I licked envelopes
Wrote a letter to the Pope
He never gave me rope
In the times I couldn't cope
He never gave me rope
In the times I couldn't cope
They cleaned up the dope and censored my scope
The writing on the walls been beaten to a pulp
The writing on the walls been beaten to a pulp
All I ever wanted was my story to be told
All I ever wanted was my story to be told

I never got struck by somin' in my core
I never took back that joint I rolled
What happens now to the truth I told
Do they all roll over and die in the cold
All I ever wanted was my story to be told
All I ever wanted was my story to be told

A skateboard rolled, a lighting bolt
Droppin' on 'em but it ain't their fault
Droppin' on 'em but it ain't their fault
Maybe I am floored but it needs to be told
All I ever wanted was my story to be told
All I all I ever wanted was my story to be told

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of M.I.A.'s song Story to Be Told are quite intriguing as they describe a seemingly mundane activity--licking envelopes and writing letters. However, it becomes clear that the letter was addressed to the Pope and despite the efforts, the letter did not yield any result. In the times of distress, the Pope never offered any support which could have helped cope with the problems at hand. The mention of the clean-up of the dope and censorship of the scope alludes to the idea of suppression of voices and manipulation of the narrative by those in power.

In the second verse, M.I.A. wonders about the fate of the truth she had shared. She contemplates whether the message has been lost or received and buried by the cold-hearted masses. The skateboard rolling and the lighting bolt striking represent the powerful forces that may be capable of changing the world. However, despite the risks, the need to express oneself and tell the story remains.

The song appears to be a call for artistic and creative freedom and the need to express oneself without fear of retribution. The lines "All I ever wanted was my story to be told" are repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of personal narratives and the need to tell them. Story to Be Told is a commentary on the importance of artistic expression and a call to action to ensure that stories are told and voices heard.

Line by Line Meaning

I licked envelopes
I wrote letters

Wrote a letter to the Pope
I wrote a letter to the Pope

He never gave me rope
He never gave me the freedom or opportunity

In the times I couldn't cope
In the times when I was struggling to keep up

He never gave me rope
He never gave me the freedom or opportunity

In the times I couldn't cope
In the times when I was struggling to keep up

They cleaned up the dope and censored my scope
They removed drugs and restricted my vision

The writing on the walls been beaten to a pulp
The messages on the walls have been destroyed

All I ever wanted was my story to be told
All I ever wanted was to share my story

I never got struck by somin' in my core
I was never deeply affected

I never took back that joint I rolled
I never retracted what I said

What happens now to the truth I told
What will become of the truth I spoke

Do they all roll over and die in the cold
Do they all give up and suffer in the harsh reality

All I ever wanted was my story to be told
All I ever wanted was to share my story

A skateboard rolled, a lighting bolt
An unexpected event happened

Droppin' on 'em but it ain't their fault
It's not their fault that it happened

Maybe I am floored but it needs to be told
Maybe I am overwhelmed but the story has to be shared

All I ever wanted was my story to be told
All I ever wanted was to share my story

All I all I ever wanted was my story to be told
All I ever wanted was to share my story

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Maya Arulpragasm, Christopher Mercer, Dave Taylor

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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