it all

'Cause we're only here to love

Like there's no tomorrow
So let's live each moment like our time is only borrowed

Overall Meaning

Madonna’s song “Borrowed Time” is a contemplative piece about the fragility of life and the futility of conflict. The song begins with the questioning of the value of war and the divisiveness that it can bring. The lyrics ask if it is all worth fighting for and if it really comes down to who is right or wrong, black or white, straight or bi or god almighty. The answer is, ultimately, that it doesn’t. The song urges listeners to realize that we are all here to love and to value each moment, because our time on this earth is limited and borrowed.

The lyrics then go on to question the need for conflict and violence, asking if building bombs and firing guns is worth standing one’s ground. Madonna sings that it is a war that can’t be won and wonders if it is all worth dying for. The song then brings up society’s labeling and categorizing of people based on their economic status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs, before once again reminding the listener that, ultimately, it doesn’t matter. Underneath it all, we are all just here to love, and to live each moment as if our time is limited.

In summary, “Borrowed Time” is a poignant song that encourages listeners to value life and love above all else.

Line by Line Meaning

Do we need to start a war
Do we really need to create conflict?

Do we need to take a side
Do we need to choose between opposing views?

If we open up our eyes
If we become aware of our situation

Realize that we are dying
Acknowledge that our time on earth is limited

Is it all worth fighting for
Is what we're fighting for really worth the struggle?

It all comes down to
The ultimate conclusion is

Who's wrong or right
Who is correct or not is insignificant

Who's black or white
Racial distinction is irrelevant

It doesn't matter what you're bleeding for
Your personal struggles don't matter in the grand scheme of things

Straight or bi or
One's sexuality is not important

God almighty
Even the idea of god doesn't hold ultimate relevance

Doesn't matter underneath it all
At the core, none of these things really matter

'Cause we're only here to love
The reason we exist is to love

Like there's no tomorrow
Without regard to what will happen in the future

So let's live each moment like our time is only borrowed
Live each day to the fullest because our time here is limited

Do we need to build a bomb
Do we really need to manufacture instruments of destruction?

Do we need to fire a gun
Do we need to resort to violence?

If you have to stand your ground
If you have to protect yourself

It's a war that can't be won
It's a battle that cannot end positively

Is it all worth dying for
Is it really worth sacrificing your life?

Who's rich or poor
One's financial status ultimately doesn't matter

Virgin or whore
One's sexual purity or lack thereof is irrelevant

It doesn't matter what you're praying for
Your religious beliefs ultimately don't matter

Death or life
The opposition between life and death ultimately doesn't matter

You're truth almighty
Even the notion of truth isn't the ultimate goal

Doesn't matter underneath it all
At the core, none of these things truly matter

'Cause we're only here to love
The reason we're here is to love

Like there's no tomorrow
Without regard to what will happen in the future

So let's live each moment like our time is only borrowed
Live each day to the fullest because our time here is limited

It all comes down to
Ultimately, it all leads to