In 1986, Madonna was shooting for her third motion picture "Who's That Girl", known at the time as "Slammer". Needing songs for the soundtrack of the movie, she contacted Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray, with whom she had written and produced her third studio album "True Blue" in 1986. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Bray for the film's soundtrack. It was inspired by her then husband Sean Penn and their often tumultuous relationship. Madonna felt that her marriage to Penn was on the verge of breaking up, due to Penn's abusive and violent nature. That translated as the inspiration behind the song. In a "Rolling Stone" article dated September 10, 1987, Madonna spoke about Penn's impact on her life,