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)
Lament
Madonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
So what use could fifty, sixty, seventy be?
And how I lived, how they shone
But how soon the lights were gone
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
Eyes, hair, face, image
All must be preserved
Still life displayed forever
No less than she deserved.
The song Lament by Madonna suggests the idea of choices in life and their consequences. The lyrics depict the singer as having had two choices - to have fame and burn with the brightest fire or choose time. It’s said in the first verse “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." The persona admits she chose fame, hence we see her indulging, living it up, shining brightly in the second verse, “And how I lived, how they shone. But how soon the lights were gone.”
The song then transitions to another narrator in the second half. This time, it is a lament for someone who was more cautious with their choices. The lyrics emphasize the importance of making the right decisions in life, as the consequence of bad choices can lead to despair and emotional defeat, as seen in the line “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."
Overall, the song encourages the listener to think about the decisions they make in life and the consequences that follow. It reminds us that in life, we have countless opportunities to make the right choice, and it’s up to us to choose the path that is best.
Line by Line Meaning
The choice was mine, and mine completely
I had complete control over my decision
I could have any prize that I desired
I had the potential to accomplish anything I desired
I could burn with the splendor of the brightest fire
I could have had it all
Or else, or else I could choose time
I could choose to take my time in life
Remember I was very young then
I was young and naive
And a year was forever and a day
A year felt like an immeasurable length of time
So what use could fifty, sixty, seventy be?
To a young person, the thought of living to old age seemed pointless
I saw the lights, and I was on my way
I was inspired and ready to go after my dreams
And how I lived, how they shone
I lived a dazzling life
But how soon the lights were gone
My success did not last forever
The choice was yours and noone else's
You are in control of your life
You can cry for a body in despair
You can mourn for someone who is gone
Hang your head because she is no longer there
Feel ashamed because the person who was once your idol is gone
To shine, to dazzle, or betray
To be successful, to deceive, or to be betrayed
How she lived, how she shone
She lived a dazzling life
But how soon the lights were gone
Her success did not last forever
Eyes, hair, face, image
Physical appearance
All must be preserved
It is necessary to maintain your looks
Still life displayed forever
Your image will be remembered even after you're gone
No less than she deserved.
She deserved the best
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, TIM RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
on Die Another Day
The only good thing about that sucky film is this song