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  1. Tracks
  2. Madonna
  3. Madonna
  4. Borderline
Borderline by Madonna

SINGLE

Madonna

Borderline

Release date: 1980

From MadonnaTrack 25:21
PopMusicPop/RockDance
Spotify Apple Music More on Madonna

About This Track

A pop and post-disco track shaped by 1970s soul, 'Borderline' captures the frustration of loving someone whose affection swings wildly between devotion and withdrawal. The lyrics sketch a relationship in which one partner uses emotional control as a weapon, leaving Madonna's narrator caught between desire and self-preservation. She demands clarity, consistency, the simple dignity of being either chosen or released. The song's architecture is deceptively intricate for a dance-pop single. Its hook works through repetition and escalation, the title phrase becoming a kind of breaking point made audible, each iteration of "you just keep on pushin' my love over the borderline" a small capitulation to exhaustion. Contemporary critics recognised the harmonic sophistication at work beneath the groove, and the track became a significant commercial success, establishing Madonna as a chart force beyond her debut.

"Borderline" is a single by Madonna, from the album Madonna, released 1980. The track is 5:21 long. It's filed under Pop. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 10 articles about Madonna.

About the Artist

Madonna

Madonna

Lyrics

Borderline

Something in the way you love me won't let me be
I don't want to be your prisoner
So baby, won't you set me free?
Stop playing with my heart
Finish what you start
When you make my love come down
If you want me, let me know
Baby, let it show
Honey, don't you fool around

Just try to understand (understand)
I've given all I can
'Cause you got the best of me

Borderline
Feels like I'm going to lose my mind
You just keep on pushin' my love
Over the borderline

Borderline
Feels like I'm going to lose my mind
You just keep on pushin' my love
Over the borderline
(Borderline)
Keep on pushin' me, baby
Don't you know you drive me crazy?
You just keep on pushin' my love over the borderline (borderline)

Something in your eyes is makin' such a fool of me
When you hold me in your arms
You love me 'til I just can't see
But then you let me down
When I look around
Baby, you just can't be found
Stop driving me away
I just want to stay
There's something I just got to say

Just try to understand (understand)
I've given all I can
'Cause you got the best of me

Borderline (borderline)
Feels like I'm going to lose my mind
You just keep on pushin' my love
Over the borderline

Borderline (borderline)
Feels like I'm going to lose my mind
You just keep on pushin' my love
Over the borderline
(Borderline)

Keep on pushin' me, baby
Don't you know you drive me crazy?
You just keep on pushin' my love
Over the borderline (borderline)

Look what your love has done to me
Come on baby, set me free
You just keep on pushin' my love
Over the borderline
(Borderline)

You cause me so much pain
I think I'm going insane
What does it take to make you see?
You just keep on pushin' my love
Over the borderline (borderline)

Keep pushin' me
Keep pushin' me
Keep pushin' my love

Come on baby
Come on darling, yeah (over the borderline, borderline)
La, la, la, la la la la, la-la la-lah
You just keep on pushin' my love
Over the borderline (borderline)

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Madonna

5:211980Single
Listen
Album
Madonna
Madonna
Madonna
1980
Track number
2
Release year
1980

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The Celebration Tour - In Rio
2024
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2023
American Life Mixshow Mix (Honoring Peter Rauhofer)
2023

Explore

More tracks by Madonna

  1. 4 Minutes [Korex Remix] [Mixed]
  2. Angel (Extended Dance Mix Edit) [2022 Remaster]
  3. Ayrı Qalmısanmı?
  4. Bring It
  5. Bring Your Love*
  6. Closer 2U'
  7. Dancefloor
  8. Diamonds On My Hand
  9. Don't Stop (Original Demo Edit)Bedtime Stories – The Untold Chapter
    3:20
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Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer
Reggie Lucas
Writer
Reggie Lucas
Producer
Reggie Lucas
Bass
Anthony Jackson
Guitar
Ira Siegel, Reggie Lucas
Keyboards
Ed Walsh, Fred Zarr, Sir Dean Gant
Background Vocals
Brenda White-King, Chrissy Faith, Gwen Guthrie
Drum Programmer
Reggie Lucas
Mastering Engineer
Ted Jensen
Tenor Saxophone
Bob Malach
Video Director
Mary Lambert (Director)
READ MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNA
READ MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNAREAD MORE ABOUT MADONNA
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