Her style contains elements of hip-hop, reggae, alternative, dance hall, electro and baile funk and is strongly inspired by her Sri Lankan background.
Bird Flu
M.I.A. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's the point of knocking me down?
Everyone knows
I'm already good on the ground
Most of us stay strong
Shit don't really bound us
Then I go on my ownMaking bombs with rubber bands
I have my hard down
So I need a man for romance
Streets are making 'em hard
So they selfish little roamers
Jumpin girl to girl
Make us meat like burgers
When I get fat
I'm gonna pop me out some leaders
I'm too cool to be a Rocawear model
It didn't really drop that way
My legs hit the hurdle
I'm too cool to be a rocker on a label
It didn't really drop that way
My beats were too evil
But I put away paper for later so I'm stable
A better something better come
So I could get cable
Ghetto pops, food drops
I store them in my stable
I cook em up , pop em down
Eat'em off a table
The village got on the phone
Said the street is comin to town
They wanna check my papers
See what I carry around
Credentials are boring
I burnt them at the burial ground
Don't order me about
I'm an outlaw from the badland
Put away shots for later
So I'm stable
Live in trees chew on feet
Watch lost on cable
Bird flu gonna get you
Made it in my stable
From the crap you drop
On my crop when they pay you.
M.I.A.'s "Bird Flu" details her status as a musician, her independence, and her personal relationships. She is well-respected on the underground scene and is unafraid of threats, as she is already successful. In the second verse, M.I.A. describes how she’s made bombs with rubber bands and how she needs a man in her life for romance, but it’s becoming harder for men to relate to women with the destructive influences in the street. M.I.A. uses a line, “Make us meat like burgers” to illustrate the seriousness of the issue. Moving forward, M.I.A. states she is too cool to represent a clothing brand and too rebellious for a record label. At this point, she is cultivating her sound and making money to ensure she is self-sufficient in the future. To survive, M.I.A. stores supplies for later drawing a comparison of herself being like a soldier. She explains how the ghetto continuously succeeds despite ongoing obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
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.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MATHANGI ARULPRAGASAM, DAVID JAMES ANDREW TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@divineeuuh
Can somebody do the Lord's work and remaster the video?
@nithishsubramaniyan
To and see nuclyea's chennai bass
@ch3rrikiss
Yesssss!
@ArtixxFoxxes
Do the lords work and bring her back to the music scene
@MrPyxide
@@ArtixxFoxxes or die antwoord
@amyerickson9724
This is an aesthetic,,. No reason to remaster. Perfect the way it is.
@IvanMejia1991
that little kid in red shirt dancing is way too much ICONIC.
@bharatmatakijai6444
Legend says he is still dancing to the beats
@Marolinism
HOW on EARTH does this not have 1 billion views yet?!! This song was way ahead of it time. It’s an absolute banger!
@abitasraj2073
I'd been searching for this song for really so many years. Thanks for Time traveller song. I was very small when i heard this song in SS music back those days. I dint know the singer of this song but I only remember her face, and then I wanted to see why people are posting time traveller song for every reels and I saw her face and it was soooo shocking that i could remember the singer s face.
And YES i finally found the song.