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)
Can't Stop
Madonna Lyrics
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Can't stop screaming and shouting your name, can't stop
Look out boy 'cause I'm going to the top
Of your list, can't stop
I've tried and tried to get next to you
My friends say I am blind I'll never break through
But I don't give in so easily
I know that you're afraid that I might
Come steal your heart away in the night
But I can't take away what's not mine
You'll see, you'll come to me in time, can't stop
Can't stop thinking about you babe, can't stop
Can't stop screaming and shouting your name, can't stop
Look out boy 'cause I'm going to the top
Of your list, can't stop
I've never gone the distance before
To find if love was worth giving more
I was born to love you I've got nothing to hide
I know about your secret side
So shut me out, I'll never let go
'Cause I can work a spell on your soul
I play the fool but it won't last for long
Oh no, 'cause baby I'm too strong, can't stop
Can't stop thinking about you babe, can't stop
Can't stop screaming and shouting your name, can't stop
Look out boy 'cause I'm going to the top
Of your list, can't stop
Don't be afraid to try
Just let me love you for a while
You'll see, what it's all about
Oh baby I can't clear you out
Can't stop, can't stop, can't stop
So shut me out, I'll never let go
'Cause I can work a spell on your soul
I play the fool but it won't last for long
Oh no, 'cause baby I'm too strong, can't stop
Don't be afraid to try
Just let me love you for a while
You'll see, what it's all about
Oh baby I can't clear you out
Can't stop thinking about you babe, can't stop
Can't stop screaming and shouting your name, can't stop
Look out boy 'cause I'm going to the top
Of your list, can't stop
Just can't help myself
You know I've got to have you and no one else (can't stop)
You know I've got to have you and no one else (can't stop)
In this upbeat and catchy song, Madonna expresses her infatuation with a particular person whom she cannot stop thinking, shouting, and screaming about. She sets her sights on the top of his list, indicating a desire to be his number one priority. The lyrics display Madonna's persistence and willingness to try harder to win this person's heart, despite her friends' doubts about her chances.
Madonna acknowledges that she is aware of the person's hesitations in getting close to her, fearing that she may steal away his heart in the night. However, she refutes this by stating her inability to take away what is not hers. Madonna seems confident that her love interest will come to her eventually, but does not give up before that happens.
The lyrics of "Can't Stop" convey a message of unyielding determination and unstoppable passion for the person Madonna is singing about. This song can be interpreted as a tribute to the power of love, faith, and persistence in achieving one's desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't stop thinking about you babe, can't stop
I cannot stop thinking about you and it's driving me crazy.
Can't stop screaming and shouting your name, can't stop
I cannot control my excitement and emotions when I think about you.
Look out boy 'cause I'm going to the top
Of your list, can't stop
I am determined to be your top priority and I won't give up until I achieve it.
I've tried and tried to get next to you
My friends say I am blind I'll never break through
But I don't give in so easily
This I know, you just wait and see
I have been trying to get close to you for a while now, and although my friends tell me it's impossible, I won't give up. I believe that one day you'll notice me.
I know that you're afraid that I might
Come steal your heart away in the night
But I can't take away what's not mine
You'll see, you'll come to me in time, can't stop
I understand that you're worried about falling in love with me and losing control, but I can't steal what isn't mine. I believe that eventually you'll fall for me too.
I've never gone the distance before
To find if love was worth giving more
I was born to love you I've got nothing to hide
I know about your secret side
I've never put in this much effort for love before, but something about you is special. I'll love you with all that I have and I'm not hiding anything. I know about your hidden qualities as well.
So shut me out, I'll never let go
'Cause I can work a spell on your soul
I play the fool but it won't last for long
Oh no, 'cause baby I'm too strong, can't stop
Even if you try to push me away or ignore me, I won't give up on you. I have a way of drawing people in and I know that my love will last because I am strong in my feelings for you.
Don't be afraid to try
Just let me love you for a while
You'll see, what it's all about
Oh baby I can't clear you out
Don't be scared to give us a chance. Let me show you what it's like to be loved by someone who care this much. I can't get you out of my head and my heart.
Just can't help myself
You know I've got to have you and no one else (can't stop)
You know I've got to have you and no one else (can't stop)
I cannot control my feelings for you. I have to be with you and no one else. My love for you is too strong to be ignored or denied.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Pate Bray, Madonna Ciccone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
on Die Another Day
The only good thing about that sucky film is this song