Bad Girls
M.I.A. Lyrics

Live fast, die young
Doing things recklessly and at a fast pace, knowing that it could lead to an early death.

Bad girls do it well
Women who engage in this lifestyle are skilled at living on the edge and making the most of it.

Chain hits my chest
While driving, the weight of my chain bounces and lands heavily on my chest.

When I'm banging on the dashboard
I'm hitting the dashboard of my car in time with the beat of the music I'm listening to.

My chain hits my chest
Again, the weight of my chain bounces and lands heavily on my chest.

When I'm banging on the radio
I'm hitting the radio in time with the beat of the music I'm listening to.

Get back, get down
Step back and get low to the ground.

Pull me closer if you think you can hang
If you believe you can handle my wild lifestyle, then get closer to me.

Hands up, hands tied
My hands are up and tied, indicating that I am in control of the situation.

Don't go screamin' if I blow you with a bang
Don't be surprised or frightened if I hit you unexpectedly with something.

Suki suki
A Japanese word meaning 'to love,' used here to indicate sexual desire.

I'm comin' in the Cherokee
I'm driving a Jeep Cherokee and arriving at my destination.

Gasoline
The gasoline powering my vehicle.

There's steam on the window screen
The heat inside the vehicle is causing steam to fog up the windows.

Take it, take it
Take what I'm offering, indicating a sexual invitation.

World's bouncin' like a trampoline
The world around me is bouncing up and down, which could indicate a feeling of elation or recklessness.

When I get to where I'm goin', gonna have you tremblin'
When I reach my ultimate destination, I'm going to make you tremble with excitement and anticipation.

Yeah, back it, back it
Encouragement to back up the vehicle, possibly in preparation for accelerating quickly.

Yeah, pull up to the bumper game
Pull up behind another vehicle or obstacle, possibly with the intention to pass it quickly.

Read the signal
Interpret the signals and know when to make a move.

Cover me, 'cause I'm changin' lanes
Protect me while I move from one lane to another, indicating a risky maneuver.

Had a handle on it
I had good control over my life at one point.

My life, I-I broke it
But now I've lost that control and my life is in chaos.

Goin' nought to bitch, I'll see four million
Going from a bad situation to an empowered one, reaching a new level of success (seeing four million dollars).

Accelerating fast I can do this in a second
I'm accelerating quickly and can make decisions and take risks in the blink of an eye.

Lookin' in the rearview, swaggin' goin' swell
Checking my rearview mirror, feeling good about my appearance and confident about my lifestyle.

Leavin' boys behind 'cause it's legal just to kill
I'm leaving the men who can't handle my lifestyle behind, since I have the power to do so legally (in self-defense).

Shift gear, automatic, damned if I do
Changing gears in my vehicle, unsure if I should take the risk or not.

Who's gonna stop me when I'm comin' through?
Rhetorical question indicating no one can stop my determined and fearless attitude.

What we got left is just me and you
The only thing left for us is each other, showcasing a sense of loyalty and companionship.

But if I go to bed, baby, can I take you?
Flirting and suggesting a possible sexual encounter before going to bed.