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


Lyrics submitted by spliphstar

Live To Tell Lyrics as written by Patrick Leonard Madonna Ciccone

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Live To Tell song meanings
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52 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I heard this song for the first time when I was about 9 or 10, and I wanted to look the lyrics up again because I thought I was crazy in thinking that it was about sexual abuse. But I guess I'm not the only one, then. The verse about beauty and warmth.. could that possibly be referring to herself, the light within herself that that no one can else take away?

    kittenesson December 05, 2005   Link

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