Papa Don't Preach-help settle an argument

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

I always thought the 'baby' Madonna was keeping was an actual baby she was pregnant with but DP insists it's her boyfriend she's keeping. Who's right?

@VenusTiger

Interesting as I was agreeing with baby being that she's pregnant but having just read through all the lyrics, she's pleading with her father to give them his blessing - she's also saying, whatever you say, I've made up my mind, I'm not dumping him, I'm keeping him. She talks about marriage and raising a family, she doesn't once suggest that she's staying with him because she's already started a family - so.... I've swtiched, 'hey dad, whatever you think of my bf, he's my babe/baby and I'm sticking with him'. Sorry OP.

‘We’re in an awful mess, and I don’t mean maybe’

Definitely pregnant!

Madonna was from a catholic background I think and kind of railing against that. I knew it was about an actual baby from when I first heard it aged 10 is he abit dim?!

Shes pleading with her father to give the blessing because she marrying her bf.Shes pregnant by him.

Plus the way her father reacts and then hugs her at the end,its about teen pregnancy.

Even in the Bio of the song it says this is about a Catholic girl being pregnant. Also someone said there are imagines in the video.

The whole video makes it clear it’s about teenage pregnancy.

She talks about her friends telling her to give IT up. If it was her boyfriend she’d say give him up. Then there is the line about raising her little family. She needs her daddy’s help to get through it but she has made her decision.

@TherapistInATabard I'm confused now I was 5 when it came out and used to dance to it as a teen on 80s nights - I recall my friends and I always thought she was pregnant and 'in trouble' - but having read the lyrics I'm unsure.
I've just read up on Wiki that it is indeed about teenage pregnancy, but have read on another website, that because she received a lot of criticism from the church, it was decided that the lyrics would try to be ambiguous with this song - so know knows?

*who knows

What about the one that goes "all that she wants is another baby, she's gone tomorrow" is that like, a real baby? Or just a boyfriend?

It's an actual baby, surely?

I'm pretty sure I read years ago it was written to be ambiguous, so it could be taken as it's a baby or it's the relationship that she's singing about. Loads of songs do this.

I don’t think there is any ambiguity at all it’s crystal clear from the lyrics and the video it’s about teen pregnancy. I believe like a prayer is supposed to be ambiguous though as I remember watching an interview with Madonna who said it could either be seen as religious or about oral sex depending on how the individual interpreted it, my young teenage self went with the former!

@GNCQ

What about the one that goes "all that she wants is another baby, she's gone tomorrow" is that like, a real baby? Or just a boyfriend?

I've wondered what that one's all about, too!

You're right!

Definitely teen pregnancy - "the one you warned me all about"

@GNCQ

What about the one that goes "all that she wants is another baby, she's gone tomorrow" is that like, a real baby? Or just a boyfriend?

That's Ace of Base, "All that she wants" - I assumed she wanted to get pregnant but don't know. 🤷🏻‍♀️

‘We’re in an awful mess’ ‘I’m in trouble deep’ these lyrics must mean it’s a baby.

Was he in primary school when it came out? Sometimes it’s a shock to raise that something you had an innocent ok understanding of is not what you thought.

That or he’s not very perceptive and stubborn. In which case get him to watch the video

I think the ace of base one is not about an actual baby but a woman who cannot commit to a man and just moves on.

It’s a baby , she’s pregnant.you’re right ! Yay !

It is a bebe yes. However as I said to DH when it came on the radio the other week, wasn't Madonna about 27 when she sang this? What the fuck's it got to do with her Dad?

@ShrikeAttack, lol, she was probably 27 in real life but I think the song was based on a teenage pregnancy.

It's about a pregnancy. This I know, because my DM wouldn't allow me to listen to Madonna after this song came out. I was a child at the time.

In what way is like a prayer ambiguous?!