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)
Messiah
Madonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you cannot keep
Reap what you sow
Find what you seek
I am the sorceress
Down in the deep
I am the earth
I am the moon with no light of my own
You are the sun guarding your throne
I heard the angels whisper to me
Look for the signs
He is the one
I'll light a candle here in the dark
Making my way to your heart
I'll cast a spell that you can't undo
Till you wake up and you find that you love me too
Till you wake up and you find that you love me too
I'll be the bride that is married to life
You are the day, I am the night
Leave you a blanket of silver and gold
I'll keep you warm, do as I'm told
I need your strength, it will keep me from harm
I'll be your queen, safe in your arms
Don't want to get to the end of my days
Saying I wasn't amazed
I'll light a candle here in the dark
Making my way to your heart
I'll cast a spell that you can't undo
Till you wake up and find
I'll light a candle here in the dark
Making my way to your heart
I'll cast a spell that you can't undo
Till you wake up and you find that you love too
Till you wake up and you find that you love too
Till you wake up and you find that you love too
The song "Messiah" by Madonna is about a woman declaring her love for someone she believes is her messiah. Madonna's lyrics are metaphorical, with the woman presenting herself as the sorceress, the earth, and the moon that has no light of its own. The person she loves is symbolized as the sun guarding his throne. The woman believes that their love is written in the stars, and that the angels whispered to her that he's the one.
The song speaks about the woman's desire to be with him and keep him warm, safe in his arms, and be his queen. She is willing to light a candle in the dark, cast a spell that he can't undo, and wait for him to "wake up" and find that he loves her, too. The song has a mystical or spiritual undertone, which is common in Madonna's music, and the metaphors create a sense of otherworldliness and magical beings.
Overall, "Messiah" is a song about love and devotion that uses metaphors of mystical elements to create a sense of spirituality and wonder.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the promise
I represent hope and commitment that you cannot fulfill.
That you cannot keep
My expectations are too high for you to fulfill.
Reap what you sow
You get what you deserve based on the actions you take.
Find what you seek
Achieving your goals requires effort and determination.
I am the sorceress
I have magical powers that can influence your life.
Down in the deep
My power is mysterious and deep-seated.
I am the earth
I am a grounding force that supports and sustains life.
Under your feet
My influence is ever-present, even if you don't see it.
I am the moon with no light of my own
My influence is subtle and indirect, reflecting the light of others.
You are the sun guarding your throne
You are the source of power and strength in your life, protecting your position.
I heard the angels whisper to me
I have spiritual insight and guidance that come from a higher power.
Look for the signs
Pay attention to the small details in life that guide your path.
He is the one
Your destiny is intertwined with someone special.
I'll light a candle here in the dark
I am taking action to bring light into a difficult situation.
Making my way to your heart
I am determined to win your love and affection.
I'll cast a spell that you can't undo
My influence over you is powerful and long-lasting.
Till you wake up and you find that you love me too
You will eventually realize that you have feelings for me as well.
I'll be the bride that is married to life
I am committed to living a fulfilling and joyous life.
You are the day, I am the night
You represent the light and positivity in life, while I represent the darkness and mystery.
Leave you a blanket of silver and gold
I will provide comfort and luxury in your life.
I'll keep you warm, do as I'm told
I will take care of your needs and expect your obedience.
I need your strength, it will keep me from harm
I rely on your support and stability to protect me from danger.
I'll be your queen, safe in your arms
I am seeking a position of power and safety in our relationship.
Don't want to get to the end of my days
I don't want to have regrets or unfulfilled desires in my life.
Saying I wasn't amazed
I want to experience all the wonders and beauty that life has to offer.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ASH POURNOURI, TIM BERGLING, MADONNA CICCONE, VINCENT PONTARE, MAGNUS LIDEHALL, SALEM A. FAKIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
on Die Another Day
The only good thing about that sucky film is this song