'Justify My Love' by Lenny Kravitz and Ingrid Chavez

Written by the American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actor and arranger Lenny Kravitz and Ingrid Chavez, a Mexican-American poet, vocalist, songwriter and photographer, with additional lyrics by Madonna, the song was included on Madonna’s first compilation ‘The Immaculate Collection’ which was released on November 6th 1990 and was the first single from the compilation.
The song then also appeared on the greatest hits compilation album ‘Celebration’ released in 2009. Ingrid Chavez was not credited on the song which then led to a lawsuit with Lenny Kravitz, resulting in an out of court settlement.

The song itself was unique in that Madonna’s vocals are primarily spoken and whispered but hardly ever sung, a style which she then replicated frequently on her next album ‘Erotica’ in 1992.

The lyrics of the song are primarily about sex and romance and whilst receiving mixed reviews from older critics it was critically appreciated from many contemporary critics with it being noted as one of Madonna’s best songs to date. It became Madonna’s ninth number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top ten in Australia, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Italy, Switzerland and number two in the UK. The music video caused controversy worldwide as it featured Madonna being sexually seduced into having sex with a man and a woman and as a result was banned from MTV and other TV networks for showing imagery of sadomasochism, voyeurism and bisexuality.

The song has been performed on three of Madonna’s tours, most recently her MDNA tour in 2012.

I want to kiss you in Paris
I want to hold your hand in Rome
I want to 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 want to be your mother
I don't want to be your sister either
I just want to be your lover
I want to 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 want to 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