Versions

Boyz
M.I.A. Lyrics

Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
Boyz there - how many?
Boyz there [3x]

How many tequilas in the place?
How many beers are in the case?
Boyz there - how many?
Boyz there

How many dutty wine swing it away?
How many shots without a chase?
Boyz there - how many?
Boyz there

How many mash up and in a haze?
How many wacky dip fall on their head?
Boyz there - how many?
Boyz there

How many no money boyz are crazy?
How many boyz are raw?
How many no money boyz are rowdy?
How many start a war? [2x]

Ooooow gosh!

Hey now
Let me go
Hey now
Can we go riding up a dirty track up to Laventille?
Could you show me for I make it back
Somewhre I can chill

Hey now
Let me go
Hey now
Can we go riding on a motor bike up to Sugar Hill?
Cooking chicken on the wall
With the system up on full

What we do now?
Duppa bounce
Dem der
Duppa bounce[4x]

Na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na
Boyz there - how many?
Boyz there [3x]

How many no money boyz are crazy?
How many boyz are raw?
How many no money boyz are rowdy?
How many start a war? [2x]

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE TAYLOR, WRITER UNKNOWN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

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06Mango Pickle Down River3:53

12Come Around - Album Version (Edited)3:57

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Comments from YouTube:

Michael Porter

6y↑1.3K

MIA most original musician of our time, what an artist.

Saakshi Shetty

@Michael Porter Bad Girls is one of the best mainstream single released this generation.

Saakshi Shetty

@Dark Knight he literally spewed out so many ignorant things in one comment. I CAN'T.

Saakshi Shetty

@Alex Chalmers why did you mention Kashmir as a whole different group ? They are Indians.

Kyle Miskell

17w

Interesting, considering this song is a blatant ripoff of 1988 "Serra Pelada" by Philip Glass:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDAbU9sNtkg

Michael Porter

21w

@Matthew Geisel everything is inspired by something. Originality is not necessarily invention. MIA was so very different to anything being released in the immediate time around her . There is no artist like her from my lifetime, musically and visually too.

17 More Replies...

Arvind Puthige

5y↑1.2K

what an amazing mixture of African samba beats and Tamil folk tune!! Way ahead of her time. A totally underrated artist!

Mhoohing36

Dancehall ting this ya kno

Aba Forson

@Otávio Rocha no theres is a branch of african samba 🙄

Otávio Rocha

@Aba Forson as I said, samba was created by black people, but IN BRAZIL, afrobrazilians away from Africa. it was not brought by them, it was created here, though it derives from african music. the same way blues was created by african americans, but it's not itself african.

Otávio Rocha

@victoria magdalena Escobedo Alba I'm not playing intellectual. I've studied the history of Samba music, as it is originally from my country. Semba is not Samba. The similarity of the names and the fact that they are both music genres don't make them the same thing. Do some research and you'll see.

Otávio Rocha

@Kaleah Collins Semba is not samba. Samba is not just a musical genre, it is also a dance style and it's linked to carnival. Nowadays there may be Samba music being produced in these countries, and their music may be influenced by brazilian music, but samba is still originally from Brazil.

16 More Replies...

Smokeweeda Jenkins

6y↑1.3K

Sooooo.... rihanna totally copied this for rude boy

Saakshi Shetty

8w↑1

@Mr Caan never said she can't be. And I don't hate Rihanna, LOL. But you are delusional if you think Riri is more creative than M.I.A. That woman doesn't even write her own shit while M.I.A writes, produces and directs her music.

Mr Caan

@Saakshi Shetty nope. Rihanna is known everywhere. MIA is not. Sorry not sorry.

Saakshi Shetty

@Mr Caan nobody said Rihanna isn't more known, LOL. It is just that M.I.A is more influential than her and it is a fact.

Mr Caan

@Saakshi Shetty and rihanna is more known and successful.

Saakshi Shetty

@Mr Caan and Boyz is more unique and realistic.

46 More Replies...

Molly McDonald

5y↑887

I wish M.I.A was my cool older sister...

Manuel L

25w

I wish she was my wife tf

Karina Ramirez

47w

same

kim

2y↑1

she is <3

Allan Ricardo

2y↑1

@JackoBanon1 2

JackoBanon1

3y↑8

I wish M.I.A was my cool younger lover. ;-)

2 More Replies...

indoguju

7y↑214

It's a fusion of south Indian (tamil) music and Jamaican dancehall. This fusion can only be created in either Toronto or London....!!!!

Fat Vegan

26w↑4

No, Jamaica is an African/Indian island which used to be a British colony.

littlestarbucksbitch

5y↑391

M.I.A. edits her own videos

Matthew Gross

The music video for the single was directed by Jason "Jay Will" Williams and M.I.A.

DoctorFurioso

4y↑27

cervio martini with a fine art background. hence the visuals :0

cervio martini

5y↑59

+Restless Times in Hollywood ACTUALLY SHES FIRST A VIDEO DIRECTOR AND THEN MUSICIAN.... SHE STARTED MAKING MUSIC AFTER PEACHES GAVE HER AN INSTRUMENT AS A PRESENT.

Armina Borruel

5y↑346

Respect for this woman. Talent.

Ira Rivera

Ikr

Jamnik_27

tf u on about? what editing?

Anonymous

It's called post-production, autotuning, effects, and editing ... not "talent."

Gabi Cabanas

Armina Borruel

chantal murray

5y↑281

this used to come on alot of music stations in jamaica

Jay Jku2013

2y↑15

Video was shot it Jamaica using Jamaican dance moves.

Yemoja

1y↑234

who is still listening to this in 2019?

Cèsar Càrdenas

5d↑1

february 2021 Mexico

Elise Lavallee

5w↑1

2021

Y Ou

14w↑1

2020 in the house

Tanaka Marape

19w↑1

2024

Sh1k4 Maru

1y↑2

2020 France

6 More Replies...

Aliyah Williams

6y↑186

I love when boys dance

I.M. Shirley Rongh

6y↑5

turn up the thermostat

DeeDgee

4y↑94

I remember when this came out when the 90's aesthetics hadnt come back yet, thinking wow this looks so 90's everybody is doing 80's but she's doing 90's. And then the 90's style came back years later. She is always ahead even in revivals.

fabrice kodi

3y↑371

who still listening this song in 2018?

Victoria Pleasant

2020

rckblzr12

I laike it a lot!

Ayana Sioux Art

2y↑2

Shit '19

Meriem Batouli

2y↑1

I still its 2019 😍👌

bryanna young

2y↑1

fabrice kodi 2019

8 More Replies...

DJ Phat Ballz

3y↑24

I feel like she’s highly underrated and doesn’t get the appreciation she deserves, in my opinion

Evan Green

2y↑2

its because she's tamil sri lankan

Fernando Matehuala

2y↑60

MIA does it first and then others take it and get the credit. That sucks

Space Cadet Silver Boots

28w

The channel Trash Theory has a great video celebrating her and her music, and they show some of her direct inspirations and their sources, if you really are interested in it

Space Cadet Silver Boots

28w↑1

Actually she openly takes direct inspiration, like literally copies a sound, almost a sample its so similar to songs she takes inspiration from, but she is extremely open about it, cites the sources in interviews, and remakes them totally in her own style, so nothing but respect for her. But you are right, lots of people seek to emulate her, because she's boss af

Soraya #ProLikeMind

41w↑1

She didnt do it first. PM Dawn did smh

Gabriella Vogt

5y↑339

Sooooo... Rihanna totally copied this for Rude Boy

Mr Caan

Rihanna is successful. Mea not so much

simplykameya

32w

sooooo....you totally copied this comment from 5 years ago

Hornypoet

33w

She is actually Caribbean tho soo??

Donna Sadler

36w

@H Montilyet Actually it is not plagiarism it is appropriation and it has been happening in art/film/fashion/culture since as long as it has been documented. Plagiarism would be a direct sample, which is still ok to be used if the sample is credited to the correct person and they make royalties from it. Appropriation is up to the decider, but it can and is done all the time in popular culture.

Soraya #ProLikeMind

41w

Both copies from PM Dawn

15 More Replies...

marko gaming22

5y↑82

this shit was hard to find

Alfie Tank

2y↑1

I just type Boys there. First option loool

Hyper Panda Gaming

IKRRRRR

Ozgur D

5y↑108

hamını mamını ye
hamını mamını ye
hamını mamını ye

Billy Buttlord

46w↑1

HAMINNY NAMIMMY BOYS ARE CRAZY

Robson Soares

49w

POIS É

Smooooth

5y↑9

Basically

T Bradby

7y↑50

Rihanna so stole this lmao

Soraya #ProLikeMind

41w↑2

Nope. Both were inspired by PM Dawn.

THIRU. SS

4y↑45

tamil folk music wit jamaican dance..
luv u m.i.a
proud to be tamilachiii

Court Tillett

7y↑93

I fell in love with MIA about 35 times during this video. And I was already in love with her.

Beach Queen

5y↑26

Best dancing song! So many hours in my early 20s spent dancing to this!

wanda j

Same here

Steph Ler

5y↑1

+Beach Queen same

Saravanan S

7y↑13

WTF :) this is typical Tamil music (kuthu dance) :D :D ... !!!! awesome.. Artist Name: "Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam" ... no wonder yo from Tamil Nadu :) :)

Koki

27w

@asath dlk நான் Uncharted game மூலமா தான் இவங்களை தெரியும்

PikaPluff2040

@asath dlk exactly

asath dlk

2y↑4

Saravanan S she is from யாழ்ப்பாணம் ஈழம் ,not Tamil Nadu

salami spirit

7y↑88

Goofiest song on the face of the Earth. I love it.

HOWMANYNOMONEYBOYZARECRAZYHOWMANYBOYZARERAWWWWWWWWWWWW

Tshds

Tadukhipa so true

Bluemgwes

7y↑3

Makes sense that it would be in the Dumb and Dumber To trailer then...

salami spirit

7y↑15

I know that now. I made the original post before I knew much about MIA. Now I know her political tendencies the lyrics of this song make sense.

JBird

7y↑44

All of her songs have political and or personal meaning. This isn't exactly meant to be silly for the hell of it.The lyrics of "Boyz" display M.I.A.'s response to men following issues being a female in the music industry she faces and expectations in her personal life from her then boyfriend to give up making music and start a family. "Boyz" acknowledges the artist's time in Jamaica, and the singer has described the song as partly a tribute to the country. The song references Jamaican dance moves.
"How many no money boys are crazy?
How many boys are raw?
How many no money boys are rowdy?
How many start a war?"
What starts out as seemingly just another party song takes a snipe at the wealthy and powerful keeping people down, and thus feeding into violence and unrest. No money boyz refer to boys trapped in poverty and living in dangerous environments, don’t see value in other’s lives or even their own, causing them to do reckless things; go to wild parties and use dangerous drugs, join gangs and start killin' people, you know the drill.

icecreambaybeex3

5y↑66

No one compares to M.I.A so original!🔥💘

Indy

7y↑52

Rihanna stole this not M.I.A. M.I.A is so much better!

Mr Caan

Nope. Rihanna is waaaaaaay better

Soraya #ProLikeMind

41w↑1

Nope. Both were inspired by PM Dawn.

michaye

6y↑43

first m.i.a song i ever heard. . . it was love at first sound

Sunshine96818

4w↑1

Same here! My brother introduced me to her music and I was hooked!

Herb PHYSIQUE

7y↑54

This beat is life!!

iLL Static Productions

7w↑6

wow rhianna copied her, this was out before rhianna, also all these mumble rappers are having these colors around their bodies just like this. M.I.A. was truly before her time. She was the blueprint that people jacked. She deserves more credit for her genius.

VICTORIA'S SECRETS

4y↑45

I LOVE HER FASHION SENSE! She's so original!! This video always brightens up my day.

Andrew Govender

2y↑36

Tamil drums will forever be a thing. 2019

Kay Von Kent

3y↑24

Been listening to music while I'm washing dishes
After this... I don't know what else to hop around the kitchen to. LOL
M.I.A. is the best!

Thiago Carvalho

7y↑19

much pixels
such worldbeat
many color

Mikel Truss

7y↑34

MIA fully up in Jamaica! Luv this tune!

uncle ten

5y↑46

Back in those days... Jamaican dancers are the best

IlluminatedMel

3y↑19

finally realized the true meaning of this song. oh gosh it's a new war lord how many boys are in the place...damn

IlluminatedMel

43w↑2

@Rosie Pestel war Lord makes sense to me bc of her accent. Plus most of her songs are on that theme. This song is about bit soldiers forced to fight guerilla wars. My understanding anway.

Rosie Pestel

43w

I thought it was a new world order, not a new war lord!!

cmantillaify

6y↑50

And for people that say it reminders them of Rihanna's video for Rude boy...this video came out a year before Rihanna's ...just saying

Mr Caan

@STA3 yep

STA3

@Mr Caan nope

Mr Caan

@STA3 ye

STA3

@Mr Caan no no no

Mr Caan

@STA3 yup

5 More Replies...

Inic

7y↑38

Man, I remember watching the music video so much back in 7th grade and this is my first time watching since then. I loved this song and I also watched it because Maya is beautiful. Seven years, time flies.

Vishwanath K R

3y↑15

Amazing visuals. She is a visual artist too. Her visuals can take you by suprise. Legend.

Vivid Verita

5y↑61

shes everything! I love how she incorporates so much dance into her music, not many artists are about that life, all they care about is bitches and money and drugs

CassieJazz96

3y↑23

Just finished listening to KALA and it is literally one of the greatest albums I've heard this century. This woman is genius.

Homesprunk

7y↑21

this song is awsome. the video is really trippy

Jen Gildz

4y↑8

Her music seems even better LIVE... Captures the energy and sound better than studio and video:)

Wonton Jon

7y↑18

Here i am all over YouTube searching for the "Indian song from Eat Pray Love and Heroes", and it turns out the song was made by M.I.A.

I feel stupid.

Joel Cutinho

7y↑6

The tune is completely south Indian. Great Fusion

omfgmatty

7y↑8

I've always loved the choreography in this video.

DSM Bonzai

6y↑18

Harry: "Check out the hotties at 12 o'clock!"
Lloyd: "That's three hours away, why can't I check them out now?"

Luis Angel

27w↑6

Who still listening this song in 2020?

speedingchimps

21w↑5

MIA doesnt get the recognition she deserves

Saam McBride

8w↑3

M.I.A. why are you MIA? I love you! I hope you are enjoying your family! Such a revolutionary!

AshSlays

4y↑24

This song still bumps!

yello.universe

4y↑8

M.I.A is life. She deserves more recognition

William Bale

5y↑10

My favourite song from FIFA Street 3

Iroboke

So hat's where I heard it

Sreeram Ramakrishnan

6y↑7

Damn... can't get enough of this song!! You the best! <3 from India!

Buenas Tardes

2y↑1

I remember I used to enjoy listening to this when I was in high school. I liked it, but now I feel like I appreciate this music even more.

Photography Studios

7w↑3

I still remember every inch of my HS dace I did to this bop

MilxyWay

8w↑3

This should be the 2021 cry war

Fat Beach

4w↑2

THE TIME PERIOD WHEN DUBSTEP WAS DEFINED, WE WERE GETTING A LOT ORIGINAL MUSIC

Ema Coke

2y↑3

Still listening in 2019. Wish M.I.A come to peru ♡

Kennard Watson

4y↑10

This beat is love

Rubin Powell

6y↑7

Some PPL may not Know it,but some of those Outfits the Guys that show repeatedly are wearing M.I.A.'S clothing line.

Ali Nader

7y↑7

This is my jammmmmm!!! I lov MIA!

Hermione Granger

4y↑9

That's Tamil music

Egg Boi

3y↑5

The young offenders brought me here up the rebels cork is the best county in Ireland

KOBE 24

7y↑7

Lmao i can't stop picturing jim carey doing his dougie after i seen that "dumb and dumber to" trailer..

Ka Ni

5y↑6

omg!! that's very addictive!!!

Crogy 92

7y↑6

Like if FIFA STREET 3 or Dumb and Dumber To brought u here XD

Thiago Modesto

5y↑35

Pois é, pois é.

Lewis jones

The days

Andriele Farias

😂😂😂😂 pois é achei que era só eu kkkkkkkkk

Trevon Budree

your wrong

Pedro Oliveira

MORTO

save my soul

pois é 😂😂

2 More Replies...

Shan Andy

7y↑5

its awesome when indian beats meets with english lyrics...AWESOME!

Stefania Zavval

4y↑7

This song and video are so good!!!

justBill

6y↑5

if youtube existed in the 80's, this would be perfect. (istill like it, though)

Antonio Anderson

5d↑1

This video is second behind “bad girls” by her 💯

Sleggar Law

2y↑2

I remember being in middle school seeing this in about 2008 or even 2009, changed me to see someone do something so eccentric. M.I.A gave me a good idea on how I could be creative

Ti Lige

2y↑3

I'm here 2019 yes

Kasra Akrami

4w↑4

smh riri hella coppied this

EVOGenesis666

1y↑7

Remember when Rhianna copied 😌

Mr Caan

Rihanna made it better

Heather Erice

6y↑4

I've known this song for a long ass time. Brings back memories. :)

JAMES GIUFFRE

2y↑2

I showed this music video to my epileptic grandpa. He must really like it because he’s doing some sort of weird dance on the ground!

rando limbo

21w↑4

she was way ahead of her time

Alexander Mott

11w↑2

Rihanna basically wound up with her career, and that's only because Rihanna was willing to sell out with the limp, mid-tempo, club sell-out jams before trying to introduce the more cultural, diverse, and interesting music to her discography.

Gin0- -BaBin0

29w↑3

Listen to 20 dollar. You won't regret it.

phastinemoon

6y↑6

Like the song. Hate the quality of this video (seriously, the uploaders couldn't do better quality?)

phastinemoon

@TheSemukas
And in any case, the song itself is really great -- and the video, when you can see it clearly, is kinda a lot of fun, especially seeing this whole crowd of guys doing the same choreography.

phastinemoon

Which is odd, considering I saw the video onscreen in February of 2008. But, in any case, you'd think that someone would upload a newer version with better quality by now… Just saying.

TheSemukas

@phastinemoon This video was uploaded in 2009. I haven't seen any vevo video that is uploaded in 2009 and has better quality.

phastinemoon

6y↑2

…No -- I've seen the video elsewhere, playing on screens in stores and whatnot, and I assure you, there IS a better quality video. This quality… this ain't the right way to go.

hi

7w↑2

I'd listen to this on a Friday while doing dishes

Emmanuel James

2y↑3

"OH GOSH...THE NEW WARLORD!!" 😎😎😎😎

wanda j

3y↑2

This is the first time song i heard of her. I'm from baltimore and they played this on 92q and said this is another type of club music and I loved it! I was about 22 years old at the time and now I'm 32 lol. Shit still rocking

Marshall Mathers the 4th

2y↑2

I wish M.I.A could have became famous way younger than she actually had. And released Kala as her second album on November 15 1997 at the age of twenty two.

newraj creations

2y↑2

Still watching this video 2019. hands up guys!!! prove it I'm not alone

Ivan Pochileev

6y↑3

Dumb and Dumber To brought me here :D

Kahli Tautari

3y↑3

Absolute BANGER!!

Jay Jku2013

2y↑4

Who is listening in August 2019

lazersmuertos

10w↑1

wish I appreciated this when it came out, I was like 13 and older people I knew liked it but them and their music taste were "weird"and didnt any make sense to me then, now I listen to this everyday

roxy

4y↑5

this song was the shiiiiitttttttt

Tevin Jones

6y↑6

SO beautifully amazing lol. One of my Fav artist of all times.

FamousAnonymous

7y↑3

I WAS WAITING FOR THIS SONG TO GO MAINSTREAM. freakin 5 years later haha.

Ágata Caldas

6w↑2

2021, M.I.A MATANGI forever

aquapower02

7y↑3

Rude Boy copied this.

Anymus

3y↑1

Wtf lmfao I used to hear this everyday back then , I did not know this was M.I.A.

Melanie B

5y↑12

Still my mofo Jam! This video is awesome. M.I.A. I love your raw style.

Crystal Navy

2y↑1

M.I.A talent at it's best!!! She is very creative, and also, very talented!!! I love her music style!!! 💖😄💯

Fiyah Blastah

3y↑3

I remember watching this back in the day and waiting for it to buffer every two seconds. It was worth it

Damidas

4d↑1

I miss the sweet M.I.A.. chop up the beats M.I.A.. I gotta to say at that time I'd like to meet M.I.A.

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