Justify My Love
William Orbit/Madonna Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I want to kiss you in Paris
I want to hold your hand in Rome
I want to run naked in a rainstorm
Make love in a train cross-country
You put this in me
So now what, so now what?

Wanting, needing, waiting
For you to justify my love (my love)
Hoping, praying
For you to justify my love

I want to know you
Not like that
I don't want to be your mother
I don't want to be your sister either
I just want to be your lover
I want to be your baby
Kiss me, that's right, kiss me

Wanting, needing, waiting
For you to justify my love
Yearning, burning
For you to justify my love

What are you gonna do?
What are you gonna do?
Talk to me, tell me your dreams
Am I in them?
Tell me your fears
Are you scared?
Tell me your stories
I'm not afraid of who you are
We can fly

Poor is the man
Whose pleasures depend
On the permission of another
Love me, that's right, love me
I want to be your baby

Wanting, needing, waiting
For you to justify my love
I'm open and ready
For you to justify my love
To justify my love
Wanting, to justify
Waiting, to justify my love
Praying, to justify
To justify my love
To justify my love




I'm open, to justify my love
My love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to William Orbit/Madonna's song "Justify My Love" are about the desire for intimacy and connection with another person. Madonna expresses her desire to kiss her lover in Paris, to hold hands in Rome, and to make love in a train cross-country. She longs for the physical and emotional connection that comes with such intimacy. She asks her lover to justify her love, to show her that their relationship is real and meaningful. She wants to know him deeply and be known by him, but not in a familial or maternal way. Madonna wants to be her lover's baby, to be loved and cared for without the need for permission from others.


The chorus of the song repeats the desire for justification and validation from her lover. She's tired of waiting and hoping for his affirmation, and is open and ready for him to justify her love.


The message of the song is about the importance of being true to oneself and pursuing one's own desires, without seeking the permission or validation of others. Madonna is empowered by her desire for intimacy and love, and she refuses to apologize for it.


Line by Line Meaning

I want to kiss you in Paris
I desire to express my passion towards you while we are in the city of love


I want to hold your hand in Rome
I would like to feel your warmth as we walk the historical streets of Rome


I want to run naked in a rainstorm
I have a desire to experience the freedom of my body and the elements of nature at the same time


Make love in a train cross-country
I want to feel the excitement and adventure of travelling across the country while being in love with you


You put this in me
You have awakened my emotions and desires


So now what, so now what?
I am questioning my next move as my feelings for you deepen


Wanting, needing, waiting
I have a strong desire for your love, I feel incomplete without it and I am eagerly anticipating it


For you to justify my love (my love)
I want your validation and acceptance of my love for you


Hoping, praying
I am hopeful and have faith that my love for you will be reciprocated


I want to know you
I am curious to learn more about your personality, dreams, and fears


Not like that
I do not want to know you in a familial way


I don't want to be your mother
I do not want to be a caretaker for you


I don't want to be your sister either
I do not want a platonic relationship with you


I just want to be your lover
I only desire a romantic relationship with you


I want to be your baby
I want to be your partner, your muse, your soulmate


Kiss me, that's right, kiss me
Express your love towards me physically and fulfill my desire for affection


Yearning, burning
I have a strong desire and passion for your love


What are you gonna do?
I am asking you about your intentions towards me


Talk to me, tell me your dreams
Share your deepest desires and aspirations with me


Am I in them?
I am curious to know if I play a role in your future plans


Tell me your fears
I want you to feel safe and open enough to share your vulnerabilities with me


Are you scared?
I am wondering if you have any reservations or concerns about our relationship


Tell me your stories
I am interested in learning more about your past experiences and how they have shaped you


I'm not afraid of who you are
I fully accept and love you for who you are as a person


We can fly
Together, our love can take us to new heights and endless possibilities


Poor is the man
It is a disadvantage for a person to rely on someone else's approval for their happiness


Whose pleasures depend
A person who needs another's permission in order to experience joy and gratification


On the permission of another
Dependence on another person's validation for one's pleasure and happiness


Love me, that's right, love me
Affirm your love and passion towards me


I'm open and ready
I am willing and prepared for a loving relationship with you


To justify my love
I want you to demonstrate and validate your love for me


Wanting, to justify
I have a longing for you to prove your love for me


Waiting, to justify my love
I am patiently waiting for you to validate your love for me


Praying, to justify
I am asking the universe, or a higher power, to grant me the validation of your love


To justify my love
I want you to prove that your love for me is real and reciprocated


I'm open, to justify my love
I am willing to be vulnerable and accept you if you demonstrate your love for me


My love
The epitome of my deep affection towards you




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Madonna, Ingrid Julia Chavez, Lenny Kravitz

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions