Madonna – This Used To Be My Playground

"This Used To Be My Playground" as written by and Madonna Ciccone Shep Pettibone....
This used to be my playground
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say

Don't look back
Keep your head held high
Don't ask them why
Because life is short
And before you know
You're feeling old
And your heart is breaking
Don't hold on to the past
Well that's too much to ask

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be my childhood dream
This used to be the place I ran to
Whenever I was in need
Of a friend
Why did it have to end
And why do they always say

No regrets
But I wish that you
Were here with me
Well then there's hope yet
I can see your face
In our secret place
You're not just a memory
Say goodbye to yesterday (the dream)
Those are words I'll never say (I'll never say)

This used to be my playground (used to be)
This used to be our pride and joy
This used to be the place we ran to
That no one in the world could dare destroy
This used to be our playground (used to be)
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
I wish you were standing here with me

This used to be our playground (used to be)
This used to be our childhood dream
This used to be the place we ran to
The best things in life are always free
Wishing you were here with me


Lyrics submitted by spitfirek7

"This Used to Be My Playground" as written by Madonna Ciccone Shep Pettibone

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Downtown Music Publishing

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This Used To Be My Playground song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +2
    General Commentthis song to me is all about losing childhood innocence and gaining responsibility. but in the literal sense i relate to it as well; i'm a junior in highschool and recently i drove by my elementary school; i moved across town in sixth grade and lost touch with everyone i knew from there. turns out; the school closed last year. nobody told me, i went and walked around the playground. the whole time i was crying. because that playground was who i was, i spent so much time out there with my friends. and i realized that i hadn't spoken to them in years and years.

    "This used to be our childhood dream
    This used to be the place we ran to
    The best things in life are always free"- i love these lines. in essence this was what i felt walking around that day. i cried when i got in the car and this was on the radio. i guess that's why i connect the two so much.
    musicalmasterpiecex3on January 26, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General CommentI reckon this song is about pure hurt.

    "and before you know youre feeling old and your heart is breaking."

    and telling the listener that you will overcome the hurt but to never forget it.

    "Say goodbye to yesterday, those are the words ill never say."
    bretty2uon May 29, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis is such a meanigful song, so innocent, and i just love it
    silverpuppiezon April 13, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Commentthis is one of my favorite Madonna songs, I remember it was from her movie "A League of Their Own." I love the words, it has a lot of meaning
    elscorcho37on June 14, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General CommentIt's all about losing a friend to time and then coming back to see that they aren't the same anymore. Or the actual playground/childhood idea that's obvious. I love it.
    thinkitbeiton June 30, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis is one of my favorite songs that was in one of my favorite movies. I used to sing it when I was little, and the song just reminds me of the past and things that once were that have now changed.
    LegallyBlonde04on June 21, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General CommentLoss of childhood and innocence--having to grow up and take on adult responsibilities sucks and you can't go back in time. We are not aware as children how good we have it, until it's too late to truly savor it. When we look back at our childhood, it hits us hard that we can't go back to those carefree days. They're lost, all we have are memories.
    80sluvron May 09, 2008   Link
  • +1
    My Opinioni think this song is about a relationship. she always goes to the places they hung out all the time and that is her playground, it was the place she ran to see him, he was not just her lover but a good friend also and i think she is talkin about how something happen between them and now they cant be together or talk anymore, so when she goes back to that place it makes her sad cuz it was the place that once brought her so much happiness. well thats what it reminds me of when i hear it.
    jazzy143on May 27, 2010   Link
  • +1
    MemoryThis Used to Be My Playground-ballad is named is Lady Madonna's take on the universal theme Looking for a Place to Happen-making her stops along the way because it's a song about her mother's death. Madonna misses her mother-That's a Fact. She is sad because she is crying in Sad and Wet Tears. In Playground, her sadness is truthful and absolute. Madonna can't stop crying-she is beside herself. Therefore, Playground is her Saddest and Wettest Song and Performance! And Inside, Madonna's All Still Wet because she can't hide her haunting sadness in her Evita Voice! Ultimately, Madonna Sobs and Cries in this beautiful song!
    rabbitbunnyon August 23, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General CommentFor me, I never read it as an actual playground. As many have mentioned, it is more about innocence and a comfort of being a child when you can run to somewhere or someone who can make it all okay. It's like your safe place. Being adult means that you have to rely on yourself seeing the persons or the things you love grow old and disappear. It always makes me cry when it gets to the part where she sings:

    And why do they always say "Don't look back"?
    Keep your head held high. Don't ask them why
    because life is short.

    Both the melody and the lyrics of this part are very emotional. It is sad because we all know it is true. The speaker is struggling to let go of the precious past, while everybody else seems to move on, saying there is no use in lamenting about it. The contrast between reason and sentimentality makes this song stronger and more realistic. Some feelings are not good for us, but we just can't help it. This is my favourite of all Madonna's songs because it captures the universal feeling of nostalgia in a simple and sincere manner.
    lazyheadon September 17, 2013   Link

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