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)
Like It or Not
Madonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or you can call me a saint
Celebrate me for who I am
Dislike me for what I ain't
Put me up on a pedestal
Or drag me down in the dirt
Sticks and stones will break my bones
But your names will never hurt
I'll be the garden
You'll be the snake
All of my fruits
Is yours to take
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me
Or leave me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
No no
Cleopatra had her way
Mata Hari too
Whether they were good or bad
Is strictly up to you
Life is a paradox
And it doesn't make much sense
Can't have the femme without the fatale
Please don't take offense
Don't let the fruit rot
Under the vine
Fill up your cup
And let's drink the wine
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me
Or leave me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
No no, you know
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me
Or leave me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
I'll be the garden
You'll be the snake
All of my fruit
Is yours to take
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me
Or leave me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
No no, you know
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me
Or leave me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
Madonna's song "Like it or Not" is a song about owning her own identity despite public perceptions of her. The lyrics focus on the conflicting opinions people have about her, from labeling her a sinner or saint, to putting her up on a pedestal or dragging her down in the dirt. Madonna asks people to celebrate her for who she really is, regardless of whether they like or dislike her. She compares herself to the likes of historical figures Cleopatra and Mata Hari, noting that they too were both labeled as good or bad depending on one's perception. She doesn't apologize for her identity and argues that love is not conditional to people's opinions about her.
The song is filled with paradoxes and ambiguities, such as defining a person as both a garden and a snake, and asking people not to let the fruit rot under the vine but to fill up their cups and drink the wine. Madonna also sings that she will never stop being who she is, whether people like it or not, conveying a sense of determination and confidence in her own identity.
Line by Line Meaning
You can call me a sinner
You have the freedom to label me as someone who has committed a sin
Or you can call me a saint
Alternatively, you have the freedom to call me a person of exceptional virtue
Celebrate me for who I am
Acknowledge and express admiration for the person that I am
Dislike me for what I ain't
Disapprove or feel hostility towards me due to the qualities or traits that I don't possess
Put me up on a pedestal
Elevate me to a position of admiration and respect
Or drag me down in the dirt
Alternatively, bring me down to a position of contempt and degradation
Sticks and stones will break my bones
Physical pain can be inflicted upon me
But your names will never hurt
However, I am immune to the emotional pain that your words can cause
I'll be the garden
I am the cultivator of beautiful things
You'll be the snake
You are capable of deceit and betrayal
All of my fruits
All of the positive things that I create
Is yours to take
Are available for you to benefit from
Better the devil that you know
I am the devil that you are familiar with and accustomed to, which is better than the unknown
Your love for me will grow
You will develop stronger positive feelings towards me over time
Because
For the reason that
This is who I am
I cannot and will not change who I fundamentally am
You can like it or not
You have the freedom to like or dislike me for who I am
You can love me
You have the option to experience positive and affectionate feelings towards me
Or leave me
Alternatively, you can choose to distance yourself from me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
I will always continue to be who I am and create what I wish to create
No no
An exclamation used to indicate a strong refusal or disagreement
Cleopatra had her way
Cleopatra achieved her goals and desires
Mata Hari too
Mata Hari lived her life in the way that she desired
Whether they were good or bad
Regardless of their moral character
Is strictly up to you
It is up to the individual to determine if they were good or bad
Life is a paradox
Life is full of contradictions and illogicalities
And it doesn't make much sense
It is difficult to understand or comprehend
Can't have the femme without the fatale
You cannot have the positive traits without the negative traits
Please don't take offense
I hope that what I just said did not upset or anger you
Don't let the fruit rot
Do not allow the positive things I create to go to waste
Under the vine
Within the environment that I have cultivated
Fill up your cup
Enjoy and take advantage of the abundance that I provide
And let's drink the wine
Let us celebrate and enjoy the fruits of my labor
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: . MADONNA, CHRISTIAN KARLSSON, HENRIK JONBACK, PONTUS WINNBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Benny
You can call me a sinner
Or you can call me a saint
Celebrate me for who I am
Dislike me for what I ain't
Put me up on a pedestal
Or drag me down in the dirt
Sticks and stones will break my bones
But your names will never hurt
I'll be the garden
You'll be the snake
All of my fruits
Is yours to take
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me
Or leave me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
No no
Cleopatra had her way
Mata Hari too
Whether they were good or bad
Is strictly up to you
Life is a paradox
And it doesn't make much sense
Can't have the femme without the fatale
Please don't take offense
Don't let the fruit rot
Under the vine
Fill up your cup
And let's drink the wine
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me
Or leave me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
No no, you know
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me
Or leave me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
I'll be the garden
You'll be the snake
All of my fruit
Is yours to take
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me
Or leave me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
No no, you know
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me
Or leave me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
Wesley Ribeiro
Like It Or Boy
The world is full of people who talk the talk.
But, how many of us walk, walk?
You can call me a sinner
And you can call me a saint
Celebrate me for who I am
Dislike me for what I ain't
Put me up on a pedestal
Or drag me down in the dirt
Sticks and stones will break my bones
But your names will never hurt
I'll be the garden, you'll be the snake
All of my fruit is yours to take
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me or leave me
Cause I'm never gonna stop, no, no you know.
Cleopatra had her way
Matahari too
Whether they were good or bad
Is strictly up to you
Life is a paradox
And it doesn't make much sense
Can't have the femme without the fatale
Please don't take offense
Don't let the fruit rot under the vine
Fill up your cup and let's drink the wine
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me or leave me
Cause I'm never gonna stop, no, no, you know
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me or leave me
Cause I'm never gonna stop, no, no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
I'll be the garden, you'll be the snake
All of my fruit is yours to take
Better the devil that you know
Your love for me will grow
Because
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me or leave me
Cause I'm never gonna stop, no, no, you know
This is who I am
You can like it or not
You can love me or leave me
Cause I'm never gonna stop, no, no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
No no, you know
Dioniso 🎭🍇
Like It or Not
Goste disso ou não
Você pode me chamar de pecador
You can call me a sinner
Ou você pode me chamar de santo
Or you can call me a saint
Comemore-me por quem eu sou
Celebrate me for who I am
Não goste de mim pelo que não sou
Dislike me for what I ain't
Coloque-me em um pedestal
Put me up on a pedestal
Ou me arraste para a terra
Or drag me down in the dirt
Paus e pedras quebrarão meus ossos
Sticks and stones will break my bones
Mas seus nomes nunca farão mal
But your names will never hurt
Eu serei o jardim
I'll be the garden
Você será a cobra
You'll be the snake
Todas as minhas frutas
All of my fruits
É seu para levar
Is yours to take
Melhor o diabo que você conhece
Better the devil that you know
Seu amor por mim crescerá
Your love for me will grow
Porque
Because
Esse é quem eu sou
This is who I am
Você pode gostar ou não
You can like it or not
Você pode me amar
You can love me
Ou deixe-me
Or leave me
Porque eu nunca vou parar
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
Não não
No no
Cleópatra conseguiu o que queria
Cleopatra had her way
Mata Hari também
Mata Hari too
Se eles eram bons ou ruins
Whether they were good or bad
Depende estritamente de você
Is strictly up to you
A vida é um paradoxo
Life is a paradox
E não faz muito sentido
And it doesn't make much sense
Não posso ter a femme sem o fatale
Can't have the femme without the fatale
Por favor, não se ofenda
Please don't take offense
Não deixe a fruta apodrecer
Don't let the fruit rot
Sob a videira
Under the vine
Encha seu copo
Fill up your cup
E vamos beber o vinho
And let's drink the wine
Melhor o diabo que você conhece
Better the devil that you know
Seu amor por mim crescerá
Your love for me will grow
Porque
Because
Esse é quem eu sou
This is who I am
Você pode gostar ou não
You can like it or not
Você pode me amar
You can love me
Ou deixe-me
Or leave me
Porque eu nunca vou parar
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Esse é quem eu sou
This is who I am
Você pode gostar ou não
You can like it or not
Você pode me amar
You can love me
Ou deixe-me
Or leave me
Porque eu nunca vou parar
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Eu serei o jardim
I'll be the garden
Você será a cobra
You'll be the snake
Todas as minhas frutas
All of my fruit
É seu para levar
Is yours to take
Melhor o diabo que você conhece
Better the devil that you know
Seu amor por mim crescerá
Your love for me will grow
Porque
Because
Esse é quem eu sou
This is who I am
Você pode gostar ou não
You can like it or not
Você pode me amar
You can love me
Ou deixe-me
Or leave me
Porque eu nunca vou parar
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Esse é quem eu sou
This is who I am
Você pode gostar ou não
You can like it or not
Você pode me amar
You can love me
Ou deixe-me
Or leave me
Porque eu nunca vou parar
'Cause I'm never gonna stop
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Não, não, você sabe
No no, you know
Roland Danielsson
My Top 10
Madonna
01. Like It Or Not
02. Live To Tell
03. Till Death Do Us Part
04. Don't Cry For Me Argentina
05. La Isla Bonita
06. Spanish Eyes
07. Deeper And Deeper
08. Sorry
09. Oh Father
10. Frozen
FerAkira
I'm a heavy metal fan... But THIS album from her is one of my favorites of all times and I really don't give a sheit about it. I can blast on my stereo Pantera or Megadeth and then Madonna because she's the most friggin badass lady of all times.
Iina Ruohio
True🤘
Jackson zech
I’m a Madonna fan but this album
Dioniso 🎭🍇
Fun fancy: this song is actually inspired in a song with the same name by a rock band, Like it or not by Status Quo
Cristiane Carvalho
She was absolutely beautiful in this song. Just her in stage, her dance, her moviment, her beautiful ❤️. My favorite Singer. She is unique!
Jonas Siutza
This Madonna I miss very much 😢
A. M. M
@Jonas SiutzaI bet you miss yourself from 2006 as well. She couldn't remain the same exactly like you couldn't. Time is passing is changing us, we like it or not.
Dioniso 🎭🍇
@A. M. M
You can like it or not 🤭😹
winston1319
I love when she performs alone on stage . She has such great charisma. She is able to dominate the crowd successfully.
A Stranger Here
One of her most underrated songs. "This is who I am, you can like it or not."