About The Song
“Live to Tell” is a song by American singer Madonna included on her third studio album, True Blue (1986). Conceived as an instrumental by producer Patrick Leonard for the score of Paramount’s film Fire with Fire (1986), the studio rejected it, deeming it unfit for the movie. Leonard then presented the track to Madonna, who decided to use it for At Close Range, a film starring her then-husband Sean Penn. She wrote the lyrics, came up with a bridge and a few melodies of her own, and co-produced the track alongside Leonard. A pop ballad with torch influences, its lyrics talk about deceit, mistrust and childhood scars.
In the United States, “Live to Tell” was released on March 26, 1986, months before True Blue was published. In Australia and most European countries, the song’s release date was April 14. Upon release, it was lauded by critics who applauded Madonna’s vocals, and deemed it a highlight in True Blue. In retrospective reviews, it has often been referred to as one of her finest ballads. Additionally, “Live to Tell” was commercially successful, becoming Madonna’s third number-one in the US Billboard Hot 100, and her first number-one on the Adult Contemporary chart.
The music video, directed by James Foley, shows the singer in a more demure, toned down appearance, inspired by actresses such as Grace Kelly, intercut with clips from At Close Range. Madonna has sung “Live to Tell” on four of her concert tours, the most recent being the Celebration Tour of 2023―2024. The song’s performance at 2006’s Confessions Tour caused controversy, as it had the singer hanging from a mirrored cross simulating a crucifixion; religious groups condemned the number as an act of hostility toward the Roman Catholic Church. Madonna responded by saying that her main intention with the performance was to bring attention to the millions of children dying in Africa. “Live to Tell” has been covered by a handful of artists, particularly for tribute albums.
Video
Lyrics
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
A man can tell a thousand lies
I’ve learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, ’til 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
A man can tell a thousand lies
I’ve learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, ’til then
It will burn inside of me
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
A man can tell a thousand lies
I’ve learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, ’til then
It will burn inside of me
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
A man can tell a thousand lies
I’ve learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, ’til then
It will burn inside of me