"Kala" opens with the uninvitingly spare “Bamboo Banga”, which samples Indi… Read Full Bio ↴"Kala" opens with the uninvitingly spare “Bamboo Banga”, which samples Indian Tamil filmi composer Ilayaraja and bends the lyric of The Modern Lovers “Roadrunner”. The song celebrates a kid running alongside a Third World tourist’s Hummer and banging on its door.

Bamboo Banga
M.I.A. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Road runner, road runner
Going hundred mile per hour
With your radio on
With your radio on

Road runner, road runner
Going hundred mile per hour
With your radio on

With your radio on

Somalia, Angola, Ghana, Ghana, Ghana (hey!)
India, Sri Lanka, Burma, bamboo banga (hey!)
This the bamboo banga
I said bamboo banga
This the bamboo banga
I said bamboo banga
And we're hittin our records like a tennis player
And the drummers do the shit like the macarena
This the jungle banga
Or the cold jammer
I said jungle banga
I said cold jammer
I said jungle banga
I said cold jammer

I'm bored of eating banana
I want guanabana
I wanna warm my buns this summer summer summer summer
Now I'm sittin' down chillin on some gun powder
Strike / match / light / fire
Who's that girl called Maya?
M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!)
M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!)
I said M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!)

M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!)

I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga

I'm knocking on the doors of your hummer hummer
Yeah, I'm knocking on the doors of your hummer hummer
Yeah, I'm knocking on the doors of your hummer hummer
Yeah, I'm knocking on the doors of your hummer hummer
You'll be hungry like the wolves hunting dinner dinner
And we're moving with the packs like hyena ena
Barbarella look like she's my dead ringer
When I?m dogging on the bonner of ya red Honda

I'm a road runner
I'm a world runner
I'm a road runner
I'm a world runner

I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga

M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!)
M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!)
M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!)
M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!)

I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga

Overall Meaning

The song "Bamboo Banga" by M.I.A. is a fast-paced, high-energy track that blends elements of hip-hop, dancehall, and world music. The lyrics are a mix of different cultural references, including countries like Somalia, Angola, Ghana, India, Sri Lanka, and Burma. M.I.A. sings about wanting something different than the usual banana she's been eating and desires for guanabana as she is bored. When she discovers gunpowder, she sits down to chill, and Maya (her actual name) is introduced. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the phrase "bamboo banga," which is a term that likely refers to a particularly potent strain of marijuana. The song also makes references to cars like the Hummer and Honda and the activity of hunting.

M.I.A. is known for her outspoken, socially conscious lyrics, and "Bamboo Banga" is no exception. The song's lyrics and fast-paced beat make it an energetic, danceable track that combines elements of different cultures and genres.

Line by Line Meaning

Road runner, road runner Going hundred mile per hour With your radio on With your radio on
I'm moving fast like a road runner while listening to music at full volume

Somalia, Angola, Ghana, Ghana, Ghana (hey!) India, Sri Lanka, Burma, bamboo banga (hey!) This the bamboo banga I said bamboo banga This the bamboo banga I said bamboo banga
I'm referencing several different countries/cultures and using their influences in my music

And we're hittin our records like a tennis player And the drummers do the shit like the macarena This the jungle banga Or the cold jammer I said jungle banga I said cold jammer I said jungle banga I said cold jammer
We're making music that is powerful and catchy, borrowing from various styles and genres

I'm bored of eating banana I want guanabana I wanna warm my buns this summer summer summer summer Now I'm sittin' down chillin on some gun powder Strike / match / light / fire Who's that girl called Maya? M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!) M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!) I said M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!) M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!)
I'm looking for something new and exciting, and I'm ready to make a big impact with my music

I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga I'm knocking on the doors of your hummer hummer You'll be hungry like the wolves hunting dinner dinner And we're moving with the packs like hyena ena Barbarella look like she's my dead ringer When I?m dogging on the bonner of ya red Honda
I'm confident and powerful, making a big impression wherever I go

I'm a road runner I'm a world runner
I'm constantly moving and traveling, making music that speaks to people from all over the globe

M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!) M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!) M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!) M.I.A. coming back with power power (power power!)
I'm reminding everyone that I'm here to make a statement and change the music game

I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga I'm big timer, it's the bamboo banga
I'm feeling powerful and confident, ready to dominate the world with my music

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MATHANGI ARULPRAGASAM, DAVID JAMES ANDREW TAYLOR, JONATHAN MICHAEL RICHMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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