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| “ | Love and light, Madeline. |
„ |
| ~ Madeline's sign-off to her messages with Lily. |
Madeline is a major antagonist featuring in Lily Allen's 2025 album West End Girl.
She is the apathetic woman who confirms that she has been having an affair with Allen's husband, David Harbour.
Her direct speech is provided by Lily Allen in an impersonated American accent.
Personality[]
Madeline's direct-speech is given as a pretentious American woman who seemingly touts spirituality and claims she has "her own opinions about lying". Despite this, she actively engages in an affair with a married man and is evidently a hypocrite trying to protect herself from the consequences of her actions. It is suggested she may be similarly manipulated by Harbour.
Biography[]
Background[]
When David Harbour and Lily Allen married in 2020, Harbour asked Allen for an open marriage agreement after she was cast in a play in London. Allen was reluctant to do this, but nonetheless agreed to maintain her marriage. During this time, it is suggested Harbour and "Madeline" began their affair.
Tennis[]
In the third track of the album, Allen tells the audience how Harbour had given her his phone to look at something on Instagram, but snatched it back when a notification came up, prompting Allen to ask "Who's Madeline?" repeatedly.
Madeline[]
The album immediately segues into Madeline, the titular individual Harbour had been having an affair with. Allen explains that their open marriage agreement required sex to be had with strangers, but Madeline is not a stranger. She messages Madeline, despite feeling like she is being accusatory.
Madeline is given direct-speech responses in the song, where she feigns vague sympathy toward Lily as well as allyship. She claims that her relationship with Harbour was purely sexual and fell within the remit of their relationship, though this is untrue. Allen does not believe Madeline and accuses her of lying or at least being brainwashed by Harbour. Once again, Madeline offers vague suggestions of sympathy and almost acts as if she is the victim, telling her to tell her if she needs "any more details", suggesting she is not telling the whole truth.
Quotes[]
| “ | You tell me he's telling the truth, is that the case or a line that he fed you? Wanna believe you, but is it a ruse? Lie to me, babe, and I'll end you I can't trust anything that comes out of your mouth I'm not convinced that he didn't fuck you in our house |
„ |
| ~ Allen's retort to Madeline. |
| “ | I hate that you're in so much pain right now I really don't wanna be the cause of any upset He told me that you were aware this was going on and that he had your full consent If he's lying about that, then please let me know Because I have my own feelings about dishonesty Lies are not something that I wanna get caught up in You can reach out to me any time, by the way If you need any more details or you just need to vent or anything Love and light, Madeline |
„ |
| ~ The outro to Madeline. |
Trivia[]
- The single itself is inspired by Dolly Parton's single, Jolene, as well as real-life email exchanges Allen had with a woman.
- Costume designer Natalie Tippett has come forward to reveal she is the inspiration behind Madeline. Harbour and Tippett supposedly worked together during production of We Have a Ghost in 2021, whilst Allen was performing in 2:22 A Ghost Story in London's West End.
- However, Allen has since revealed the character of Madeline is inspired by numerous women, not one specific individual.
- Allen's impersonated accent has been described as typical for New Orleans, which is where Tippett is based.