1) An incorrect tag for M.I.A., the British hip-hop… Read Full Bio ↴This is either:
1) An incorrect tag for M.I.A., the British hip-hop, dancehall artist. Please fix your tags.
or an alias of:
2) Raphael Merriweathers began his professional music career at the age of 16. Already a skilled young drummer, he began performing with Top 40 bands and spent ten years splitting his time between touring and working studio sessions. It was during his time as a studio drummer that Raphael discovered electronic drum programming. Finally being fed up with Top 40 gigs, Raphael joined Underground Resistance in 1998. As M.I.A. he released “Schoolcraft Bump” and began performing with Underground Resistance’s Chaos band. Raphael now records as Ray 7 and splits his time working on productions for Underground Resistance, session work on Mainor’s new electronic soul band Renaissance and his new imprint ‘Tunnel 7’.
In which case, the tag is correct.
Platforms
M.I.A Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Perfume of a secret
The sound of scissors
And a girl with a faint smile
Moaning like a brick wall
As she merges on the highway
Could she be a doctor
Everyday I start new
In the mask of the afternoon
My history forgotten
In the bottom of the ocean
In the light of the platform moon
I grew up by the highway
She grew up by the sea
She hears her name in the sound of the waves
But the ships hold a message for me
I was born by the highway
She's got sand in her hair
The lonely sounds of the traffic in the night
Will never reach her there
Woke up on a black beach
With a face I didn't recognize
My history forgotten
In the bottom of the ocean
Everyday I start new
Broken mast and abandoned crew
Her mystery is rotting
In the bottom of the ocean
In the light of the platform moon
I grew up by the highway
She grew up by the sea
She hears her name in the sound of the waves
But the ships hold a message for me
I was born by the highway
She's got sand in her hair
The lonely sounds of the traffic in the night
Will never reach her there
I grew up by the highway
She grew up by the sea
She hears her name in the sound of the waves
But the ships hold a message for me
I was born by the highway
She's got sand in her hair
The lonely sounds of the traffic in the night
Will never reach her there
Will never reach her there
Will never reach her there
The opening lines of M.I.A's Platforms describe a scene set on a train platform where a girl with a faint smile wears perfume and wields a pair of scissors. The singer wonders about her background and whether she could be a doctor or simply a light illuminating the platform. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is searching for a sense of identity and a connection to their past.
The repeated lines, "Everyday I start new / In the mask of the afternoon / My history forgotten / In the bottom of the ocean / In the light of the platform moon," suggest a sense of detachment and a desire to disconnect from their past. This is emphasized by the imagery of the ocean, where the history is forgotten and the mystery is rotting at the bottom. The highway and the sea provide a dichotomy between the singer's world and the girl they observe on the platform.
The final repetition of the lines about the girl by the sea and the singer by the highway reinforces this contrast, and suggests that the ships that hold messages for the singer offer a means of escape from their current situation. Platforms seems to be a song about searching for an identity and a connection to the past, and the possibility of finding it in unexpected places.
Line by Line Meaning
A light on a platform
The setting is a platform, perhaps a train station, where a small light shines, symbolizing hope or direction.
Perfume of a secret
There is a sense of secrecy or hidden meaning in the air, represented by the scent of perfume.
The sound of scissors
The sound of scissors can represent cutting or shaping something, perhaps symbolizing the choices or paths we take in life.
And a girl with a faint smile
A girl with a faint smile suggests a certain mystery or elusiveness, perhaps indicating that there is more to her than meets the eye.
Moaning like a brick wall
This line is more abstract, but it could be interpreted as a sense of being unresponsive or unyielding, like a brick wall that won't give way to change or progress.
As she merges on the highway
This line suggests movement and possibly a sense of progression or growth, as the girl moves onto the highway and possibly towards new experiences or opportunities.
Could she be a doctor
The line is somewhat unclear on its own, but it could be asking whether the girl has a certain level of intelligence, education, or capability.
Or a light on a platform
The repeated motif of a light on a platform suggests a sense of hope or direction, which the girl could represent as she moves forward on her path.
Everyday I start new
Starting fresh or renewing oneself is a common theme in the song, and this line emphasizes the idea of daily renewal.
In the mask of the afternoon
The 'mask' suggests a disguise or facade that one puts on, perhaps to hide or avoid something. The specific time of day could represent a sense of vulnerability or exposure.
My history forgotten
Forgetting one's history could symbolize a desire to move forward or break free from the past, but it could also represent a loss of identity or purpose.
In the bottom of the ocean
This repeated phrase suggests a sense of depth or darkness, and could represent the hidden parts of oneself or the world.
I grew up by the highway
Growing up by the highway could symbolize a sense of restlessness or movement, as one is constantly exposed to new sights and sounds.
She grew up by the sea
Growing up by the sea could symbolize a sense of tranquility or peace, but also a sense of limitation or confinement.
She hears her name in the sound of the waves
This line suggests a sense of connection to the natural world or a specific place, as the girl hears her name in the sound of the waves.
But the ships hold a message for me
This line implies that there are other paths or opportunities out there, perhaps represented by the ships that hold a message for the artist.
Woke up on a black beach
The image of a black beach suggests a sense of emptiness or desolation, and could represent a low point or a sense of being lost.
With a face I didn't recognize
Not recognizing one's own face could symbolize a loss of identity or a sense of alienation from oneself.
Broken mast and abandoned crew
This line suggests a sense of abandonment or failure, as a ship with a broken mast and abandoned crew would be unable to continue on its journey.
Her mystery is rotting
The girl's 'mystery' could represent her secrets, her identity, or her potential, and the fact that it is 'rotting' suggests a sense of decay or loss.
Will never reach her there
The repeated refrain of 'will never reach her there' could symbolize a sense of distance, isolation, or unattainability, as the various sounds and images throughout the song remain just out of reach for the artist.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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