The project was initially titled Daisy Miller to disguise the artists working on the track (there was a lot of media speculation about Prince and Madonna working together and possibly being linked romantically).
"We were friends and talked about working together, so I went to Minneapolis to write some stuff with him, but the only thing I really dug was 'Love Song' [...] We ended up writing it long-distance, because I had to be in L.A. and he couldn't leave Minneapolis, and quite frankly I couldn't stand Minneapolis. When I went there, it was like 20 degrees below zero, and it was really desolate. I was miserable and I couldn't write or work under those circumstances", Madonna recalled. Madonna and her musicians worked on the track later in 1988, and Prince added additional overdubs in mid-November 1988 at Paisley Park.
Although Prince also contributed to Like A Prayer, Keep It Together and Act Of Contrition, Love Song was the only collaboration with Madonna for which he was credited.
Love Song
Madonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you wasting my time, are you just being kind
Oh no baby, my love isn't blind
Are you wasting my time, are you just being kind
Don't give me one of your lines
Say what you mean, mean what you say
God strike me dead if I did you wrong
This is not a love song
Are you just being kind (no, oh)
Am I losing my mind (losing your mind)
Oh no, baby
Yeah
Are you wasting my time? (Wasting my time)
Are you just being kind?
Oh no baby, my love isn't blind
Are you wasting my time? (time, time, time)
Are you just being kind? (huh?)
Don't go give me one of your lines
Ah, say what you mean, mean what you say
Don't go and throw our love away
God strike me dead if I did you wrong (did you wrong)
This is not a love song, ooh
Ooh, are you just being kind?
What?
Am I losing my mind?
Mm, yeah
Don't
Wait
Time goes by so slowly for those who wait
And those who run seem to have all the fun
But am I wasting my time (she's so fine)
Are you just being kind (no)
Contrary to what all your enemies told you
Show them now how I didn't do you wrong
That this is not a love song
Are you just being kind? (no, oh)
Am I losing my mind? (losing your mind)
Oh no, baby
Yeah
Are you wasting my time? (wasting my time)
Are you just being kind? (oh no, baby)
Oh no baby, my love isn't blind
Are you wasting my time? (time, time, time)
Are you just being kind?
Don't go give me one of your lines
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide (hide)
That's how I feel, don't fog my mind
Mean what you say or baby I am gone
This is not a love song
Ooh, are you just being kind (embrasse-moi) (what?)
Am I losing my mind (pour la dernière fois)
Yeah
Love song, love song
Don't try to tell me what your enemies taught you
I'm gone but I just want you to know (love song)
That this is not a love song that I want to sing
The song 'Love Song' by Madonna talks about the confusion that arises in a romantic relationship when one party is unsure about the other's feelings. The repeated question, "Are you just being kind?", is indicative of the lack of clarity in the relationship. Madonna asks her partner to say what they mean and mean what they say, to be genuine in their expressions of love. She warns against tossing away their love casually and promises to be faithful to her partner even in the face of accusations. The song climaxes with the declaration that this is not a love song, indicating the complexity of the emotions involved.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you wasting my time, are you just being kind
Do you really love me or are you just pretending?
Oh no baby, my love isn't blind
My love for you is not blind, I need honesty.
Don't give me one of your lines
Don't try to deceive me with false promises.
Say what you mean, mean what you say
Be honest with me and don't play games.
Don't go and throw our love away
Don't let our love be destroyed by your indecision.
God strike me dead if I did you wrong
I swear to God that I have not disrespected our relationship.
This is not a love song
This is not an expression of my love, it's a plea for honesty.
Are you just being kind (no, oh)
Tell me the truth, don't be afraid to hurt my feelings.
Am I losing my mind (losing your mind)
Am I going crazy trying to figure out your true feelings?
Time goes by so slowly for those who wait
Waiting for honest love is a slow, difficult process.
And those who run seem to have all the fun
Those who don't invest in true love, seem to have more fun.
God strike me dead if I did you wrong (did you wrong)
I swear on my life that I have not disrespected our relationship.
Are you just being kind?
Are you being honest or just trying to spare my feelings?
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
There is no escape from the truth in our relationship.
Mean what you say or baby I am gone
Be honest or I will leave our relationship behind.
This is not a love song
This plea for honesty is not a typical love song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson, Madonna L. Ciccone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andre Marcs
This track was co written and co produced by both MADONNA & PRINCE - I’m sick of people ALWAYS trying to discredit Madonna as a musician. She said so herself that she played the keyboard to this song
Alessa Schmitz
baby, dont care. The trolls are joulaous.
Wendy Sumpter-Neely
And she played the drums too WAYY back in the day in her band Breakfast Club!
Andre Marcs
@C-Man Cleveland very false. Madonna is a songwriter lmao. She’s credited on almost every one of her songs and she’s written music for others. Don’t be ignorant to facts and proof and discredit an artist. Spreading false info.
C-Man Cleveland
This is Prince's song, no matter who played what instrument. Madonna is a "singer" (kind of), but not really a songwriter. No disrespect, because I'm a huge fan of early Madonna.... You know, the "Borderline" era was when I really appreciated her as an artist. The rest of her career just proves she wasn't a fluke, but yeah, never again as good as she once was (country song quote).
Charity Whittington
Such an underrated track. RIP PRINCE
Dylan Reynolds
Truly! Glad they were able to collaborate on this! Two midwestern legends!
Kevin Patrick
Madonna's voice was off the hook during this era ! Like A Prayer is and always will be my favorite Madonna album ! I was 14 and ready to embrace my queerness ! Thanks for the memories Madonna !
did you know I like unicorns?
lil bit late, but same
Stephanie Newbern
I have this album and love this song. It's weird that it wasn't a radio hit. RIP Prince.