Dubbed the “voice of a generation,” Boonaa Mohammed is a critically acclaim… Read Full Bio ↴Dubbed the “voice of a generation,” Boonaa Mohammed is a critically acclaimed award winning writer and performer with accolades including a playwright residency at Theatre Passe Muraille, a short story published in a Penguin Canada anthology called “Piece by Piece” and various slam poetry titles credits including winner of the 2007 CBC Poetry Face-Off “Best New Artist” award. As an Artist he has toured and traveled across the world and frequently conducts writing workshops and seminars, sharing his experience and expertise in social justice based story telling with mainly youth from all walks of life.

End of Time
Boonaa Mohammed Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Track "Boonaa Mohammed"

On Bandsintown

Dead air fills a room with life as the passengers begin their voyage.
This is not your typical airport;
There is no souvenir store or fee to board,
And everyone's flying first class no matter what you can afford

Here Ahmed's and Mahmoud's don't get harassed by security,
One by one, they enter the waiting room,
The last receiving less blessings than the first.
I watch them; the air is damp with musk and ethnic incense
The ground is moist from fresh foot prints
It's my third flight of the day, in the late afternoon,
So many delays, but I just wanna get home soon
The sun is hanging, just danglining off the clouds
Not sure if he wants to come up, or go back down
Shadows bouncing off walls like a ball in rebound
Anticipating, just waiting to get this flight off the ground
Bags are checked, tagged and set
The flight attendant stands forth to make an announcement
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
The passengers mimic his words before he even finishes his sentence
It's like they knew what he was going to say before he even said them,
And now they begin to enter, two by two
Faces wet, with beards dripping, this is deja-vu
I thought I knew all those who flew
But some of these travellers are new,
Amongst the few, back in transition to a home they never knew
Yes it's true; flying can be scary with all that terror on the news
But just relax, cause with kushoo you will really enjoy the view
I keep checking on the clock, and the time is almost due
Nobody likes flying late; everybody's got things to do
But they are still entering and I am not
Sure how many more people can fit on this plane,
They move slowly bodies sore some lame resting on canes,
They are old.
But for all the things they have
Forgotten they still remember how to fly.
Checking their passports, reciting lines they have already memorized,
Over and over again until it begins to hurt their eyes,
I am shy in their presence, a little boy sweeter than watermelons
And I wanna get high, learn to fly the way they do
Slow and steady, saying goodbye to this world even for a moment or two
I choose the altitude of the righteous and the true
And bear witness that there is no
One more worthy the one I'm flying to
Ready to move, we are now boarding, and the first row's most important
To get closest to the pilot, there is a soft and gentle riot
Followed by a silence, as the flight attendant reminds us
Qad qama tis-salaat, Qad qama tis-salaat
Settle into my seat, I can feel my heart beat
The breeze from the cool air is fighting the summer's heat
We stand feet to feet, knees to knees
It's a tight flight when you flying Asiritual mustaqum
Stoow, your luggage under your seat,
Please turn off all cell phones and pagers or anything that might beep

In between the beats, I can hear myself breath,
Ready for take-off in 1. 2. 3, Allahu Akbar

Overall Meaning

The song "End of Time" by Boonaa Mohammed opens with the description of an airport that is not like a typical one. The passengers are on their way to their final destination and there are no souvenir stores or fees to board. It is an airport for everyone, where even those who cannot afford first-class tickets can feel like they are flying first class. The passengers are predominantly Muslim and there is no harassment by security. The passengers enter the waiting room one by one, and there is a sense of anticipation and excitement in the air. The singer watches the passengers, observing their ethnic incense and fresh footprints. He has flown several times that day and is waiting to get home soon.

The passengers on the flight board the plane, saying Allahu Akbar before takeoff. They are going to a home they never knew, which suggests that they are going to the afterlife. They know their lines and have their passports ready, making it clear that they have prepared for this journey. The passengers move slowly, being old, some needing canes to walk. Despite their physical limitations, they still remember how to fly. The singer watches them and is amazed by their patience and grace. He wishes he could fly like them, slowly and steadily, saying goodbye to this world, even if it is just for a moment. The singer chooses to follow the path of righteousness and bears witness that there is no one more worthy than the one he is flying to.

Line by Line Meaning

Dead air fills a room with life as the passengers begin their voyage.
The room is filled with anticipation as passengers embark on a journey, leaving behind the dullness and mundaneness of everyday life.

This is not your typical airport;
The setting is not a typical airport but a symbolic representation of a journey beyond the physical world.

And everyone's flying first class no matter what you can afford
Everyone is treated equally and with the utmost respect, regardless of their economic status.

Here Ahmed's and Mahmoud's don't get harassed by security,
People of certain races and names are not unfairly targeted or harassed by security personnel.

One by one, they enter the waiting room,
Passengers enter the room one by one, each with their own purpose and expectations for the journey ahead.

The last receiving less blessings than the first.
The last passenger to arrive may receive fewer blessings than those who arrived earlier, emphasizing the importance of being timely and punctual.

I watch them; the air is damp with musk and ethnic incense
The atmosphere is rich and fragrant as people from diverse backgrounds gather together.

The ground is moist from fresh foot prints
The ground is marked by the footsteps of those who have come before, leaving a lasting impression of their journey.

It's my third flight of the day, in the late afternoon,
The artist is an experienced traveler, with this being his third flight of the day and taking place in the late afternoon.

So many delays, but I just wanna get home soon
Despite delays and setbacks, the artist wishes to return home and complete his journey in a timely manner.

The sun is hanging, just dangling off the clouds
The sun is in a state of limbo, suspended in the sky and uncertain of its direction.

Not sure if he wants to come up, or go back down
The sun's indecision reflects the uncertainty and tension present in the atmosphere.

Shadows bouncing off walls like a ball in rebound
The shadows cast create a dynamic and lively environment, reflecting the excitement and anticipation of the journey ahead.

Anticipating, just waiting to get this flight off the ground
Everyone is eager and excited to begin their journey and take off on this flight.

Bags are checked, tagged and set
Passengers have completed their necessary preparations and are ready to board the flight.

The flight attendant stands forth to make an announcement
The flight attendant takes the lead in delivering important information necessary for the journey ahead.

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
A familiar and comforting phrase is repeated, reassuring passengers that they are in good hands and under divine protection.

The passengers mimic his words before he even finishes his sentence
Passengers are united in their faith and recite the words in harmony even before the full announcement is made.

It's like they knew what he was going to say before he even said them,
There is a sense of unity and collective understanding among the passengers that transcends words and spoken language.

And now they begin to enter, two by two
Passengers enter the plane in pairs, each accompanied by a companion for support and comfort.

Faces wet, with beards dripping, this is deja-vu
Some of the passengers have made this journey before and are returning home, their faces and beards visibly reflecting the emotional and physical strain of their journey.

I thought I knew all those who flew
The artist assumes he is familiar with all the passengers, but is surprised to see new faces among them.

But some of these travellers are new,
New travelers have joined the journey, perhaps seeking new experiences or spiritual enlightenment.

Amongst the few, back in transition to a home they never knew
Some passengers are returning to a home they have never known, perhaps seeking spiritual fulfillment and a sense of belonging.

Yes it's true; flying can be scary with all that terror on the news
There is a pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty in the current climate, particularly regarding air travel.

But just relax, cause with kushoo you will really enjoy the view
Despite these fears, passengers are encouraged to remain calm and focus on the spiritual aspects of the journey, allowing them to truly appreciate and enjoy the experience.

I keep checking on the clock, and the time is almost due
The singer is conscious of the time and anxious to depart on schedule.

Nobody likes flying late; everybody's got things to do
Late departures inconvenience passengers and disrupt plans and schedules, highlighting the importance of punctuality and timely departures.

But they are still entering and I am not
The artist is unable to board the flight at this time, perhaps due to delays or other factors.

Sure how many more people can fit on this plane,
The singer is unsure if there is sufficient space on the plane to accommodate more passengers.

They move slowly bodies sore some lame resting on canes,
Passengers are physically challenged and limited in their mobility, yet remain resilient and determined to complete their journey.

They are old.
The passengers are elderly, highlighting the universality of the journey and the importance of spiritual fulfillment and enlightenment for all ages.

But for all the things they have Forgotten they still remember how to fly.
Despite age and the passage of time, the passengers still possess a sense of spiritual insight and enlightenment, which enables them to soar above the mundane and embrace the transcendent.

Checking their passports, reciting lines they have already memorized, Over and over again until it begins to hurt their eyes,
Passengers follow the necessary rituals and preparations to embark on the journey, reciting familiar lines and phrases with rote memorization until it becomes almost painful in its repetition.

I am shy in their presence, a little boy sweeter than watermelons And I wanna get high, learn to fly the way they do
The singer is humbled and awed by the wisdom and spiritual insight of the passengers, and desires to learn from their example and rise to their level of enlightenment.

Slow and steady, saying goodbye to this world even for a moment or two
The journey is characterized by a gradual and deliberate pace, allowing passengers to release their attachment and connection to the physical world and focus on the spiritual.

I choose the altitude of the righteous and the true
The singer chooses to embrace the spiritual and transcendental aspects of the journey, seeking a higher plane of existence through faith and enlightenment.

And bear witness that there is no One more worthy the one I'm flying to
Passengers affirm their faith and belief in a higher power, recognizing the significance of the journey and the destination they are flying towards.

Ready to move, we are now boarding, and the first row's most important
Boarding has begun, with an emphasis placed on the first row and proximity to the pilot, highlighting the importance of leadership and direction in the spiritual journey.

To get closest to the pilot, there is a soft and gentle riot
Passengers crowd towards the front of the plane, each striving to be closest to the pilot and receive his guidance and leadership on the journey.

Followed by a silence, as the flight attendant reminds us Qad qama tis-salaat, Qad qama tis-salaat
The commotion is followed by a moment of silence and recitation, with the flight attendant providing important guidance and instruction for the journey ahead.

Settle into my seat, I can feel my heart beat
The singer finally takes his place on the plane, and feels his heartbeat quickening with anticipation and excitement for the journey ahead.

The breeze from the cool air is fighting the summer's heat
The atmosphere on the plane is comfortable and soothing, with the cool air providing relief from the summer's heat and creating a serene environment for reflection and contemplation.

We stand feet to feet, knees to knees It's a tight flight when you flying Asiritual mustaqum
Passengers are seated closely together, reflecting the intimate and interconnected nature of the spiritual journey they are embarking on.

Stoow, your luggage under your seat, Please turn off all cell phones and pagers or anything that might beep
Passengers are advised to stow their belongings and turn off all distractions, with an emphasis placed on focus and spiritual engagement throughout the journey.

In between the beats, I can hear myself breath, Ready for take-off in 1. 2. 3, Allahu Akbar
Amidst the anticipation and preparation, the artist takes a moment to focus on his breath and prepare himself for takeoff, invoking the name of God as a source of strength and guidance on the journey ahead.

Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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