Their first release was a double-A-side 7" single on Off The Wall (later signed to Peacefrog) that had two tracks: "Twice" and "Test".
Nagano was born and raised in Göteborg to a Japanese father and American mother. She grew up listening to American folk, but always had an affinity for R&B. Keyboardist Wirenstrand spent his childhood in Småland before moving to Göteborg where listened to a lot of Swedish folk music before getting into electronic music. Bodin grew up listening to early hip-hop and jazz. Fredrik was influenced by experimental, noise and electro house.
Nagano and Bodin play live with José González. Bodin also drums with Peps Perrson, a Swedish blues/reggae artist. Swedish electronic jazz duo Koop's albums Waltz for Koop and Koop Islands feature Yukimi Nagano's vocals on several tracks.
The band collaborated with Gorillaz on two tracks ("Empire Ants" and "To Binge") from their 2010 released album, Plastic Beach. Little Dragon also collaborated with Maximum Balloon (the solo project of David Andrew Sitek, producer and member of TV On the Radio), for one track entitled "If You Return". In 2011, the band's collaboration with SBTRKT on "Wildfire" was released as the lead single from his self-titled début LP.
Nabuma Rubberband
Little Dragon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smashed into a skyscraper
Under the Hong Kong lights
It fell pale
Like a sink
Landed on the night drain
Fell a strong right
While underground
Voiceless land
The harder to feel
For being born at the wrong place
At the wrong time
With a wrong fate
Rockets fly out
Razor
Colour
Sky now
Don't forget icing on the sides
Because you can
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the love
Cigar smoke stretchin' over borders
Creepin' like a silent thief
The bird stares
Sleeping like an icon
Make it fly
Could rest in peace
Intelligent
So fly
Can't think out loud
Cause now's the time
Don't lose your job
Stare in and smile
Camera left
Rockets fly out
Razor
Colour
Sky now
Don't forget icing on the sides
Because you can
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the love
Rockets fly out
Razor
Colour
Sky now
Don't forget icing on the sides
Because you can
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the love
The lyrics to Little Dragon's song "Nabuma Rubberband" are cryptic and open to interpretation. The song is a contemplation on fate, love, and the tragedy of things born in the wrong place and time. The "last bird," a metaphor for a person, is described as having crashed into a skyscraper under the Hong Kong lights. The image is poignant, evoking the massive skylines of modern cities and the isolation of individuals within them. The reference to the bird's landing on the night drain is striking, suggesting a loss of vitality, an extinguishing of life.
The second verse seems to shift the focus onto the idea of technology and its effect on modernity. The lines "Rockets fly out/Razor/Colour/Sky now" conjure images of missiles, machines, and the sky being altered by human intervention. The "icing on the sides" may refer to the superficial elements that make such things appealing to the eye. The repetition of "blinded by the rubberbands" and "blinded by the love" is likely an allusion to the way in which people are captivated and distracted by the shiny objects of the modern world, to the point of losing sight of what is truly important.
Line by Line Meaning
The last bird
The final bird
Smashed into a skyscraper
Collided with a tall building
Under the Hong Kong lights
Beneath the glowing city of Hong Kong
It fell pale
It plummeted lifelessly
Like a sink
As if it were a heavy object dropped into water
Landed on the night drain
Fell onto the dark sewage system
Fell a strong right
Fell with a forceful impact
While underground
In the subterranean world
The tunnel reveal
The pathway that has been revealed
Voiceless land
A silent terrain
The harder to feel
More difficult to comprehend
For being born at the wrong place
Due to having been born in an unfortunate location
At the wrong time
During an unfavorable epoch
With a wrong fate
Destined to misfortune
Rockets fly out
Aerial missiles depart
Razor
Sharp-edged
Colour
Hue
Sky now
The current heavens
Don't forget icing on the sides
Remember the frosting on the edges
Because you can
Due to one's ability
Blinded by the rubberbands
Unable to see clearly due to the elastic bindings
Blinded by the love
Unable to see clearly due to the overpowering love
Cigar smoke stretchin' over borders
Tobacco fumes lingering across boundaries
Creepin' like a silent thief
Advancing stealthily like a pilferer
The bird stares
The winged creature gazes
Sleeping like an icon
Resting like a revered symbol
Make it fly
Help it soar through the air
Could rest in peace
Would be able to find tranquility
Intelligent
Smart
So fly
Very impressive in flight
Can't think out loud
Unable to verbalize thoughts
Cause now's the time
Because it is currently the appropriate moment
Don't lose your job
Do not fail in your mission
Stare in and smile
Gaze with contentment
Camera left
The recording device moves to the side
Rockets fly out
Aerial missiles depart
Razor
Sharp-edged
Colour
Hue
Sky now
The current heavens
Don't forget icing on the sides
Remember the frosting on the edges
Because you can
Due to one's ability
Blinded by the rubberbands
Unable to see clearly due to the elastic bindings
Blinded by the love
Unable to see clearly due to the overpowering love
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Erik Oskar Bodin, Fredrik Daniel Wallin, Hakan Wirenstrand, Yukimi Eleanora Nagano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@229rimi
The last bird smash into a skyscraper
Under the Hong Kong lights
It fell pale like a saint
Landed on the night train
Feathers blown right
While underground
The tunnel reveal
Voiceless men
The heartache they feel
For being born at the wrong place
At the wrong time
With the wrong faith
[Chorus]
Rockets fire out
Razor, cut a sky now
Don't forget icing on the sides
Because you can
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the...
Cigar smoke stretching over borders
Creeping like silent thief
The birds dead
Sleeping like an icon
Make it fly, go rest in peace
A tailored in
Suit and lie
Can't think out loud
Cause now's the time
Don't lose your job
Stare in and smile
Camera left
[Chorus]
Rockets fire out
Razor, cut a sky now
Don't forget icing on the sides
Because you can
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the...
X2
@daniellewindsor4520
Nabuma Rubberband
Little Dragon
Lurad!
The last bird smash into a skyscraper
Under the Hong Kong lights
It fell pale like a saint
Landed on the night train
Feathers blown right
While underground
The tunnel reveal
Voiceless men
The heartache they feel
For being born at the wrong place
At the wrong time
With the wrong faith
Rockets fire out
Razor, cut a sky now
Don't forget icing on the sides
Because you can
Blinded by the rubberbands [x2]
Blinded by the
Cigar smoke stretching over borders
Creeping like silent thief
The birds dead
Sleeping like an icon
Make it fly, go rest in peace
A tailored in
Suit and lie
Can't think out loud
Cause now's the time
Don't lose your job
Stare in and smile
Camera left
Rockets fire out
Razor, cut a sky now
Don't forget icing on the sides
Because you can
Blinded by the rubberbands [x2]
Blinded by the
[x2]
@91madeline
The last bird
Smashed into a skyscraper
Under the Hong Kong lights
It fell pale
Like a sink
Landed on the night drain
Fell a strong right
While underground
The tunnel reveal
Voiceless land
The harder to feel
For being born at the wrong place
At the wrong time
With a wrong fate
Rockets fly out
Razor
Colour
Sky now
Don’t forget icing on the sides
Because you can
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the love
Cigar smoke stretchin’ over borders
Creepin’ like a silent thief
The bird stares
Sleeping like an icon
Make it fly
Could rest in peace
Intelligent
So fly
Can’t think out loud
Cause now’s the time
Don’t lose your job
Stare in and smile
Camera left.
@JohnsonKayla12
I love how each album is different in style, overall mood, melody, etc- you'll never know what to expect from them, but somehow they still remain familiar enough for you to say "yeah, that's DEFINITELY Little Dragon". Brilliant, really.
@sereinaisons9326
+KeiyaValecourt freaking YES. Exactly
@scoobwaa
Been listening to this song since middle school. Now I'm in my own home and happy. This album helped me a lot in life and its still helping to this day.
Thank you lil dragon❤️
@deambrajohnson955
I don't understand people who say their fans but can't get into this album! This album is great...reminds me of their first album!! Great job little dragon! #1 fan from day one!!!
@229rimi
The last bird smash into a skyscraper
Under the Hong Kong lights
It fell pale like a saint
Landed on the night train
Feathers blown right
While underground
The tunnel reveal
Voiceless men
The heartache they feel
For being born at the wrong place
At the wrong time
With the wrong faith
[Chorus]
Rockets fire out
Razor, cut a sky now
Don't forget icing on the sides
Because you can
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the...
Cigar smoke stretching over borders
Creeping like silent thief
The birds dead
Sleeping like an icon
Make it fly, go rest in peace
A tailored in
Suit and lie
Can't think out loud
Cause now's the time
Don't lose your job
Stare in and smile
Camera left
[Chorus]
Rockets fire out
Razor, cut a sky now
Don't forget icing on the sides
Because you can
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the rubberbands
Blinded by the...
X2
@venusfly000
❤❤❤
@honchoemoji5801
90% sure it's 'fate', not 'faith'
@BrownsugarBaby
Yes but what does it all mean lol
@laalzeboo
@Natalie Fraser Commentary on how those in power are fucking us over. Blinded by rubber bands of cash.
@carina0827
This album really grew on me. One of their best so far IMO. Yukimi's melodies are so unique and her lyrics all meaningful. I love uncovering all the subtext in her poetry. One of my favorite bands - keep stepping up the game and bringing raw shit to the table. People are listening and most of all, moved by your music 💜