Dollar
M.I.A. Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

China Girl is a little girl
From a town
That's all ya need to know

Lolita was a man-eater
Clocked him like a taxi meter

Fuck gold, she was platinum digger
Shakin' ass, makin' moves on a mover

Visa, then a plane ride to ya
Peace out, she'll kill you like Uma

She skipped away to the shop
She found she didn't have enough
She clocked him lookin' right at her
And sucked on a lollipop
She skipped away to the shop
And she found she didn't have enough
She clocked him lookin' right at her
And sucked on a lollipop

China Girl grew up to be a big girl
Had her sights set on a bigger world
Dial-a-Bride from Sri Lanka
Found herself a Yorkshire banker
Need a Visa
Got with a geezer
Need some money
Paid him with a knees-up
Year later, started to ease-up
Got her own way, shouted out, "See ya"

She skipped away to the shop
She found she didn't have enough
She clocked him looking right at her
And sucked on a lollipop
She skipped away to the shop
And she found she didn't have enough
She clocked him lookin' right at her
And sucked on a lollipop

Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh-oh oh
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh-oh oh
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey

What can I get for 10 dollar?
Everything you want
And what can I get for 10 dollar?
Anything you want
Yeah, what can I get for 10 dollar?
Everyting you want
Yeah, what can I get for 10 dollar?
Anything you want
What can I get for 10 dollar?
Anyting you want
And what can I get for 10 dollar?
Anyting you want
Yeah, what can I get for 10 dollar?
Anyting you want
Yeah, what can I get for 10 dollar?
Anyting you want

Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh-oh oh
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh-oh oh
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey

Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh-oh oh
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh-oh oh
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh, hey hey (ah)

(Ah, ah)




(Ah, ah)
(Ah, ah)

Overall Meaning

The song "10 Dollar" by M.I.A. tells the story of two women, China Girl and Lolita. China Girl is introduced as a little girl from a small town, and Lolita is described as a man-eater who "clocked him like a taxi meter" and was a "platinum digger" who shook her ass and made moves on movers. The lyrics suggest that both women have used their sexual prowess to get what they want in life.


Later in the song, China Girl grows up and has her sights set on a bigger world. She finds a Yorkshire banker through Dial-a-Bride from Sri Lanka and pays him with a "knees-up" for a visa and the money she needs. Eventually, she gets her own way and shouts out "See ya." The song ends with the repeated chorus, asking what can be purchased for $10 and stating that anything and everything can be obtained for that amount.


Overall, the song comments on the commodification of women and the power dynamics that exist in relationships. It portrays women as both victims and manipulators, using their sexuality to achieve their goals.


Line by Line Meaning

China Girl is a little girl
China Girl is a naive and innocent girl from a small town


From a town
This is all we need to know about her background


Lolita was a man-eater
Lolita was a woman who sexualized men and used them for her own gain


Clocked him like a taxi meter
She assessed the man's worth and took advantage of him in the same way that a taxi meter counts up the fare


Fuck gold, she was platinum digger
She was not interested in gold diggers, only men with a lot of money


Shakin' ass, makin' moves on a mover
She was actively seeking out men who could move her up in society


Visa, then a plane ride to ya
If a man had money and could provide her with a visa, she would fly to be with him


Peace out, she'll kill you like Uma
She would move on easily if a man couldn't provide for her, leaving him to die like Uma Thurman's enemies in Kill Bill


She skipped away to the shop
China Girl went to the store


She found she didn't have enough
She did not have enough money to buy what she wanted


She clocked him lookin' right at her
She noticed a man staring at her


And sucked on a lollipop
She confidently showed off her sexuality to the man, playing with a lollipop in her mouth


China Girl grew up to be a big girl
China girl grew into adulthood and became more experienced in the ways of the world


Had her sights set on a bigger world
She desired to move beyond her small town roots and be part of the larger world


Dial-a-Bride from Sri Lanka
She used a mail-order bride service to find a partner


Found herself a Yorkshire banker
She found a wealthy partner from Yorkshire


Need a Visa
She needed a visa to leave her small town and travel to be with her partner


Got with a geezer
She found an older man to be with


Need some money
She needed money to achieve her goals


Paid him with a knees-up
She used her sexuality to get him to give her money


Year later, started to ease-up
After many years of using men for her benefit, she started to relax a little bit


Got her own way, shouted out, 'See ya'
Finally, she achieved her own success and proudly announced to her past lovers that she no longer needed them


What can I get for 10 dollar?
A question about what is available for purchase with ten dollars


Everything you want
There are many things available for purchase with ten dollars


Anything you want
There are no limits to what can be purchased with ten dollars




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Richard X, Mathangi Arulpragasam

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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