"Galang" was the second song Arulpragasam wrote on her Roland MC-505.
Galang
M.I.A. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Speak the slang now
Boys say wha'
Come on girls say what, say wha'
London calling
Speak the slang now
Boys say wha
Slam, galang galang galang
Shotgun, get down
Get down, get down, get down
Too late, you down
D-d-d-down
Ta na ta na ta na
Blaze a blaze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Purple haze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Blaze a blaze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Purple haze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Who the hell is hounding you in the B-M-W
How the hell he find you, 147'd you
The feds gon get you
Pull the strings on the hood
1 paranoid youth blazin' through the hood
Who the hell is hounding you in the B-M-W
How the hell he find you, 147'd you
The feds gon get you
Pull the strings on the hood
1 paranoid youth blazin' through the hood
Blaze a blaze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Purple haze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Blaze a blaze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Purple haze (galang a lang a lang lang)
London calling
Speak the slang now
Boys say wha
Come on girls say what, say wha'
London calling
Speak the slang now
Boys say wha
Come on girls say what, say wha'
They say
Rivers gonna run though
Work is gonna save you
Pray and you will pull through
Suck a dick'll help you
Don't let em get to you
If he's got 1 you get 2
Backstab your crew
Sell it I could sell you
They say
Rivers gonna run though
Work is gonna save you
Pray and you will pull through
Suck a dick'll help you
Don't let em get to you
If he's got 1 you get 2
Backstab your crew
Sell it I could sell you
Blaze a blaze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Purple haze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Blaze a blaze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Purple haze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Blaze a blaze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Purple haze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Blaze a blaze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Purple haze (galang a lang a lang lang)
The song Galang by M.I.A./Diplo featuring Lil Vicious is an upbeat and fast-paced track that primarily focuses on the language and slang used in London. The chorus mentions "London calling, speak the slang now" which could be interpreted as a call to embrace the language and culture of London. The verses go on to describe the hustle and danger of the streets, with references to the police and paranoia. The song also touches on the idea of success through hard work, as seen in the line "work is gonna save you, pray and you will pull through."
Overall, the song seems to be a celebration of London culture, with its unique language and traditions, while also acknowledging the difficulties and struggles of life in the city.
Line by Line Meaning
London calling
Announcing the call for individuals to follow the lead of London as shown through their trendy and cool way of living.
Speak the slang now
Begin speaking in the everyday jargon and expressions that are trending in London.
Boys say wha'
The boys respond to the call of London, and want to know more information.
Come on girls say what, say wha'
The girls also want to know what the London trends are and are eager to follow suit.
Slam, galang galang galang
The call for everyone to start dancing rapidly and fluidly to the music.
Shotgun, get down
Take a seat in the front passenger seat of your car and get ready for an exciting and wild ride.
Too late, you down
The ride is starting, and if you're not ready, you're going to miss it.
D-d-d-down
The repetition of down, showcasing the importance of being down with the trend and following the beat.
Ta na ta na ta na
The refrain continues, marking the rhythm that everyone should follow and dance to.
Blaze a blaze (galang a lang a lang lang)
Beginning to light up and crackle with energy, symbolized by the phrase galang a lang a lang lang.
Purple haze (galang a lang a lang lang)
As the energy builds, it creates a purple mist, taking on the phrase galang a lang a lang lang once again.
Who the hell is hounding you in the B-M-W
Asking who is following and bothering those in their cars, specifically those traveling in a BMW.
How the hell he find you, 147'd you
Asking how the follower has found you and followed you at every turn, and why they have marked you with the number 147.
The feds gon get you
Warns of the potential legal consequences that could arise from their actions.
Pull the strings on the hood
The hood of the car functions as a symbol for being pulled along wherever life takes you.
1 paranoid youth blazin' through the hood
Only one anxious youth is speeding through life in a car, experiencing the rush of the urban way of life.
They say
Referring to a general consensus that work and prayer will lead to success.
Rivers gonna run though
A river will inevitably come along and disrupt the natural flow of events.
Work is gonna save you
Hard work, dedication, and perseverance will ultimately save you from failure.
Pray and you will pull through
Additionally, offering up one's prayers and hopes, which may serve as a supplement to personal effort.
Suck a dick'll help you
Going through any measure necessary, including potentially immoral or dangerous choices, to survive and thrive.
Don't let em get to you
Don't let bad situations or people get you down or distract you from achieving your goals.
If he's got 1 you get 2
If someone else has something, it is possible for you to obtain or surpass it by obtaining or producing two of the identical thing.
Backstab your crew
Sacrificing loyalty and trust in others for personal, individualistic gains.
Sell it I could sell you
Confidence in one's abilities to sell an item or idea to someone else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MATHANGI ARULPRAGASAM, STEPHEN PATRICK MACKEY, ROSS ORTON, JUSTINE FRISCHMANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@renanalves6524
I swear, her first two albums have aged like GOLD.
@bl2528
They have very high replay value
@sgm123
Back in 2003 this was the definition of a "you gotta hear this shit" type track. Later, when Arular dropped, this was the album you HAD to play at partys to show people how eclectic your music taste was.
@alfredoaaalvarado
that's right budd
@KMill-xb3uc
That is soo true Hahaha.. I was in Uni..telling everyone about my discovery lol. A time when u would still get free mp3 lol.
@lazchurchyard1229
I first heard this on an Akira The Don mixtape back in the day. I miss him.
@DiegoCanizo
Word.
@sjcflawless
03?! I thought it was 04! Damn son, it was that early it was out?!
@joshguzek3054
I appreciate her for being daringly political in almost everything she does. It seems like most music artists pretend like nothing is going on in the world, but not her. Love it
@yourmomsbox7455
well this comment aged like milk....