Mango Pickle Down River
M.I.A. Lyrics


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When it's real hot we go down the river and swim
And When we go fishing we're catching the bream
When the river's high we jump off the bridge
And when we get home and play some didge

When it's real hot we go down the river and swim
And When we go fishing we're catching the bream
When the river's high we jump off the bridge
And when we get home and play some didge

First of all I wanna say I don't even know why you act that way
My name is Maya and people always say
I act kinda strange like a dooba weh
I like fish and mango pickle
When I climb trees them feet them tickle
I'm broke this month, didn't pay rent
I had to jump town and my money's all spent
I had to jump town and my money's all spent

When it's real hot we go down the river and swim
And When we go fishing we're catching the bream
When the river's high we jump off the bridge
And when we get home and play some didge

When it's real hot we go down the river and swim
And When we go fishing we're catching the bream
When the river's high we jump off the bridge
And when we get home and play some didge

Rode the BMX, we walked through the bush
The boys fight to ride it but I just let them push
Keith stole an egg from a lil kookoo
Kept it safe in his mouth, while he danced the jookoo jookoo

There?s only one ocean that got fish left
One day we?ll have to be a really good chef
And I don?t mean us in the bush making meth
Boys, if you catch meth, you catch your death
When I said that Keith sneezed and had a chick
Broke the little egg in his mouth in little bits

When it's real hot we go down the river and swim
And When we go fishing we're catching the bream
When the river's high we jump off the bridge
And when we get home and play some didge

When it's real hot we go down the river and swim
And When we go fishing we're catching the bream




When the river's high we jump off the bridge
And when we get home and play some didge

Overall Meaning

In M.I.A.'s song Mango Pickle Down River, the lyrics describe various activities that take place in a rural, bush-like setting. The song begins with the singer describing how, when the weather is hot, they often go down to the river to swim or fish for bream. The lyrics then mention how, when the water level is high, they have fun jumping off the bridge. This nostalgic vibe is further accentuated as she describes how, at home, they play the didgeridoo.


The next part of the song features a spoken-word section in which M.I.A. introduces herself and explains that she often gets called "strange." She then goes on to mention two of her favorite things - fish and mango pickle - and talks about how she likes to climb trees. The tone of the spoken section is both playful and introspective, and it seems to suggest an underlying sense of alienation.


The final part of the song returns to the chorus, but this time, the lyrics describe a more complex and interrelated set of activities. The singer and her companions ride BMX bikes and walk through the bush, sometimes fighting over who gets to ride. They find an egg and carry it with them while they dance a traditional jig. The song ends on a somewhat ominous note, as M.I.A. warns her friends that they should be careful not to catch "meth" or they might "catch their death."


Overall, Mango Pickle Down River is a song that celebrates the simple pleasures of rural life while also hinting at deeper issues of identity and belonging. At its heart, the song is about the joys of spending time with friends and communing with nature, but it is also a reflection on what it means to be different and how that difference can sometimes make it hard to fit in.


Line by Line Meaning

When it's real hot we go down the river and swim
During hot weather, we like to cool off by swimming in the river


And When we go fishing we're catching the bream
When we go fishing, we usually catch bream fish


When the river's high we jump off the bridge
When the water level in the river rises, we like to jump off the bridge for fun


And when we get home and play some didge
After a day of swimming and fishing, we like to play the didgeridoo at home


First of all I wanna say I don't even know why you act that way
Firstly, I want to mention that I don't understand why you behave in such a manner


My name is Maya and people always say
My name is Maya, and people often comment on my behavior


I act kinda strange like a dooba weh
I behave a bit oddly, like a Dooba Weh (a type of dance)


I like fish and mango pickle
I enjoy eating fish and mango pickle


When I climb trees them feet them tickle
My feet tend to tickle when I climb trees


I'm broke this month, didn't pay rent
I'm financially struggling this month and couldn't pay my rent


I had to jump town and my money's all spent
I had to leave town suddenly, and I have no money left


Rode the BMX, we walked through the bush
We rode BMX bikes and walked through the bushes


The boys fight to ride it but I just let them push
The boys argue over who gets to ride it, but I let them work it out on their own


Keith stole an egg from a lil kookoo
Keith took an egg from a small bird called Kookoo


Kept it safe in his mouth, while he danced the jookoo jookoo
He kept the egg safe in his mouth while dancing the Jookoo Jookoo (a type of dance)


There's only one ocean that got fish left
There is only one ocean that still has fish remaining


One day we'll have to be a really good chef
We should all aspire to become good chefs someday


And I don't mean us in the bush making meth
By becoming good chefs, I don't mean we should make meth in the bush


Boys, if you catch meth, you catch your death
Boys, if you catch meth, you will die


When I said that Keith sneezed and had a chick
When I mentioned Keith, he suddenly sneezed and coughed up a baby bird


Broke the little egg in his mouth in little bits
Unfortunately, he accidentally broke the egg in his mouth into little pieces




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRENDON LEE ADAMS, BUDDY STEWART BLAIR, COLROY JOHNSON, DANIEL GEOFFREY WRIGHT, KEITH JOHN DUTTON, LENDAL ISAAC KING, MATHANGI ARULPRAGASAM, MORGAN WILLIAM LEWIS, WALLY JAMES EBSWORTH, WILLIAM KEITH JARRETT

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