Beatles: Lady Madonna Meaning

Song Released: 1968

Lady Madonna Lyrics

See how they run

Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Who finds the money when you pay the rent
Did you think that money was heaven sent

Friday night arrives without a suitcase
Sunday morning...

1. anonymous

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   May 14th 2008 !⃝

   In fact the song was made by John for his mom when she died.
2. anonymous

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   May 1st 2008 !⃝

   I thought it was some random girl who was selfish. Some type of "madonna"

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
3. anonymous

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   Jan 13th 2008 !⃝

   Alright guys....this song immortalizes his MOTHER MARY, not the virgin Mary...not Jesus...not god. After his mum died of breast cancer on halloween in 1956 when Paul was 14. When she was buried Nov 3 1956, Paul and his brother mike were both to pay a tribute to her... Mike by placing her picture on his 1st solo album and Paul by immortalising her in "Lady Madonna"
4. anonymous

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   Dec 8th 2007 !⃝

   You guys are dumb. If you watch the Back in the U.S. Concert DVD by Mccartney in the background there are tons of pictures of female figures like Mother Theresa and Rosa Parks.
5. anonymous

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   Sep 17th 2007 !⃝

   I've always thought the Lady Madonna in the song is an archetype of mothers and women in general. Indeed, the Virgin Mary (the ultimate of plighted mothers) is often referred to as the Madonna, however I don't think the intent of the song is particularly Christian.
   Another meaning of the word "Madonna" is an idealized, virtuous woman.
   
   I've always interpreted the song as being about a single mother struggling to get by. The woman has either made some bad choices or has been dealt a bad hand in life.
   
   I also got the impression she might be doing some questionable things to finance her family. When they say "I wonder how you manage to make ends meet" I think they might be saying, "gee, where is that money coming from? Certainly not heaven."
6. anonymous

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   Jul 18th 2007 !⃝

   It's about a picture of a woman named madonna holding onto a baby. The woman is african and is poor. It is about poverty, not religion.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
7. anonymous

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   Apr 9th 2007 !⃝

   Wow, it's funny after reading these interpretations about Jesus. I actually assumed that it was about a prostitute, for some reason. I have no idea why.
8. brielle

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   Mar 17th 2007 !⃝

   "Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
   Wonders how you manage to feed the rest"
   
   When jesus fed all the people with the very little food he had.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
9. anonymous

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   Feb 15th 2007 !⃝

   Though I think the song is about the passage of time through a single mother's eyes, I also parallel the lyrics to the story of Mary raising Jesus. None of this is documented, it's just what I think.
   
   "Who finds the money when you pay the rent, Did you think that money was heaven sent"
   (heaven sent=The baby Jesus to Mary)
   "Friday night arrives without a suitcase"
   The day came with no responsibility; no suitcase signifies no man present in the household to provide (like Jesus coming without a human father)
   "Sunday morning creeping like a nun"
   The day came before she could realize it (Nun=Mary was supposedly a virgin, but "creeping" connotates the skeptisism)
   "Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlegs" (Monday's child=Jesus, as he grows)
   "See how they run"
   Talking about the days, how the go by quickly; the children, how they grow. (People run from the "Savior" as he grows)
   "Lady Madonna lying on the bed, Listen to the music playing in your head"
   (Angels singing to Mary to comfort the public's denial of Jesus)
   "Tuesday afternoon is never ending, Wednesday morning papers didn't come"
   The day passed so quickly that it seemed like the next never came. (Followers were slow to gather and value Jesus)
   "Thursday night you stocking needed mending, See how they run"
   She worked to make the days go by quicker (On the cross in need of help, the followers of Jesus ran)

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