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American Life Lyrics

Do I have to change my name
Will it get me far
Should I lose some weight
Am I gonna be a star

I tried to be a boy
I tried to be a girl
I tried to be a mess
I tried to be the best
I guess I did it wrong
That's why I wrote this song
This type of modern life
Is it for me
This type of modern life
Is it for free

So I went into a bar
Looking for sympathy
A little company
I tried to find a friend
It's more easily said
It's always been the same
This type of modern life
Is not for me
This type of modern life
Is not for free

Chorus:

American life [American life]
I live the American dream [American dream]
You are the best thing I've seen
You are not just a dream [American life]

I tried to stay ahead
I tried to stay on top
I tried to play the part
But somehow I forgot
Just what I did it for
And why I wanted more
This type of modern life
Is it for me
This type of modern life
Is it for free

Do I have to change my name
Will it get me far
Should I lose some weight
Am I gonna be a star

(chorus)

American life

I tried to be a boy
Tried to be a girl
Tried to be a mess
Tried to be the best
Tried to find a friend
Tried to stay ahead
I tried to stay on top

Do I have to change my name
Will it get me far
Should I lose some weight
Am I gonna be a star

Uh, uh, uh, uh

(Spoken:)
I'm drinkin' a soy latte
I get a double shotie
It goes right through my body
And you know I'm satisfied
I drive my mini cooper
And I'm feeling super-duper
Yo they tell me I'm a trooper
And you know I'm satisfied
I do yoga and pilates
And the room is full of hotties
So I'm checking out their bodies
And you know I'm satisfied
I'm diggin' on the isotopes
This metaphysics shit is dope
And if all this can give me hope
You know I'm satisfied
I got a lawyer and a manager
An agent and a chef
Three nannies, an assistant
And a driver and a jet
A trainer and a butler
And a bodyguard or five
A gardener and a stylist
Do you think I'm satisfied

I'd like to express my extreme point-of-view
I'm not a Christian and I'm not a Jew
I'm just living out the American dream
And I just realized that nothing is what it seems

Do I have to change my name
Am I gonna be a star
Do I have to change my name
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22 Meanings

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Cover art for American Life lyrics by Madonna

I think most of you have the song meaning a little twisted.

She's saying, "Look at this lifestyle: it's materialistic, it spreads ignorance and it's selfish. Why did I get caught up in that? I'm glad I'm over it now. Since I've been released from the bonds that have once oppressed me, here's a song about my struggle and why you shouldn't make the same mistakes."

At least that's how I see it.

wow. thank you. that's how i see it too. i hate when people say, who is she to tell me all of these things are meaningless, she has it all. but really, who better to hear it from? everyone is so obsessed with all of the nonsense we have added to this world and they think that they can't be happy without it. without the status it provides. but she has it all and still isn't happy, or it isn't what makes her happy i should say. this whole album was very inspirational to me. it marked a turning point...

Not Valid
Cover art for American Life lyrics by Madonna

this song is about how she tried to be something that she's not. then, she realized that what she was trying to be isn't all that great anyway. oh, and non-Madonna fans need to quit commenting on her pages, because you will never covert Madonna fans over to your evil ways.

Cover art for American Life lyrics by Madonna

American Life is the reaction to everything she saw after 911, even though she was in England all of the recording of American Life. She had to re-think to herself whether everything she had done was worth it and wonder if she can go on.

Cover art for American Life lyrics by Madonna

I heard this song on the radio again today. As I see it, Madonna is telling us that she has all these wonderful things and yet she's not satisfied. "And you know I'm satisfied" basically means that the narrator believes that we as listeners share a materialistic view of the world, and the repetition of the phrase in the rap tries to trick us into believing the hype.

Finally, she tells us to stop and think whether the high life is so wonderful after all - "Do you think I'm satisfied?". She goes on to say that the "modern" American dream is not as wonderful as the media makes it out to be.

My Interpretation
Cover art for American Life lyrics by Madonna

Ah, Madonna. I love her outlook on everything.

Cover art for American Life lyrics by Madonna

Not too many American Life songs here...I think it is her most personal album yet!

Cover art for American Life lyrics by Madonna

American Life. Basically its her view on what the U.S has become, the way of life, expectations, etc.

Cover art for American Life lyrics by Madonna

I'm drinkin' a soy latte I get a double shotie It goes right through my body And you know I'm satisfied I drive my mini cooper And I'm feeling super-duper Yo they tell me I'm a trooper And you know I'm satisfied I do yoga and pilates And the room is full of hotties So I'm checking out their bodies And you know I'm satisfied I'm diggin' on the isotopes This metaphysics shit is dope And if all this can give me hope You know I'm satisfied I got a lawyer and a manager An agent and a chef Three nannies, an assistant And a driver and a jet A trainer and a butler And a bodyguard or five A gardener and a stylist Do you think I'm satisfied

This Shit Is For Reels Music?

Cover art for American Life lyrics by Madonna

thanks for postin that, and after reading it, i think i'll go take a listen!

Cover art for American Life lyrics by Madonna

obviously no one understands what this song really means

it's 50% sarcasm (especially the 'rap')

and 50% what america has become