Live To Tell
Madonna · True Blue
I have a tale to tell
Sometimes it gets so hard to hide it well
I was not ready for the fall
Too blind to see the writing on the wall
Chorus:
A man can tell a thousand lies
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, 'till then
It will burn inside of me
I know where beauty lives
I've seen it once, I know the warm she gives
The light that you could never see
It shines inside, you can't take that from me
(chorus)
2nd Chorus:
The truth is never far behind
You kept it hidden well
If I live to tell
The secret I knew then
Will I ever have the chance again
If I ran away, I'd never have the strength
To go very far
How would they hear the beating of my heart
Will it grow cold
The secret that I hide, will I grow old
How will they hear
When will they learn
How will they know
(chorus)
(2nd chorus)
Sometimes it gets so hard to hide it well
I was not ready for the fall
Too blind to see the writing on the wall
Chorus:
A man can tell a thousand lies
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, 'till then
It will burn inside of me
I know where beauty lives
I've seen it once, I know the warm she gives
The light that you could never see
It shines inside, you can't take that from me
(chorus)
2nd Chorus:
The truth is never far behind
You kept it hidden well
If I live to tell
The secret I knew then
Will I ever have the chance again
If I ran away, I'd never have the strength
To go very far
How would they hear the beating of my heart
Will it grow cold
The secret that I hide, will I grow old
How will they hear
When will they learn
How will they know
(chorus)
(2nd chorus)
Live To Tell
Live To Tell stands as a defining moment in Madonna's mid-1980s evolution, marking a significant departure from the upbeat pop of her earlier work. Featured on the 1986 album True Blue, the track showcases a more mature and dramatic vocal delivery, characterized by a slow, deliberate tempo and a haunting atmosphere. The recording highlights her ability to convey deep emotion through minimalistic production, relying on a steady drum beat and atmospheric synthesizers to build tension. As a pivotal song in her discography, the song demonstrates her capacity for introspection and narrative depth, solidifying her status as a versatile artist capable of commanding both dance floors and quiet moments of reflection.