The piano playing on this song was inspired by 1950s rock/blues pianist, Fats Domino. McCartney recalled in 1994, "'Lady Madonna' was me sitting down at the piano trying to write a bluesy boogie-woogie thing ... It reminded me of Fats Domino for some reason, so I started singing a Fats Domino impression. It took my voice to a very odd place." Domino himself would cover the song later in 1968, and it would become his most recent U.S. Hot 100 hit (peaking at exactly #100).
The song and in particular the introduction are similar to Humphrey Lyttelton's "Bad Penny Blues" from 1956.[3] John Lennon helped write the lyrics. The line "see how they run" was included after his suggestion (and was a theme that had been used in the previous year's "I Am the Walrus").
Lady Madonna
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Who finds the money when you pay the rent?
Did you think that money was Heaven-sent?
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlace
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest
Pa-pa-pa-pa, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
Pa-pa-pa-pa, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
Pa-pa-pa-pa, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
See how they run
Lady Madonna lying on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head
Tuesday afternoon is never ending
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
Thursday night you stocking needed mending
See how they run
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
The Beatles' song "Lady Madonna" is an ode to the hardworking woman who manages to make ends meet despite the challenges thrown at her. The song begins with the image of Lady Madonna, who has children at her feet, and the audience is left to wonder how she manages to support them. This creates an air of empathy towards the singer of the song, who is depicted as a struggling individual, possibly a single mother.
The line "Who finds the money when you pay the rent? Did you think that money was Heaven-sent?" highlights the hardships of the working-class and how they struggle to make ends meet. The song paints a picture of a woman who is constantly juggling multiple responsibilities, such as feeding and raising her children, while also working to provide for her family. The lyrics also depict a sense of community, with phrases such as "See how they run" indicating that Lady Madonna is not alone in her struggles.
Towards the end of the song, the image of Lady Madonna lying on the bed and listening to the music playing in her head shows that she finds solace in music, possibly as a way of escaping from the harsh reality of her situation. Overall, the song portrays the strength and resilience of working-class women who are able to overcome adversity and make ends meet against all odds.
Line by Line Meaning
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Addressing a mother who is juggling between taking care of her children and finances
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Amazed at how she is able to cope with the expenses of running a household
Who finds the money when you pay the rent?
Curiously asking how she is able to pay the rent considering her financial situation
Did you think that money was Heaven-sent?
Questioning whether she believes that money simply appears from nowhere
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
The end of the busy week has arrived without any foresight towards the next week
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
Slowly passing morning compared to the sight of a nun that lingers around
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlace
A child who has learned a basic life skill due to the Mother's teachings
See how they run
Children running around playfully
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
A mother nursing her baby
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest
Amazed at how she is able to provide food to everyone else in the family
Pa-pa-pa-pa, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
Repeating nonsensical sounds to create a sing-along atmosphere
Pa-pa-pa-pa, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
Repeating nonsensical sounds to create a sing-along atmosphere
Pa-pa-pa-pa, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
Repeating nonsensical sounds to create a sing-along atmosphere
See how they run
Children running around playfully
Lady Madonna lying on the bed
A moment of rest for the Mother
Listen to the music playing in your head
An imaginary music playing in her tired mind
Tuesday afternoon is never ending
Time is passing slowly on a mundane Tuesday afternoon
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
Unexpected and unusual absence of the morning newspaper
Thursday night you stocking needed mending
Making time to address a minor problem despite the busy schedule
See how they run
Children running around playfully
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Addressing a mother who is juggling between taking care of her children and finances
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Amazed at how she is able to cope with the expenses of running a household
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RockNRollStar504
Lyrics
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Who finds the money when you pay the rent?
Did you think that money was heaven sent?
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlace
See how they run
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest
See how they run
Lady Madonna lying on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head
Tuesday afternoon is never ending
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
Thursday night your stockings needed mending
See how they run
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
@ZalejoZ
Lyrics :D ─
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Who finds the money? When you pay the rent?
Did you think that money was Heaven sent?
Friday night arrives without a suitcase
Sunday morning creep in like a nun
Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlace
See how they run
Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
Wonder how you manage to feed the rest
See how they run
Lady Madonna, lying on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head
Tuesday afternoon is never ending
Wednesday morning papers didn't come
Thursday night you stockings needed mending
See how they run
Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
@strathman7501
Where did you get "John's surrealistic lyrics" from? He certainly didn't write the lyrics. He may have offered a word or suggestion here or there, but the evidence even for that is poor.
In 1972 "Lennon attributed Lady Madonna directly to Paul McCartney . . . with no comment." (Hit Parader 1972)
Eight years later he can't remember so well. Asked by Sheff who wrote it he said flatly, “Paul." But then he adds "maybe I helped him on some of the lyrics," but he seems to be just guessing. "I'm not proud of them either way," he said. (All We Are Saying)
In Many Years From Now, Paul said "'Lady Madonna' was me", mentioning no input from John.
In "McCartney 3,2,1," Paul says that he wrote the song at home (7 Cavendish Ave, St. Johns Wood) with no mention of John.
That's corroborated by Ringo's comment back in 1968 that Paul brought it into the studio finished: "I couldn't really say what the lyrics mean, because only Paul knew what he had in his mind. Paul composed the song at home." (Beatlesebooks)
I can't find any source that adds any meat to John's very vague "maybe I helped" from 1980.
@RCCola339
I like that they're pretty obviously not playing Lady Madonna
@KimSenior
Right! It’s Hey Bulldog.
@diogo_barros
Hey Bulldog
@pemo2676
@@diogo_barros Looking through, you can clearly see them say the lyrics/screaming
@thedrummerpro6455
Um
@thedrummerpro6455
It’s nicsterv
@Sam-nl8ie
Fun Fact: in this record they are actually playing Hey
Bulldog instead of Lady Madonna
@fergalhughes165
And in the video for Hey Bulldog, they are actually playing I Am The Walrus
@carterthacker5837
@@fergalhughes165 and in the walrus video they're actually playing Hey Jude!
@accam6734
And in the Hey Jude video they are actually
playing It’s Now Or Never.