Bird Flu
M.I.A. Lyrics

Big on the underground
I have a big following in the underground music scene.

What's the point of knocking me down?
Why bother trying to bring me down from my success?

Everyone knows
It's common knowledge.

I'm already good on the ground
I'm already successful and don't need to chase fame.

Most of us stay strong
The majority of us remain resilient.

Shit don't really bound us
Adversity doesn't hold us back.

Then I go on my own
I prefer to be independent.

Making bombs with rubber bands
I'm resourceful and can make do with what I have.

I have my hard down
I have my guard up to protect myself.

So I need a man for romance
I want someone to provide emotional support and companionship.

Streets are making 'em hard
Growing up in rough environments toughens people up.

So they selfish little roamers
People from these environments tend to be selfish and on the move.

Jumpin girl to girl
Promiscuous behavior.

Make us meat like burgers
Reducing people, particularly women, to sexual objects.

When I get fat
When I become powerful.

I'm gonna pop me out some leaders
I'll raise up and support new leaders.

I'm too cool to be a Rocawear model
I'm not interested in being a fashion model for a mainstream brand.

It didn't really drop that way
It didn't work out like that for me.

My legs hit the hurdle
I faced obstacles or challenges.

I'm too cool to be a rocker on a label
I'm not interested in being a commercially successful musician.

My beats were too evil
My music was considered too intense or controversial for the mainstream.

But I put away paper for later so I'm stable
I saved money for the future to secure stability.

A better something better come
I hope for better opportunities to come along.

So I could get cable
So I can have access to modern amenities and entertainment.

Ghetto pops, food drops
I store emergency food supplies in my house.

I store them in my stable
I keep them in a safe and secure place.

I cook em up, pop em down
I use and consume these supplies when necessary.

Eat'em off a table
I consume these supplies comfortably and safely.

The village got on the phone
The community noticed me and started talking about me.

Said the street is comin to town
The rough nature of the street environment is making its way into the community.

They wanna check my papers
Authorities are suspicious of my identity or activities.

See what I carry around
To search my belongings.

Credentials are boring
Formal qualifications are tedious or uninteresting.

I burnt them at the burial ground
I rejected formal qualifications as not being useful to me.

Don't order me about
I refuse to be controlled or commanded.

I'm an outlaw from the badland
I position myself as an outsider or opposition to the mainstream society.

Put away shots for later so I'm stable
I put away weapons in case of emergencies in order to secure safety and stability.

Live in trees chew on feet
I embrace an alternative or primitive lifestyle.

Watch lost on cable
I enjoy mainstream entertainment in moderation.

Bird flu gonna get you
We are all susceptible to global crises like bird flu.

Made it in my stable
I survived and thrived despite difficult circumstances.

From the crap you drop
From the negative or harmful impact of mainstream society.

On my crop when they pay you.
On my livelihood or way of life when the mainstream society profits from it.