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magdelena lyrics
Overcome by your moving temple
Overcome by this holiest of altars
So pure, so rare
To witness such an earthly goddess
That I've lost my self control
Beyond compelled to throw this dollar
Down before your holiest of altars
I'd sell my soul
My self-esteem a dollar at a time
For one chance, one kiss
One taste of you, my Magdalena
I bear witness
This place, this prayer, so long forgotten
So pure, so rare
To witness such an earthly goddess
That I'd sell my soul
My self-esteem a dollar at a time
For one chance, one kiss
One taste of you, my black Madonna
I'd sell my soul
My self-esteem a dollar at a time
One taste, one taste
One taste of you, my Magdalena
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magdelena meanings
joe says: Oct 27, 2004, 11:02 PM
Obviously this song is about desire, but i'm curious as to the meaning of "black madonna".Any ideas?
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ccarpenter says: Nov 2, 2004, 11:05 AM
"The former applies generically to any dark skin colored representation of Mary."So apparently it's a Negro representation of the Virgin Mary. I'm not sure what this adds to the song.
Maybe it has something to do with the rarity of a "black Madonna". It's not something you see every day. I have some backing to this claim in the line "So pure, so rare".
Though I'm not an expert. Eh.
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Leon5465 says: Feb 4, 2005, 5:18 PM
I always thought the phrase "black madonna" contradicted itself. Madonna means the Virgin Mary, or an image of her. Madonna can mean pure and innocent but then putting black in front of it makes it mean the opposite. Maybe it means that this girl is so innocent at first glance but inside she isn't so innocent. Or that from the singer's perspective she is innocent but he is bilnded by infatuation and doesn't see the real her.Rating: 
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Leon5465 says: Feb 4, 2005, 5:21 PM
Also worth noting, I always kind of thought that he was talking about a stripper or prostitute. I don't see any lines in the song that negates my theory, but plenty that support it.Rating: 
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cvincent says: Feb 4, 2005, 7:06 PM
Whether the song refers to a Virgin Mary figure, innocence, guilt, whatever, one thing is for sure: the song fits the bill for any sort of obsession that seems good at first sight, but which shows its true malignant form through addiction.Just replace Magdalena with anything one can conceivably have an unhealthy dependence on: alcohol, drugs, a certain person, work... It all fits pretty well.
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Memnoch_McKiln says: Dec 24, 2005, 6:12 AM
I see it as Jesus Christ struggling with his love for Mary MagdaleneRating: 
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mgoblue424 says: Feb 2, 2006, 10:07 PM
it always seemed to be about some desire for a stripper or prostitute, as mentioned above.losing your self worth a dollar at a time pretty much sounds like a night at the strip club. ;-)
the whole black madonna thing brings to mind the whole "virin/whore" paradox. he wants her to be a perfect angel..... except for him.
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DeafeningHorn says: Mar 16, 2007, 9:41 PM
I agree about the prostitute interpretation."That I've lost my self control
Beyond compelled to throw this dollar
Down before your holiest of altars "
"For one chance, one kiss
One taste of you, my black Madonna"
How much more direct can you get?
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Fredlimbston says: Apr 6, 2007, 6:28 PM
This song is about a stripper...look up the meaning of magdelana.This meaning has not been rated.
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drkelfdourden1 says: May 14, 2007, 11:51 PM
Well, I don't think it necessarily has to be about a Stripper or Prostitute, or the even the Virgin Mary. He's talking about desiring a woman, and it really could be any woman for that matter. If he loves that girl and her "altar" so much that he is willing to lose it all one Dollar at a time to get her. Dollar could be a stand in for just about anything, self worth, assets, friends, life, liberty... He will be willing to give up one and all one at a time all for her. This song doesn't have to be direct as it is, or it can, you can think of it anyway you want. The one thing that is clear is it is something about a desire you can't live without that is all. And if you desire something that much it could be the same as a religion or as evil as the Devil, hence the Magdelena and Black Modonna lyrics. You really can make this song to suit your life in just about any form, that's why I like it so much!This meaning has not been rated.
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