Lament
Madonna and Antonio Banderas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Remember I was very young then
And a year was forever and a day
I saw the lights, and I was on my way
And how I lived, how they shone
But how soon the lights were gone
(Che:)
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
(Embalmers:)
Eyes, hair, face, image
All must be preserved
Still life displayed forever
No less than she deserved.
The lyrics to Madonna and Antonio Banderas's song Lament, which is from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita, features three different speakers: Eva, Che, and the Embalmers. As Eva sings, she reflects on her own life and the choices she made. She could have had anything she desired, including fame and recognition, but instead she chose time. When she was young, a year felt like forever, so she couldn't have imagined living for fifty, sixty, or seventy years. She saw the lights and pursued them, but they were fleeting. This is contrasted with Che's lyrics, which suggest that Eva's choice was hers and hers alone. He advises her not to cry and hang her head in despair because she is no longer there to shine, dazzle or betray anyone. Finally, the Embalmers add their own thoughts, stating that Eva's eyes, hair, face, and image must be preserved, so that she can live on forever in still life displays, as she deserves.
Line by Line Meaning
The choice was mine, and mine completely
I alone had the power to choose my destiny
I could have any prize that I desired
I had the freedom to pursue whatever I wanted in life
I could burn with the splendor of the brightest fire
I could have achieved great success and become a shining star
Or else, or else I could choose time
Alternatively, I could have chosen a more solitary path, focused on personal growth
Remember I was very young then
I was inexperienced and naive at the time
And a year was forever and a day
Time seemed to move slowly and every moment felt significant
So what use could fifty, sixty, seventy be?
At that age, old age was unimaginable and I couldn't comprehend what it might be like
I saw the lights, and I was on my way
I was drawn to success and fame like moths to a flame
And how I lived, how they shone
I was living a luxurious and flashy lifestyle
But how soon the lights were gone
However, my fame and success were fleeting and quickly disappeared
The choice was yours and no one else's
You alone have the power to shape your life
You can cry for a body in despair
You can grieve for what you've lost or missed out on
Hang your head because she is no longer there
It's natural to feel sad for the person you used to be or the life you used to lead
To shine, to dazzle, or betray
You had the potential to achieve great things, but it was your choice whether you did so ethically or unethically
Eyes, hair, face, image
To maintain the persona of a famous person, every aspect of your appearance must be carefully preserved
All must be preserved
Every detail, no matter how minor, must be maintained to keep up appearances
Still life displayed forever
The image of a famous person must be immortalized and remain frozen in time
No less than she deserved.
A famous person deserves to be kept in pristine condition forever, as a symbol of their greatness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, TIM RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind