Switch Lanes
Tkay Maidza Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I win it’s like I give them life
I don’t know why they think we're the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes
They’re like “I run like open taps”
These drones are under attack
What’s new where you’re crew do that ?
Wanna keep under scoop do that
Under who’s Durag I’m not in it with a clue, you bag
Up with it with the shoes you’ve had, you wish you had, you wish you sassed
Time is past now you is last
(Attention)
What for?
You never really had the time I could have asked for
Now I never have the time these fellas asked for
I’m out doors with my claws
I walk fur, paws
They all will applaud
I’m like claus not red, black they all awe
Now time for greatness, they all pause
Close theirs now, open my doors
I don’t know why they think were alike
When I win it’s like I give them life
I don’t know why they think were the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes
Man these fellas in the building wanna cop a feel, Cop a real, cop a deal
Sweaty out their pittys like they pop a pill
But I’m never chilling with em can they cop a deal
Hide one when you’re gone I gotta find one
Better loan, itty bitty gotta line up
He the one right? He’s never gonna dine ya
You the one right ?
They’re never gonna sign ya
Don’t you know that I blow I go poof poof in it
Bombing all these fellas like a toilet menace, cause my ass talk finish
You done who’s the witness
Fun is the business
You talk who is listening?
(They're like)
“Let’s go bars, spit bars and eat bars
I’m on bars, I’m in bars, let’s chill bruzz”
I never get it they’re forgetting about the all bars
I think I’m better hidden in a place mars
There’s no point to why they all complain
They think were close but they just know my name
I don’t know why they think were the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes
I don’t know why they think were alike
When I win it’s like I give them life
I don’t know why they think were the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes
In "Switch Lanes," Tkay Maidza grapples with her newfound fame and the pressure to conform to others' expectations. She begins the song by expressing confusion over why people assume she is similar to them just because they know her name or that they copy her style. Instead, Maidza asserts that she is unique and will "switch lanes" to remain true to herself regardless of others' opinions.
Maidza then goes on to criticize the fakeness of industry players who only see her as a commodity to exploit for their gain. She is uninterested in being a part of their world and instead values authenticity and genuine connections. Maidza uses clever wordplay and metaphors, comparing herself to a majestic animal with claws and fur while denouncing the groupies who want to "cop a feel" or "cop a deal" with her. Maidza even takes a playful jab at her own fame by referencing a classic line from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, "I'm like Claus, not red, black they all awe."
Overall, "Switch Lanes" captures Tkay Maidza's fierce independence and rejection of societal pressures. She refuses to be boxed into a category or perceived as just another artist in the industry. Her confident delivery and witty lyrics make for a powerful anthem to stay true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I don’t know why they think we're alike
I am puzzled by the perception that I am similar to others
When I win it’s like I give them life
My success seems to energize those around me
I don’t know why they think we're the same
I don't understand why people equate me with others
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes
Despite their linking of me with others, I am capable of and intend to pursue a different course than them
Man these fellas in the building wanna cop a feel, Cop a real, cop a deal
Men in this building are trying to take advantage of me for personal gain
Sweaty out their pittys like they pop a pill
They are sweating profusely and behaving erratically
But I’m never chilling with em can they cop a deal
I refuse to associate with them and their tactics
I’m like claus not red, black they all awe
I am like Santa Claus, commanding admiration and respect
I never get it they’re forgetting about the all bars
They fail to appreciate the full extent of my talents
I don’t know why they think were alike
I am confused by their perception of me
When I win it’s like I give them life
My success seems to bring them to life
I don’t know why they think were the same
I don't understand why they believe we are similar
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes
I intend to follow my own path, irrespective of their linking me with others
There’s no point to why they all complain
Their complaints are baseless
They think were close but they just know my name
They mistake knowing me superficially for true closeness
I don’t know why they think were the same
I am perplexed by their belief that I am like them
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes
I intend to pursue my own path, notwithstanding their attempts to link me to others
When I win it’s like I give them life
My success seems to inspire them
I don’t know why they think were alike
I am puzzled by their belief that we are similar
Contributed by Aubrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Roberto Filho
[Chorus]
I don’t know why they think we're alike
When I win it’s like I give them life
Yeah, yeah
I don’t know why they think we're the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes, lanes, la-la, lanes
[Verse 1]
They’re like “I run like open taps”
These drones are under attack
What’s new where you’re crew do that ?
Never seen another tender you for tucker where your crew? do that
Wanna keep under scoop do that
Under who’s Durag I’m not in it with a clue, you bag
Up with it with the shoes you’ve had, you wish you had, you wish you sassed
Time is past now you is last
(Attention)
What for?
You never really had the time I could have asked for
Now I never have the time these fellas asked for
I’m out doors with my claws
I walk fur, paws
They all will applaud
I’m like claus not red, black they all awe
Now time for greatness, they all pause
Close theirs now, open my doors
[Chorus]
I don’t know why they think we're alike
When I win it’s like I give them life
Yeah, yeah
I don’t know why they think we're the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes, lanes, la-la, lanes
[Verse 2]
Man these fellas in the building wanna cop a feel, Cop a real, cop a deal
Sweaty out their pittys like they pop a pill
But I’m never chilling with em can they cop a deal
Hide one when you’re gone I gotta find one
Better loan, itty bitty gotta line up
He the one right? He’s never gonna dine ya
You the one right ?
They’re never gonna sign ya
Don’t you know that I blow I go poof poof in it
Bombing all these fellas like a toilet menace, cause my ass talk finish
You done who’s the witness
Fun is the business
You talk who is listening?
(They're like)
“Let’s go bars, spit bars and eat bars
I’m on bars, I’m in bars, let’s chill bruzz”
I never get it they’re forgetting about the all bars
I think I’m better hidden in a place mars
[Chorus]
There’s no point to why they all complain
They think were close but they just know my name
I don’t know why they think we're the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes
[Chorus]
I don’t know why they think we're alike
When I win it’s like I give them life
Yeah, yeah
I don’t know why they think we're the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes, lanes, la-la, lanes
Roberto Filho
[Chorus]
I don’t know why they think we're alike
When I win it’s like I give them life
Yeah, yeah
I don’t know why they think we're the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes, lanes, la-la, lanes
[Verse 1]
They’re like “I run like open taps”
These drones are under attack
What’s new where you’re crew do that ?
Never seen another tender you for tucker where your crew? do that
Wanna keep under scoop do that
Under who’s Durag I’m not in it with a clue, you bag
Up with it with the shoes you’ve had, you wish you had, you wish you sassed
Time is past now you is last
(Attention)
What for?
You never really had the time I could have asked for
Now I never have the time these fellas asked for
I’m out doors with my claws
I walk fur, paws
They all will applaud
I’m like claus not red, black they all awe
Now time for greatness, they all pause
Close theirs now, open my doors
[Chorus]
I don’t know why they think we're alike
When I win it’s like I give them life
Yeah, yeah
I don’t know why they think we're the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes, lanes, la-la, lanes
[Verse 2]
Man these fellas in the building wanna cop a feel, Cop a real, cop a deal
Sweaty out their pittys like they pop a pill
But I’m never chilling with em can they cop a deal
Hide one when you’re gone I gotta find one
Better loan, itty bitty gotta line up
He the one right? He’s never gonna dine ya
You the one right ?
They’re never gonna sign ya
Don’t you know that I blow I go poof poof in it
Bombing all these fellas like a toilet menace, cause my ass talk finish
You done who’s the witness
Fun is the business
You talk who is listening?
(They're like)
“Let’s go bars, spit bars and eat bars
I’m on bars, I’m in bars, let’s chill bruzz”
I never get it they’re forgetting about the all bars
I think I’m better hidden in a place mars
[Chorus]
There’s no point to why they all complain
They think were close but they just know my name
I don’t know why they think we're the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes
[Chorus]
I don’t know why they think we're alike
When I win it’s like I give them life
Yeah, yeah
I don’t know why they think we're the same
They link it up but I know I’ll switch lanes, lanes, la-la, lanes
Ruth Espiritu
You make me proud to be Aussie
Please be famous soon. You deserve to be recognised worldwide
Ruth Espiritu
***** I'd only watch Tkay though haha! Thank you!
Ruth Espiritu
Pretty sure she's an Aussie. Like how I am Australian... *****
Ruth Espiritu
LOL ok... *****
Castor Quinn
The song that wouldn't have made it into the Hottest 100 if the Buzzfeed troll had succeeded: Tkay Maidza, a Zimbabwean-Australian young female rapper who is the perfect Australia Day representation of the quality and vitality of our local music scene. As much as Chet Faker and the Hilltop Hoods, Tkay Maidza is why we have a Hottest 100.
Aran Smeallie
where it all started, never seen an artists journey from the early days like Tkay and always feel blessed for it <3
c199208
This deserves tens of million views. She's definitely one of the most talented rappers. And the video is amazing as fuck! I love it
Adam MacLeod
I saw her at Laneway a few years ago and she was brilliant live. And now I'm looking forward to seeing her at City Limits tomorrow. Can't wait.
Katherine Barnett
Saw Tkay supporting Years & Years last night after having no-prior knowledge of her, or the fact she was even the support. Safe to say she has not just one new fan, but by the sounds of the crowd, hundreds. Honestly she so deserves to get bigger; not only is her music great but her stage presence was incredible and left me smiling ear to ear.
YOU GO GIRL.