Drowned World/Substitute For Love Lyrics

Lyric discussion by dmacdo 

Cover art for Drowned World/Substitute For Love lyrics by Madonna

I don't agree with the way a lot of you interpreted this song. This is a song about regret. She's saying how she sought fame above all else, eschewing love. She felt happy succeeding in that endeavour for a while, but soon came to regret that all she had to show for all her success was trinkets, strangers, drugs, and so on. What good is all of that without love? Hence the "I've changed my mind" line. She's having second thoughts about how she led her life but it's too late. Fame is her religion and she's stuck with it.

The substitute for love is whoever she's with, one of her many empty lovers.

Song Meaning

I must agree, especially considering the superficial route she's continued to follow.

Mawhorra is still little more than a dirty (aging) tramp, and I feel sorry for her kid.