Sanctuary (song)

"Sanctuary" Length 5:02 Writer(s) Madonna Dallas Austin Anne Preven Scott Cutler Herbie Hancock Producer(s) Madonna Dallas Austin track listing Love Tried to Welcome Me Bedtime Story

"Sanctuary" is a song by Madonna from her sixth studio album Bedtime Stories.

Background

Sanctuary contains a sample of "Watermelon Man", performed by Herbie Hancock.

Madonna also used lines from the poem "Leaves Of Grass" by Walt Whitman.

Composition

Madonna quotes Walt Whitman's poem Vocalism in the lyrics, and aligns love and death. Musically it has a "techno pull" and has an atmospheric introduction with an assortment of odd noises, electric guitar and some strings.

Lyrics

Surely whoever speaks to me in the right voice
Him or her I shall follow

Who needs the sun
When the rain's so full of life
Who needs the sky
It's here in your arms
I want to be buried
You are
My sanctuary

Who needs the sun
When the rain's so full of life
Who needs the sky
When the ground's open wide
It's here in your arms
I want to be buried
You are
My sanctuary

Who needs a smile
When a tear's so full of love
Who needs a home
With the stars up above
It's here in your heart
I want to be carried
You are
My sanctuary

Who needs the light
With the darkness in your eyes
Who needs to sleep
With the stars in the sky
It's here in your soul
I want to be married
You are
My sanctuary

And the earth was void and empty
And darkness was upon the face of the earth

Is all of this pain so necessary
You
Are
My sanctuary

Surely whoever speaks to me in the right voice
Him or her I shall follow
As the water follows the moon
Silently
(Who needs the sun)
With fluid steps
(Who needs the sky)
Around the globe
( Who needs to sleep)
I hear your voice
You are (you are)
My sanctuary
You are (you are)
You are (you are)
My sanctuary

Singles | Photoshoots
"Survival" "Secret" "I'd Rather Be Your Lover" (feat. Meshell Ndegeocello) "'Don't Stop" "Inside of Me" "Human Nature" "Forbidden Love" "Love Tried to Welcome Me" "Sanctuary" "Bedtime Story" "Take a Bow"