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

Production

Music

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.