"Take a Bow" received favorable reviews from music critics, who praised the song's soulful, poetic lyrics. The song was a big success in the United States, becoming her eleventh number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, topping the chart for seven weeks. It was her first single to reach number-one since "This Used to Be My Playground" in 1992, and would be her last number-one song in the United States in the 1990s. Elsewhere in the world, the single also had success, reaching number-one in Canada, and the top-ten in Italy, Switzerland and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, it had moderate success, reaching number sixteen on the UK Singles Chart - her first single to miss the top ten there since "Lucky Star" peaked at number fourteen nine years earlier.
The music video for "Take a Bow", directed by Michael Haussman, was filmed in Ronda and the bullring of Antequera, Spain. The plot depicts Madonna as a bullfighter's (played by real-life Spanish bullfighter Emilio Muñoz) neglected lover, yearning for his unrequited love. The video won Best Female Video at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards. In order to promote Bedtime Stories, Madonna performed "Take a Bow" live with Babyface at the 1995 American Music Awards and at the 1995 San Remo Festival in Italy.
Take a Bow
Madonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This masquerade is getting older
Light are low, the curtains down
There's no one here (There's no one here, there's no one in the crowd)
Say your lines but do you feel them
Do you mean what you say when there's no one around (No one around)
Watching you, watching me,
I've always been in love with you (Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true (You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
Say good-bye (Bye bye), say good-bye
Make them laugh, it comes so easy
When you get to the part
Where you're breaking my heart (Breaking my heart)
Hide behind your smile,
All the world loves a clown (Just make 'em smile the whole world loves a clown)
Wish you well, I cannot stay
You deserve an award for the role that you played (Role that you played)
No more masquerade,
You're one lonely star (One lonely star and you don't know who you are)
I've always been in love with you (Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true (You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
I've always been in love with you (Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true (You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
Say good-bye (Bye bye), say good-bye
All the world is a stage (World is a stage)
And everyone has their part (Has their part)
But how was I to know which way the story'd go
How was I to know you'd break (You'd break, you'd break, you'd break)
You'd break my heart
I've always been in love with you (I've always been in love with you)
Guess you've always known
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
I've always been in love with you (Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true (You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
Say good-bye (Bye bye), say good-bye
Say good-bye
In the song "Take a Bow", Madonna paints a picture of a lover who has been dishonest in the relationship. She suggests that the facade has gone on long enough and it is time for the show to come to an end. The first verse describes the end of a performance, with the lights off and the curtains down; a metaphor for the end of their relationship. Madonna then questions the sincerity of her partner's words, wondering if they are genuine or just part of the act. She acknowledges that her love was taken for granted, and she concludes the song by saying goodbye.
The second verse describes the role that her partner has played - that of a clown, entertaining the world but hiding behind their smile. Madonna implies that her partner has never truly known who they are and that they have been lost in the role they play. Madonna reflects on her own naivete, suggesting that she was unaware of how the story would unfold, and she expresses disappointment at the end of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a bow, the night is over
Acknowledge that it's the end of the show/performance.
This masquerade is getting older
The pretending is becoming tiresome/exhausting.
Light are low, the curtains down
The lights are dimming, the show is ending.
There's no one here (There's no one here, there's no one in the crowd)
No one is around, no audience left to impress.
Say your lines but do you feel them
Are you actually invested and emotional in what you are saying?
Do you mean what you say when there's no one around (No one around)
Are your words authentic even when no one is watching/listening?
Watching you, watching me,
Observing each other.
One lonely star (One lonely star you don't know who you are)
You are isolated and lost in your fame.
I've always been in love with you (Always with you)
I have loved you consistently over time.
I guess you've always known it's true (You know it's true)
You have been aware of my love for you.
You took my love for granted, why oh why
You didn't value my love for you.
The show is over, say good-bye
The performance is done, time to say farewell.
Make them laugh, it comes so easy
You entertain and amuse others without effort.
When you get to the part
When you reach that point in the act/show.
Where you're breaking my heart (Breaking my heart)
Where you are hurting me emotionally.
Hide behind your smile,
You are masking your true feelings with a smile.
All the world loves a clown (Just make 'em smile the whole world loves a clown)
People love to be entertained and amused, even if it means masking their true emotions/feelings.
Wish you well, I cannot stay
You are wishing them the best but you cannot remain in this environment/situation.
You deserve an award for the role that you played (Role that you played)
You have played your part/role brilliantly, deserving of recognition/praise.
No more masquerade,
No more pretending or acting, just be genuine/authentic.
You're one lonely star (One lonely star and you don't know who you are)
You are a lonely figure, lost in your fame and unsure of your identity.
All the world is a stage (World is a stage)
Life itself is like a theatrical performance.
And everyone has their part (Has their part)
Everyone has their own role to play.
But how was I to know which way the story'd go
I couldn't predict the outcome of our relationship.
How was I to know you'd break (You'd break, you'd break, you'd break)
I couldn't have known that you would hurt me emotionally.
Say good-bye
It's time to bid farewell.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Madonna Ciccone, Kenneth Edmonds
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@faridaziz948
Take a bow, the night is over
This masquerade is getting older
Light are low, the curtains down
There's no one here (There's no one here, there's no one in the crowd)
Say your lines but do you feel them
Do you mean what you say when there's no one around (No one around)
Watching you, watching me,
One lonely star (One lonely star you don't know who you are)
I've always been in love with you (Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true (You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
Say good-bye (Bye bye), say good-bye
Make them laugh, it comes so easy
When you get to the part
Where you're breaking my heart (Breaking my heart)
Hide behind your smile,
All the world loves a clown (Just make 'em smile the whole world loves a clown)
Wish you well, I cannot stay
You deserve an award for the role that you played (Role that you played)
No more masquerade,
You're one lonely star (One lonely star and you don't know who you are)
I've always been in love with you (Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true (You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
I've always been in love with you (Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true (You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
Say good-bye (Bye bye), say good-bye
All the world is a stage (World is a stage)
And everyone has their part (Has their part)
But how was I to know which way the story'd go
How was I to know you'd break (You'd break, you'd break, you'd break)
You'd break my heart
I've always been in love with you (I've always been in love with you)
Guess you've always known
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
I've always been in love with you (Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true (You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why oh why
The show is over, say good-bye
Say good-bye (Bye bye), say good-bye
Say good-bye
@che1925
I really miss the music video era. It was such a cool time to sit in your living room or bedroom and just let VH1 or MTV play videos uninterrupted. This video itself is a masterpiece
@DannyManny98
It’s the 28-year cycle
@che1925
@@DannyManny98 what’s that
@sparkz1099
@@DannyManny98 whats that
@thej5540
@@DannyManny98 what's that
@ljoxleyofficial8119
@@DannyManny98 what’s that
@smithktj8
Madonnas finest work. This is not just a song...this is a feature film in 4 minutes. Captivating
@helgafever768
Rain, You'll See and Frozen are great as well ❤
@rudygracia5573
Agree!V-E-R-Y ORIGINAL!
@mcren6781
It was written by babyface maybe produced as well?