Jimmy
M.I.A. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Come back Jimmy
When you go Rwanda Congo
Take me on a genocide tour
Take me on a truck to Darfur
Take me where you would go
Got static on ya satellite phone
Gotta get you safe at home
Gotta get you somewhere warm
So you get me all alone
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Time and time and time and time again
You keep pushing that button but I don't know what you're sayin'
You hit me on AIM, tryin' to flip me on some game
Are you coming, are you going, are you leaving, are you staying?
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start actin like you want me!
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start actin like you want me!
Time and time and time again
You keep pushing me, what are you sayin?
You hit me on AIM, tryin' to flip me on some game
But I still don't know what you're sayin
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start actin like you want me!
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start actin like you want me!
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy! (Adja)
Jimmy, I love you, hear me sing
The song "Jimmy" by M.I.A. is a complex track with a hidden meaning behind its lyrics. The song is a plea from the singer to Jimmy, who is believed to be an African soldier fighting in various war-torn countries. The chorus repeats the words "Jimmy gone M.I.A., come back Jimmy," which suggests that Jimmy has gone missing in action. The lyrics describe the singer's desire to travel with Jimmy to Rwanda Congo and Darfur, which are regions of Africa that have witnessed some of the worst atrocities in recent history. The singer wants to see the devastation for herself, which is why she asks Jimmy to take her on a "genocide tour."
In the second verse, the singer expresses her frustration with Jimmy's lack of communication. He keeps "pushing that button," but she doesn't know what he's saying. She describes how Jimmy contacts her on AIM, and she's not sure if he's coming or going, staying or leaving. The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing the singer's desire for Jimmy's return. The bridge expresses the singer's love for Jimmy and her desperation for him to hear her.
Line by Line Meaning
Jimmy gone M.I.A.
Jimmy has disappeared and can't be found
Come back Jimmy
Please return, Jimmy
When you go Rwanda Congo
If you go to Rwanda or Congo
Take me on a genocide tour
Show me the locations where genocides occurred
Take me on a truck to Darfur
Bring me to Darfur on a truck
Take me where you would go
Take me with you wherever you go
Got static on ya satellite phone
Your satellite phone is experiencing interference
Gotta get you safe at home
I need to get you home safely
Gotta get you somewhere warm
We need to go somewhere warm
So you get me all alone
So we can be alone together
Jimmy! (Adja)
Call to Jimmy, who is missing
Time and time and time and time again
Repeatedly
You keep pushing that button but I don't know what you're sayin'
You are communicating, but I don't understand
You hit me on AIM, tryin' to flip me on some game
You messaged me on AIM, trying to play games
Are you coming, are you going, are you leaving, are you staying?
Uncertainty about your plans
You tell me that you're busy
You say you're busy
Your lovin makes me crazy
I am crazy about your love
I know that you hear me
I know you are listening to me
Start actin like you want me!
Show me that you want to be with me
Jimmy! (Adja)
Call to Jimmy, who is missing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bappi Lahiri, David Christopher Taylor, Mathangi Arulpragasam
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
"Jimmy" is a cover of the song "Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" sung by Parvati Khan in Hindi from the 1982 Bollywood movie Disco Dancer, written by Bappi Lahiri. "Jimmy" features different orchestration and beats from the previous version, and original English lyrics written by Arulpragasam. Read Full Bio"Jimmy" is the second single from experimental electronica rap artist M.I.A.'s second album "Kala", and her first single from the album in Japan. The song was written and produced by Maya Arulpragasam and Switch and released in late July, 2007.
"Jimmy" is a cover of the song "Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" sung by Parvati Khan in Hindi from the 1982 Bollywood movie Disco Dancer, written by Bappi Lahiri. "Jimmy" features different orchestration and beats from the previous version, and original English lyrics written by Arulpragasam. M.I.A. performed the track on BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2007.
The single was released in the UK on October 1 in CD single, 7" and 12" formats. In February 2008 the single began to gain traction on the US dance charts, peaking at #28 after five weeks on the chart.
M.I.A. explained that "Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" was a track she used to dance to when she was a child. "My mum used to hire me out when I was a kid as a party buffer. It was my track that I used to do my routine to. I had a little tape recorder, and a cloak and a cardboard cut out guitar, and that was my joint." Describing the recording and writing processes, she revealed that she had already recorded the strings and other parts of the song in India, but initially didn't attempt to do "Jimmy" when she was with co-producer Switch, explaining "I had to be drunk enough to be that disco. It all came together that week." Arulpragasam wrote the song about an invitation she received from the journalist Ben Anderson while working in Liberia, to meet him whilst covering a genocide tour. The 70's disco-pop style of the song stands in marked contrast with other songs on Kala.
"Jimmy" has been covered by the indie pop band Of Montreal.
The music video for "Jimmy" was directed by childhood friend Nezar Khammal. It premiered in Japan in July, and was premiered elsewhere around the world in August, the month of her second album release Kala. The music video features M.I.A. dancing with a golden crown on her head, with eleven dancers dressed in yellow in an Indian fashion, all dancing a variation of the Thousand Hand Bodhisattva. Occasionally the video cuts to show M.I.A. dancing by herself and two other girls in a different style of clothing against a white backdrop.
The video has received some airplay on MuchMusic in Canada.
A slightly different version of the music video, using the Dan Carey Radio Mix of the song, was used to promote "Jimmy" in the UK and in Italy.
Susel
Jimmy gone MIA
Come back Jimmy
When you go Rwanda Congo
Take me on a genocide tour
Take me on a truck to Darfur
Take me where you would go
Got static on ya satellite phone
Gotta get you safe at home
Gotta get you somewhere warm
So you get me all alone
Jimmy! (आजा)
Jimmy! (आजा)
Jimmy! (आजा)
Jimmy! (आजा)
Time and time and time and time again
You keep pushing that button but I don't know what you're sayin'
You hit me on AIM, tryin' to flip me on some game
Are you coming? Are you going? Are you leaving? Are you staying?
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin' makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start acting like you want me
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin' makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start acting like you want me
Time and time and time again
You keep pushing me, what are you sayin'?
You hit me on AIM, tryin' to flip me some game
But I still don't know what you're sayin
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin' makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start acting like you want me
You tell me that you're busy
Your lovin' makes me crazy
I know that you hear me
Start acting like you want me
Jimmy! (आजा)
Jimmy! (आजा)
Jimmy! (आजा)
Jimmy! (आजा)
Jimmy
I know you hear me sing
Mandeep Singh
She is saying Jimmy Aja, which means come Jimmy, come. This song is actually based on an old Indian movie I saw 25 years ago. Basically a movie about a performer who is scared to perform on stage and he is frozen because his mom had just died. A friend of his, sings Jimmy Aja to encourage him to move and sing because life can't stand still. A very emotional movie and a good song. MIA just took that song and added her own influence.
A -Yaw
We know rookie
ProudPolishHerbsman
The word Aaja sounds similar to Polish word Chodź (Chadzać) which also means Come Here/Come On. It's because Slavic and Baltic languages are amazingly similar to Sanskrit, Hindu, and other languages of India. Even some tribal symbols of ancient Slavs are similar to these from India.
Akil Mieres
Catchy tune though... And she's kinda cute... Not catching again though nehi nehi nehi! Lol
Akil Mieres
Bao ji stop lying for Mia & Nadia... She asking for a jar to tief man break! Nehi Semaj!😡
Virginia Bruno
Wow thank you I was trying to understand the meaning, I saw the original video she killed it the original creator 👏
Foram Patel
She had the balls to do this at that time. She was definitely ahead of her time and no doubt she slayed it.
Agnes Bamurange
I’m dying to listen to her new album
TheDomanation13
What an underrated song and album. Pop music needs creativity like this to stay exciting.
Jetsofaqua
@RB glad someone said it