Love and friendship

In this life

Written by Madonna and Shep Pettibone
Produced by Madonna and Shep Pettibone
Sequencing, keyboards and programming by Shep Pettibone
Additional string arrangement by Jeremy Lubbock
Additional programming by Sander Selover
Background vocals by Donna DeLory and Niki Haris
Drums by Anton Fig
Strings led by Glen Dicterow, concert master of the N.Y. Philharmonic Orchestra

This song is about the tragic death of two of Madonna's friends. Singer Martin Burgoyne was a good friend and former roommate of Madonna, when she lived in New York in the early eighties. Burgoyne died from aids in 1986 at the age of 23. Christopher Flynn was Madonna's dance teacher and mentor, who died of aids as well.

On the Girlie Show, Madonna takes a moment of reflection and gives a short speech about the tragedy of aids, giving those who suffer from it her support. As she raises her hand to the sky, she finishes with "Don't give up!". She's pretty emotional as she sits down on the stairs, all alone, singing. A beautiful moment in the otherwise so racy show. The song closes the disco segment of the concert, making a reference to how aids ended the disco era and the hedonism of the 70s.

Sitting on a park bench
Thinking about a friend of mine
He was only 23
Gone before he had his time
It came without a warning
Didn't want his friends to see him cry
He knew the day was dawning
And I didn't have a chance to say goodbye

In this life
I loved you most of all
What for?
'Cause now you're gone and I have to ask myself
What for?
What for?

Driving down the boulevard
Thinking about a man I knew
He was like a father to me
Nothing in the world that he wouldn't do
Taught me to respect myself
Said that we're all made of flesh and blood
Why should he be treated differently
Shouldn't matter who you choose to love

In this life
I loved you most of all
What for?
'Cause now you're gone and I have to ask myself
What for?

People pass by and I wonder who's next
Who determines, who knows best
Is there a lesson I'm supposed to learn in this case
Ignorance is not bliss

In this life
I loved you most of all
What for?
'Cause now you're gone and I have to ask myself
What for?

People pass by and I wonder who's next
Who determines, who knows best
Is there a lesson I'm supposed to learn in this case
Ignorance is not bliss

Have you ever watched your best friend die
Have you ever watched a grown man cry
Some say that life isn't fair
I say that people just don't care
They'd rather turn the other way
While we wait for this thing to go away
Why do we have to pretend
Some day I pray it will end

I hope it's in this life
I hope it's in this life time
I hope it's in this life
I hope it's in this life time