Their R&B/Hip-hop/Rap/soul music takes influences from their various backgrounds (Arab, Pakistani, and Latin music), and although their songs are primarily in English, they usually feature lyrics in Spanish, Urdu, Arabic, and Danish. All these influences make the music of Outlandish somewhat unique and this is easy to notice from the variety of genres covered in their albums. Outlandish often include themes about Islam and contemporary issues facing young Muslims in the west in their music, and sometimes their songs define a nasheed-like unique genre.
So far they have produced four albums: Outland's Official (2000), Bread & Barrels of Water (2003), Beats, Rhymes & Life (2004) and Closer Than Veins (2005).
Last November 2006 Outlandish won the MTV EMAs as a best danish act of the year, the same month as the creation of their new fan-site Elmoro4Life.com
Fatima's Hand
Outlandish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And around here � when your 21
u gotta start thinking about getting a man
getting a son � getting it done
just like her mom when she was 21
but even though Fatima's not ready for it
she not gonna say some
she feels she gotta do this for the parents
a lotta men from motherland
came up here hoping she say yeah
but she ain't down
wants somebody that can make her feel alive
chill every time she wanna cry
the one in a million type of guy
but her mom keeps telling her
"compromise, this ain't no fairy tale my child
do not waste your time
u'll regret u didn't say yes to this guy"
everyday is the same
like a battlefield
she gets the blame
bringing shame on the family name
just cuz the streets be babbling
like a Bedouin in a dessert storm
she lays low from all their songs
try to make 'em understand
but it's like talking to the wall
her desire's burning to change her ill state
it's strange - for the first time
in a long time � she sees the light in the end
Chorus:
she brings the pain within your brain
y'all don't really wanna understand her thang
boo be really strong enough to maintain
thru your bullshit
it ain't nothing but pain
but she knows in the name of Fatimas hand
she don't go wrong
in the name of Fatimas hand
she will move on
hey hoping everything will be alright!!!
Majid:
I see tears in everybody's eyes
But I don't understand why
Mama standing in the kitchen
preparing dinner while she cries
as the pain spreads inside
cuz something that's going on
denial of my first question
second time got no respond
to lose some one that had always been there
She always had my back
And she always did care
So with these lines right here
I wanna explain how much I love u
No matter what u do I will forever stay true
Until this day
Can't nobody tear us apart
10 years is past
But u are still living in my heart
truly no poetry can explain how much I miss ya
No matter where u are U will always be my sister
Chorus...
Con la mano de Fatima
sobre su alma encantadora
su camino es protegido
no importa cual escoga
y ella fue escogida
para verla y admirarla
en sus ojos tiene un algo
impecable es su retrato
y cada vez que pasa
lo duro se abl�ndese
la noche se agr�ndese
lo malo desvanece
no la olvidaran, la esperaran
al otro lado de esta vida
su amor alumbrara, su voz les cantara
en las memorias hay momentos de pasi�n
afecto y comprensi�n, retratos y recuerdos
dando vuelta en las fantas�as
su aura es alegr�a
lleva la mano de Fatima
The song "Fatima's Hand" by Outlandish tells the story of a young woman named Fatima who is under pressure from her family and community to get married and start a family, despite not feeling ready for it. Fatima is torn between her desires and the expectations of her family, who believe that she should settle with someone rather than wait for the one she truly loves. The song is a poignant depiction of the cultural and psychological complexities people face when navigating the intersection between tradition and modernity. The lyrics also speak to the issue of women's autonomy and the societal constraints they often have to overcome in order to make their own life choices.
The chorus of the song talks about the pain and challenges that Fatima faces, but it also highlights her resilience and determination to move forward. The use of the symbol of Fatima's hand - a well-known symbol in Islamic culture - suggests that Fatima is guided by her faith and the belief that she will find the strength to overcome her struggles. In addition, the verses by Majid pay homage to his sister who has passed away, adding another layer of emotional resonance to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Fatima is 21
Fatima is at the age where she is expected to start thinking about getting married and having children.
And around here – when you’re 21
In Fatima's culture or community, getting married and starting a family is expected at her age.
u gotta start thinking about getting a man
Fatima is expected to find a man to marry.
getting a son – getting it done
Fatima is expected to have a child, preferably a son, soon after getting married.
just like her mom when she was 21
Fatima's mother got married and had children at the same age Fatima is now.
but even though Fatima's not ready for it
Fatima is not ready or interested in getting married and starting a family.
she not gonna say some
Despite not being ready, Fatima won't speak up because she feels obligated to please her parents.
she feels she gotta do this for the parents
Fatima feels pressured to get married and have children because her parents have been pushing her for the last five years.
cuz they’ve been on her for the last 5 years
Fatima has been feeling the pressure to get married and have children for the past five years.
a lotta men from motherland
Men from Fatima's country of origin are interested in marrying her.
came up here hoping she say yeah
These men hope that Fatima will agree to marry them.
but she ain’t down
Fatima is not interested in marrying any of the men who have approached her.
wants somebody that can make her feel alive
Fatima is looking for a partner who can make her feel happy and fulfilled.
chill every time she wanna cry
Fatima wants a partner who can be there to comfort and support her.
the one in a million type of guy
Fatima is looking for a very special and rare kind of partner.
but her mom keeps telling her
Fatima's mother keeps pressuring her to get married and compromise her desires.
“compromise, this ain’t no fairy tale my child
Fatima's mother tells her that she needs to make a compromise and not expect a perfect fairytale-like romance.
do not waste your time
Fatima's mother warns her not to waste her time waiting for her perfect partner.
u’ll regret u didn’t say yes to this guy”
Fatima's mother tries to convince her that she will regret not marrying one of the men who have approached her.
everyday is the same
Fatima's life feels like a daily battlefield due to the pressure from her parents and community to get married.
like a battlefield
Fatima's life feels like a warzone being constantly pressured to get married.
she gets the blame
Fatima is blamed by her community for not getting married and bringing shame to her family's name.
bringing shame on the family name
Fatima's community sees the fact that she is not married as shameful and brings dishonor to her family.
just cuz the streets be babbling
Fatima's community gossips and talks about her marital status.
like a Bedouin in a dessert storm
Fatima and her family feel lost and alone in the middle of a chaotic situation.
she lays low from all their songs
Fatima tries to stay away from the gossip and drama surrounding her.
try to make ’em understand
Fatima tries to help her community understand her perspective and desires.
but it’s like talking to the wall
Fatima's attempts to explain herself feel futile and hopeless.
her desire’s burning to change her ill state
Fatima wants to change her unhappy and pressured state of being.
it’s strange – for the first time
Fatima feels strange about finally realizing what she really wants out of life.
in a long time – she sees the light in the end
Fatima finally sees hope and light in her future.
she brings the pain within your brain
Fatima's situation is difficult and challenging.
y’all don’t really wanna understand her thang
Fatima feels like nobody cares to understand what she is going through.
boo be really strong enough to maintain
Fatima must be strong enough to endure the pressure and challenges she is facing.
thru your bullshit
Fatima must overcome the negative attitudes and comments of others.
it ain’t nothing but pain
Fatima's situation feels full of pain and struggle.
but she knows in the name of Fatima’s hand
Fatima believes that having faith in a higher power will help her find her way.
she don’t go wrong
Fatima is confident that she is doing the right thing by following her heart.
in the name of Fatima’s hand
Fatima is seeking guidance from a powerful symbol and source of strength in her culture and faith.
she will move on
Fatima is determined to keep moving forward despite the obstacles in her way.
hey hoping everything will be alright!!!
Fatima remains optimistic and hopeful for a positive outcome.
I see tears in everybody’s eyes
Majid is observing the sadness in the people around him.
But I don’t understand why
Majid is confused about why people are crying.
Mama standing in the kitchen
Majid's mother is standing in the kitchen.
preparing dinner while she cries
Majid's mother is crying while cooking food.
as the pain spreads inside
Majid's mother is experiencing immense emotional pain.
cuz something that’s going on
Majid senses that something is wrong.
denial of my first question
Majid's first question about what's happening is ignored or not answered.
second time got no respond
Majid asks a second time but still gets no response.
to lose some one that had always been there
Majid is grieving the loss of someone important who was always present in his life.
She always had my back
The person who is now gone always supported Majid.
And she always did care
The person who is no longer with Majid cared deeply about him.
So with these lines right here
Majid is expressing his feelings through his music.
I wanna explain how much I love u
Majid is sharing his love and appreciation with the person he has lost.
No matter what u do I will forever stay true
Majid promises to always be loyal and true to the person he has lost.
Until this day
Even though time has passed, Majid's love and memories of this person still persist.
Can’t nobody tear us apart
Majid's bond with this person is unbreakable and cannot be torn apart.
10 years is past
It has been 10 years since this person has passed away.
But u are still living in my heart
Even though the person is gone physically, they still hold a special place in Majid's heart.
truly no poetry can explain how much I miss ya
Majid cannot put into words how much he misses the person he has lost.
No matter where u are u will always be my sister
The person who has passed away will always hold a special familial relationship to Majid.
Con la mano de Fatima sobre su alma encantadora
With the Hand of Fatima over her enchanting soul,
su camino es protegido
Her path is protected.
no importa cual escoja
Regardless of what she chooses.
y ella fue escogida para verla y admirarla
And she was chosen to be seen and admired.
en sus ojos tiene un algo
In her eyes, there is something.
impecable es su retrato
Her portrait is impeccable.
y cada vez que pasa lo duro se ablandece
And every time she passes, the hard things soften.
la noche se agrandece
The night grows larger.
lo malo desvanece
The bad things disappear.
no la olvidaran, la esperaran
They will not forget her, they will wait for her.
al otro lado de esta vida
On the other side of this life.
su amor alumbrara, su voz les cantara
Her love will shine, her voice will sing to them.
en las memorias hay momentos de pasión, afecto y comprensión
In the memories, there are moments of passion, affection, and understanding.
retratos y recuerdos dando vuelta en las fantasías
Portraits and memories turning in fantasies.
su aura es alegría
Her aura is joy.
lleva la mano de Fatima
She carries the Hand of Fatima.
Contributed by Hannah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.