papa don't preach

Madonna had a controversial number one hit with this pro-life song about teenage pregnancy. Brian Elliot wrote 'Papa Don't Preach' for a new artist he was working with named Christina Dent, based on teen gossip he heard outside his studio. When Warner Bros. executive Michael Ostin heard it, he convinced Elliot to give it to Madonna instead, because she was an established star. Madonna made minor lyrical additions before recording the song for her album 'True Blue'. She says, "It just fit right in with my own personal zeitgeist of standing up to male authorities, whether it's the pope or the Catholic Church or my father and his conservative, patriarchal ways." The song drew criticism from women's health groups for encouraging teenage pregnancy. Madonna responded, "'Papa Don't Preach' is a message song that everyone is going to take the wrong way. Immediately they're going to say I am advising every young girl to go out and get pregnant. When I first heard the song, I thought it was silly. But then I thought, wait a minute, this song is really about a girl who is making a decision in her life. She has a very close relationship with her father and wants to maintain that closeness. To me it's a celebration of life. It says, 'I love you, father, and I love this man and this child that is growing inside me'. Of course, who knows how it will end? But at least it starts off positive." It was a number one hit in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Norway, the UK, and the US. James Foley directed the video which features an image makeover for Madonna with cropped, platinum blonde hair. It also starred Danny Aiello as Madonna's father. He recorded an answer song from the father's perspective called 'Papa Only Wants The Best.'

http://www.madonna.com/

Papa I know you're going to be upset

'Cause I was always your little girl

But you should know by now

I'm not a baby

You always taught me right from wrong

I need your help, daddy please be strong

I may be young at heart

But I know what I'm saying

The one you warned me all about

The one you said I could do without

We're in an awful mess, and I don't mean maybe - please

Papa don't preach, I'm in trouble deep

Papa don't preach, I've been losing sleep

But I made up my mind, I'm keeping my baby, oh

I'm gonna keep my baby, mmm...

He says that he's going to marry me

We can raise a little family

Maybe we'll be all right

It's a sacrifice

But my friends keep telling me to give it up

Saying I'm too young, I ought to live it up

What I need right now is some good advice, please

Papa don't preach, I'm in trouble deep

Papa don't preach, I've been losing sleep

But I made up my mind, I'm keeping my baby, oh

I'm gonna keep my baby, mmm...

Daddy, daddy if you could only see

Just how good he's been treating me

You'd give us your blessing right now

'Cause we are in love, we are in love, so please

Papa don't preach, I'm in trouble deep

Papa don't preach, I've been losing sleep

But I made up my mind, I'm keeping my baby, oh

I'm gonna keep my baby, mmm...

Papa don't preach, I'm in trouble deep

Papa don't preach, I've been losing sleep

Oh, I'm gonna keep my baby, ooh

Don't you stop loving me daddy

I know, I'm keeping my baby