Paradise (Not For Me)

Lyrics

I can't remember
When I was young
I can't explain
If it was wrong

My life goes on
But not the same
Into your eyes
My face remains

I've been so high
I've been so down
Up to the skies
Down to the ground

I was so blind
I could not see
Your paradise
Is not for me

Autour de moi
Je ne vois pas
Qui sont les anges
Surement pas moi

Encore une fois
Je suis cassée
Encore une fois
Je n'y crois pas

I've been so high
I've been so down
Up to the skies
Down to the ground

There is a light
Above my head
Into your eyes
My face remains

I've been so high
I've been so down
Up to the skies
Down to the ground

I can't remember
When I was young
Into your eyes
My face remains

Into your eyes
My face remains

I've been so high
I've been so down
Up to the skies
Down to the ground

I've been so high
I've been so down
Up to the skies
Down to the ground

Credits

Written by Mirwais Ahmadzaï and Madonna
Produced by Mirwais Ahmadzaï and Madonna

Album

Song

Paradise (Not For Me) was the first collaboration between Madonna and Mirwais. The song was recorded in 1999 to be featured on Mirwais' album Production. It gave fans a first glance at the new style approach that Madonna was taking for her new album. Only later was decided that this song was in fact to be included on the Music album. For Madonna's album the track was slightly re-arranged; the instrumental part in the middle of the song is longer than the version on Mirwais' record.

Tour

On the Drowned World Tour, Paradise was used as an interlude so Madonna could go backstage for a costume change. However, she appeared on screen in a beautiful Manga-inspired video. Meanwhile four white cocoons were hanging on the ceiling. When they burst open they revealed four butt-naked (except for a string) dancers, hanging upside down. As the song continued, they slowly climbed into upward position and came down on stage. With the words 'There is a light' the dancers uncovered a reddish glow in their mouths.

Madonna created a beautiful intimate moment on the Confessions Tour by adding Paradise to the setlist right after Drowned World. Yitzhak Sinwani joins her, introduced by Madonna as "my friend Isaac", adding a different comment about him on each show. They perform the song as a duet with Madonna playing the acoustic guitar and Isaac singing the originally French parts in Yiddish, while the screens show a beautiful tree with pink petals that are slowly falling down, making the humble rendition a special highlight of the show.