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Rebel Heart deluxe
"Veni Vidi Vici"
Length 4:39
Writer(s) Madonna Ciccone
Thomas Wesley Pentz
Maureen McDonald
Toby Gad
Ariel Rechtshaid
Nasir Jones
Producer(s) Madonna
Kanye West
Mike Dean
Charlie Heat

30njdx5 track listing

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Best Night
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S.E.X.

"Veni Vidi Vici" is a song by Madonna from the deluxe edition of her thirteenth studio album Rebel Heart. The song features Nas.

Background[]

The "I came, I saw, I conquered" line in the chorus is an English translation of the song's Latin title. Its popular usage originates from a letter that Julius Caesar wrote to the Roman Senate around 46 BC, in which he summarized his quick campaign against King Pharnaces II of Pontus in Zela, Asia Minor as "Veni, vidi, vici." The phrase is used to refer to a swift, conclusive victory. Madonna shouts outs several of her classic tracks, during her two verses, including "Holiday", "Like a Prayer" and "Ray of Light." Asked by Billboard magazine why she's quoting her work, the Queen of Pop replied: "I reference many things in pop culture, and I've written so many songs and had such a long career, that I end up referencing myself, too. If I can rip anybody off, I can rip me off."

Composition[]

Madonna sings the chorus over simple guitar beats, uttering "I came, I saw, I conquered", the English translation of the song's title. Nas appears for a guest verse talking about his own life as Diplo backs it with shotgun and crunching horn sounds.

Lyrics[]

Life was so crazy
You've been through a lot
I tell you stories some times you know

Seemed like yesterday, I was a baby on the street
I took a holiday, I was steppin to the beat
I had to pay my rent, on the lower east side
I threw my tag around, let B-boys take me for a ride
I started writing songs, I kinda got into the groove
They tried to criticize, my every single move
But then I realized, I had nothing left to lose
It took me by surprise, when I became the news

I was fearless, like a renegade
I had a feeling, that I can't explain
I didn't listen, to what people said
I came I saw I conquered
I was constant, as a northern star
I had a fire, burning in my heart
I never gave up, fighting in the dark

I came I saw I conquered
I came I saw I conquered
I came I saw I conquered

(Talk to 'em)
I expressed myself, came like a virgin down the aisle
Exposed my naked ass, and I did it with a smile
And when it came to sex, I knew I walked the borderline
And when I struck a pose, all the gay boys lost their mind
I justified my love, I made you say your little prayer
Had me crucified, you know I had to take it there
I opened up my heart, I learned the power of good-bye
I saw a ray of light, music saved my life

I was fearless, like a renegade
I had a feeling, that I can't explain
I didn't listen, to what people said
I came I saw I conquered
I was constant, as a northern star
I had a fire, burning in my heart
I never gave up, fighting in the dark
I came I saw I conquered
I came I saw I conquered
I came I saw I conquered

In 1994, I came through the door
With that born beats versus scratches
Verbally murdered rappers
My mom's from the Carolina's, pops from Natchez
And QB's where I started flowing
But I was scared the cops was gonna kick my apartment door in
Had a baby girl by a crazy girl then I got married
Heavily accosted, that ended in a bad divorce
And I know how to pick 'em, don't I?
Never gave a fuck about public pressure
Or the ridicule of two
Now who's the fool?
And I ain't never been happier, no lie
I'm just you humble servant, I'm Nas
If y'all burn down Ferguson I'ma riot
My life cannot be compared to anybpdy
And trapster, and rappers
Any politicians, beauticians, a musician
Anybody, so I'm anybodies
Many coffins, heads or tails
Penny tosses, we either dead or in jail
Not many options on the block I came from
And I turned to a rap messaiah, spit rapid fire
And I roll right back to the block I came from

I was fearless, like a renegade
I had a feeling, that I can't explain
I didn't listen, to what people said
I came I saw I conquered
I was constant, as a northern star
I had a fire, burning in my heart
I never gave up, fighting in the dark
I came I saw I conquered
I came I saw I conquered
I came I saw I conquered


I conquered
I conquered
I conquered


30njdx5
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