Y A L A
M.I.A. Lyrics


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YALA
YALA

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo
Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

Yea yea, YALA
Yea yea, YALA

Bombs go off when I enter the building

YALA
YALA
YALA
YALA

I drink some Contreau keep it in my poncho
Light up like Castro
Blow up and get go

Pro when I set, go
Grow like an afro
Play like Ronaldo
Hard like I'm death row

Weight in kilo
Light as a pillow
Dance on my tip-toe
Like I tae-box though

Yeah we come, come, come
Yeah we come with some some
Get a glass of rum
With a gun and some pun pun
Oh fun, fun, fun
Let's get 'em undone
Take a hit on the bong
It's been so long since we hung

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

YALA
YALA

Anti war war
M.I.A. underscore
I get the law law
Searching for me on tour

Bankin' offshore
Take a trip to Singapore
I need to earn like
I'm Julianne Moore

For the hour poor
Don't wanna ignore
That's why I say shit
So they can explore

My baby, I amore
My mommy I adore
I tried to stay pure
Can't take it anymore

Come, come, come
When we coming some some
Yea a glass around
Yea I got me some pom pom
Fun fun fun
Yea it's getting undone
We've been here, we move on
It's been so long since we hung

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

Yea yea yea, go
Yea yea yea, go
Bombs go off when I enter the building

YALA
YALA
YALA

I'm rolling solo
You can't take a photo
I'mma keep it raw raw

I'm rolling solo
You can't take a photo
I'mma keep it raw raw

YALA
YALA

Yeah we come, come, come
Yeah we come with some some
Get a glass of rum
With a gun and some pun pun
Oh fun, fun, fun
Let's get 'em undone
Take a hit on the bong
It's been so long since we hung

YOLO?
I don't even know anymore
What that even mean though
If you only live once why we keep doing the same shit?
Back home where I come from, we keep being born




Again and again and then again and again
That's why they invented karma

Overall Meaning

The song Y.A.L.A. by M.I.A. is a celebration of living life to the fullest and embracing youth and the moment. Y.A.L.A. stands for "You Always Live Again," which is a riff on the popular phrase YOLO or "You Only Live Once." The lyrics encourage listeners to let loose, party, and enjoy life to the fullest. The repetitive chorus "Go low, go slow, run like a polo, a banana pole like you're climbing up a yoyo" suggests that we should take our time and enjoy the journey. The lyric "bombs go off when I enter the building" is a reference to the high-energy atmosphere that M.I.A. brings to a performance or party.


The song's verses touch on a variety of topics, including international banking, searching for M.I.A. on tour, and the pursuit of fame, but all come back to the central message of living life to the fullest. The lyrics "I drink some Contreau, keep it in my poncho, light up like Castro" are a nod to M.I.A.'s heritage and the culture of partying in South America.


Overall, Y.A.L.A. is a call to embrace life, youth, and energy, and live each moment like it's your last.


Line by Line Meaning

Go low, go slow
Take things easy and cautiously


Run like a polo
Move quickly, like playing polo


A banana pole like you're Climbing up a yoyo
Climbing a straight and skinny object that shakes side-to-side like a yo-yo


Bombs go off when I enter the building
I have a powerful presence that causes chaos and disruption


I drink some Contreau keep it in my poncho
I carry alcohol in my clothing for quick access


Light up like Castro Blow up and get go
Igniting a spark and setting things off


Pro when I set, go Grow like an afro Play like Ronaldo Hard like I'm death row
I am skilled and competitive, with the strength and attitude to win


Weight in kilo Light as a pillow
I have a significant amount of responsibility, but remain calm and focused


Dance on my tip-toe Like I tae-box though
I move gracefully and with precision, as if performing martial arts


Anti war war M.I.A. underscore I get the law law Searching for me on tour
I am against war and violence, but still a target of the law


Bankin' offshore Take a trip to Singapore I need to earn like I'm Julianne Moore
I am financially savvy and ambitious, like the actress Julianne Moore


For the hour poor Don't wanna ignore That's why I say shit So they can explore
I speak up for those who are oppressed and overlooked, so they can be heard and understood


My baby, I amore My mommy I adore I tried to stay pure Can't take it anymore
I deeply love and care for my family, but I find it increasingly difficult to stay true to myself and my beliefs


YOLO? I don't even know anymore What that even mean though If you only live once why we keep doing the same shit? Back home where I come from, we keep being born Again and again and then again and again That's why they invented karma
I question the meaning of 'you only live once' and wonder why we continue repeating the same mistakes again and again. In my culture, we believe in reincarnation and the concept of karma


YALA
You Always Live Again




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATHANGI ARULPRAGASAM, JASPER HELDERMAN, RUBEN FERNHOUT, JERRY LEEMBRUGGEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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LYRICS

YALA
YALA

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

Yea yea, YALA
Yea yea, YALA

Bombs go off when I enter the building

YALA
YALA
YALA
YALA

I drink some Contreau keep it in my poncho
Light up like Castro
Blow up and get go

Pro when I set, go
Grow like an afro
Play like Ronaldo
Hard like I’m death row

Weight in kilo
Light as a pillow
Dance on my tip-toe
Like I tae-box though

Yeah we come, come, come
Yeah we come with some some
Get a glass of rum
With a gun and some pun pun
Oh fun, fun, fun
Let's get 'em undone
Take a hit on the bong
It’s been so long since we hung

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

YALA
YALA

Anti war war
M.I.A. underscore
I get the law law
Searching for me on tour

Bankin' offshore
Take a trip to Singapore
I need to earn like
I'm Julianne Moore

For the hour poor
Don’t wanna ignore
That’s why I say shit
So they can explore

My baby, I amore
My mommy I adore
I tried to stay pure
Can’t take it anymore

Come, come, come
When we coming some some
Yea a glass around
Yea I got me some pom pom
Fun fun fun
Yea it’s getting undone
We’ve been here, we move on
It’s been so long since we hung

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

Go low, go slow
Run like a polo
A banana pole like you're
Climbing up a yoyo

Yea yea yea, go
Yea yea yea, go
Bombs go off when I enter the building

YALA
YALA
YALA

I’m rolling solo
You can't take a photo
I’mma keep it raw raw

I’m rolling solo
You can't take a photo
I’mma keep it raw raw

YALA
YALA

Yeah we come, come, come
Yeah we come with some some
Get a glass of rum
With a gun and some pun pun
Oh fun, fun, fun
Let's get 'em undone
Take a hit on the bong
It’s been so long since we hung

YOLO?
I don’t even know anymore
What that even mean though
If you only live once why we keep doing the same shit?
Back home where I come from, we keep being born
Again and again and then again and again
That’s why they invented karma



All comments from YouTube:

@JonasTuk

Afte 3 years i just realised, it Y.A.L.A. is "You Always Live Again". A whole new world just opened up for me.

@dj_-hu6jf

same

@NineBillionPeople

holy shit

@EarthyMcliving

woah

@estadosunidos6992

Same

@jaelynjohnson7473

Omg that's what it means 😂

23 More Replies...

@onY0urmark

The editing in this video is phenomenal.

@quantum9423

*paranormal

@onY0urmark

Quantum That too.

@sepertela

She is The Revolution that was televised... no one can beat her still

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