I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
Uh and left so far out from the shore
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore

Oh no I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
And left so far out from the shore
Oh that I can't find my way back, my way anymore

No, I
No, I

Forgive them that tear down my soul
And bless them that they might grow old
And free them so that they may know
That it's never too late

For the many times what seemed like a memory
I searched and found the ways you used to lure me in
Oh, I found the ways, oh why it had to be
Mired in denial and saw all the rain

If we ever find it's true
That we have the strength to choose
Oh, freedom or the chains
We have together

I'm gonna tell you a story
Stand up for righteousness
What? (Stand up for justice)
What? (Stand up for truth)
How can a person grow up with all this around them?
You got to call on that something
Where does it come from?
That can make a way out of no way
All this hatred?
What we've got here is
(Fear)
That power that can make a way out of now no way
Failure to communicate
I tell ya I seen the lightning
I've heard the thunder roll
Everybody's acting like we can do anything
And it don't matter what we do
Maybe we gotta be extra careful
Because maybe it matters more than We even know
Sometimes (hatred isn't somethin' you're born with)
I feel discouraged, it gets taught
Sometimes I feel discouraged, I felt this fear
He promised never to leave me
Never to leave me alone, no never alone, no never alone
Let's get something straight, alright?
Promised never to leave me
This whole thing was fucked up
Never to leave me alone
All men betray all lose heart
I don't want to lose heart, I want to believe
Black men and white men together at the table of brotherhood
I have a dream
Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last

Oh I won't be told anymore (if we ever find it's true)
That I've been brought down in this storm (that we have the strength to choose)
And left so far out from the shore (oh, freedom or the chains)
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (we have together)

Oh no I won't be told anymore (if we ever find it's true)
That I've been brought back in this storm (that we have the strength to choose)
And left so far out from the shore (oh, freedom or the chains)
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (we have together)
(Oh, oh)


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

Madagascar Lyrics as written by Jr. Martin King

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Madagascar song meanings
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28 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    i love this song the quotes are so haunting. the ones from civil war really struck me. it was a faint reminder of what guns n roses used to be, its actually kinda sad because its like heres what we used to be and we will never be that again. and the other quotes just make me think, this is a really good song, axl rose is a genius, i dont care what you all think but i believe he is.

    julianpanion November 25, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    The way I interpret this song, is about Axl and the original band members of GNR. Madagascar has broken off from Africa and is drifting away. The lyrics fit this, but Axl isn't drifting away from the other members, they are already separated with a strong disdain for each other so I doubt if this is what Axl had in mind when writing. It could be about him drifting away from somebody more personal though.

    ToFon February 15, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is very clearly Axl's response to those who say he's "lost it."

    It's him saying "fuck you, I'm not going to listen to you tell me that this new Guns N' Roses is worthless. I won't listen to you tell me I'm crazy. I won't listen to you call me names in the media. And I definitely won't let you tell me that I'll never put this album out and I'll never be able to reclaim my place in the music world again.

    He blesses those who tried to bring him down, but he also laments the fact that he had to lose those people, like his fans and former bandmates. He's saying "I found a way", like I've finally put together this album and gotten to this point after so many years, but why did it have to be this way? "Mired in denial and so afraid". Why did I have to lose everyone around me to get here?

    When he says "if we ever find it's true that we have the strength to choose, freed of all the chains, we held together", he seems to be actually opening up a window of reconciliation with his old bandmates. It's as if he's saying "Look, if the time ever comes where we can finally speak to eachother again, at least we can remember that back in the old days, we were a tight knit group."

    It's a sad song about a man alone, fighting against the odds.

    John Koutrison November 23, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Madagascar II soundtrack

    Maverick2099on December 01, 2008   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    THIS IS TOTAL OPPOSITE TO "SORRY"

    andrespaon August 14, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Forgive them that tear down my soul Bless them that they might grow old

    Yep. All those shitty newspapers, fake fans or simply those who for such a long time enjoyed ignoring and criticizin axl rose, be blessed. They act as if the fact axl is older and therefore is not the same he was back in the 80's is somethin unusual. Well, guess wat, everybody grows old. Go see a Gn'R concert this year and you'll see what a 44 year old can still do with the greatest rock band ever. And yes, by the band I mean the new members, cause the new gn'r are the best thing in the nowadays music scene.

    ROCK ON!

    MistyGunneron November 20, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    what is up with the people sayin new gnr sucks i love them yeah salsh is gone but still there is better and the song is about him sayin hes not gonna let pople bring him down.

    Gnr4lifeon February 11, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    Although I see the parallels with the GnR band situation, I find it hard to believe that that's what this song is about. That interpretation makes no sense considering the sound clips during the instrumental section. The music and lyrics are way too epic to be about something so trivial. I think there is a definite anti-hatred and/or anti-racism message in this song, but I haven't yet put my finger on exactly what I think it means.

    percepteson July 20, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Correct and complete lyrics from the album.

    I won't be told anymore, That I've been brought down in this storm, And left so far out from the shore, But I can't find my way back, my way anymore

    Oh no I won't be told anymore, That I've been brought down in this storm, And left so far out from the shore, Oh that I can't find my way back, my way anymore no

    Oh I, I

    Forgive them that tear down my soul, And bless them that they might grow old, And free them so that they may know, That it's never too late

    For the many times what seemed like a memory, I've searched and found the ways, You used to lure me in. Oh, I've found the ways. Oh, why it had to be My'd own denial, and so afraid

    If we ever find it's true, that we have the strength to choose, Oh, free of all the chains, we have to together

    "I'm gonna tell you a story"

    "Stand up for righteousness"

    "Eh.. what..."

    "Stand up for justice"

    "Eh.. what..."

    "Stand up for truth"

    "How can a person grow up with all this around them?"

    "You gotta call on that something"

    "Where does it come from?"

    "That can make a way out of no way"

    "All this hatred"

    "What we've got here is..."

    "That power that can make a way out of no way"

    "Failure to communicate"

    "I tell you I've seen the lightning flash, I've heard the thunder roar"

    "Everybody's actin' like we can do anything and it don't matter what we do. Maybe we gotta be extra careful, because maybe it matters more than we even know."

    "Sometimes"

    "Hatred isn't something you're born with"

    "I feel discouraged"

    "It gets taught"

    "Sometimes I feel discouraged"

    "I felt this... fear!"

    "He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone. No, never alone, no, never alone."

    "Let's get somethin' straight alright?"

    "He promised never to leave me..."

    "This whole thing is fucked up!"

    "Never to leave me alone."

    "Well, all men betray, all lose heart"

    "I don't wanna lose heart! I wanna believe!"

    "Black men and white men together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream."

    "Free at last, free at last."

    "Thank God almighty. We are free at last!"

    Oh I won't be told anymore, (If we ever find it true) That I've been brought down in this storm, (That we have the strength to choose) And left so far out from the shore, (Oh, freed of all the chains) That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (We have together)

    Oh, no I won't be told anymore, (If we ever find it true) That I've been brought down in this storm, (That we have the strength to choose) And left so far out from the shore, (Oh, freed of all the chains) That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (We held together)

    LuckCharmon November 23, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Great song from a great album... Kinda goes to show Axl didnt necissarily need Slash after all... I'm glad it turned out the way it did cos for something that took 10 years to make... well the expectations were high to say the least.. Good show Alx. Cant wait for the next Gn'R album!!... And how's Slash's form playing Gunners songs at his live shows.. pmpl Enough Slash-bashing... Ilove the guy seriously, just kinda strikes me as finny is all... wish they all would bury the hatchet and tour as Gn'R proper (with Adler included).

    Tricky1979on August 20, 2012   Link

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