The song is unique in that Madonna's vocals are primarily spoken and whispered, rather than sung, and with the lyrics being mainly about sex and romance the song received mixed reviews from older critics but viewed ad one of Madonna's best songs to date by the more contemporary critics.
It reached the top ten in more than seven countries worldwide, including the UK and is also seen as Madonna's most controversial song to date. The music video contains imagery of sadomasocism, voyeurism and bisexuality, all of which meant it was banned from MTV and other TV Networks due to its explicit sexual images. To date. "Justify My Love" has remained one of Madonna's most iconic and controversial singles to date, twenty two years on from its release.
'Justify My Love' Written by Lenny Kravitz, additional lyrics by Madonna
I wanna kiss you in Paris
I wanna hold your hand in Rome
I wanna run naked in a rainstorm
Make love in a train cross-country
You put this in me So now what, so now what?
Chorus: Wanting, needing, waiting
For you to justify my love
Hoping, praying
For you to justify my love
I want to know you
Not like that I don't wanna be your mother
I don't wanna be your sister either
I just wanna be your lover
I wanna be your baby Kiss me, that's right, kiss me
(chorus)
Yearning, burning
For you to justify my love
What are you gonna do?
What are you gonna do?
Talk to me -- tell me your dreams Am I in them?
Tell me your fears Are you scared?
Tell me your stories
I'm not afraid of who you are We can fly! Poor is the man Whose pleasures depend On the permission of another Love me, that's right, love me I wanna be your baby (chorus) I'm open and ready For you to justify my love To justify my love Wanting, to justify Waiting, to justify my love Praying, to justify To justify my love I'm open, to justify my love
