I-ya
I against I
Flesh of my flesh
And mind of my mind
Two of a kind but one won't survive
My images reflect in the enemies eye
And his images reflect in mine the same time
I-ya, I-ya
I against I
Flesh of my flesh
And mind of my mind
Two of a kind but one won't survive

Right here is where the end gon' start at
Conflict, contact 'n' combat
Fighters stand where the land is marked at
Settle the dispute about who the livest
3 word answer
Whoever survive this
Only one of us can ride forever
So you and I can't ride together
Can't live or can't die together
All we can do is collide together
So I skillfully apply the pressure
Won't stop until I'm forever... one!
A door step where death never come
Spread across time til my time never done
And I'm never done
Walk tall, why ever run?
When they move if I ever come?
Bad man never fret the war, tell'em come
General we have the stock, the mad fire burn

I-ya
I against I
Flesh of my flesh
And mind of my mind
Two of a kind but one won't survive
My images reflect in the enemies eye
And his images reflect in mine the same time
I-ya, I-ya
I against I
Flesh of my flesh
And mind of my mind
Two of a kind but one won't survive
Survive (x16)

Reign supreme in your you-N-I
V-E-are-S-E with the sharpness
Narrow row building no space for partners
No space for drivers, no space for walkers
No space regardless
Your on my path then get off it
Hardheaded and unresponsive
Get they lives put on target with harshness
Come with the canons sparkin' they darken
Who am I? one man squadron
Ma stir the fire this time that'd snatch your tomorrow
The thousand yard spear that'll pierce through your armor
You can get it on right now if you want to
But when ya front 9 get marched through
I warned you
You know who forever belong to

I-ya, I-ya
I against I
Flesh of my flesh
And mind of my mind
Two of a kind but one won't survive
My images reflect in the enemies eye
And his images reflect in mine the same time
I-ya, I-ya
I against I
Flesh of my flesh
And mind of my mind
Two of a kind but one won't survive
My images reflect in the enemies eye
And his images reflect in mine, survive
Survive (x16)


Lyrics submitted by Leecher

I Against I Lyrics as written by Robert Del Naja Neil Davidge

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

I Against I song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

10 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    This is the Quintessential battle of good versus evil. This takes place within his mind where the battle should start. This is where he defines who he is and only one will survive. His resolve to to win control of his mind. These lyrics are a powerful journey shared by Mos and done with a hero style that blows me away.

    Archetypeon August 21, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song features Mos Def doing the vocals, it was on the Blade II soundtrack (Lot's of good stuff on there). It seems to me about someone who is about to showdown with someone very much like him, like a brother...or even himself.

    anifinderon March 14, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love the harsh, almost industrial, beats on this song. They pair very well with Mos Def's quick lyrical flow.

    Great change from the typical Massive Attack flavor.

    shnugen17on April 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Amazing beat, it's a very powerful song. Although I have no idea what it is about...maybe war?

    Xachariaon March 10, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    awesome song. My bro got me hooked. Great Bassline for night driving through neighborhoods. :)

    HeyPetrayon October 21, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is part of the Resident Evil soundtrack. Fully represent what happened against Milla and the hybrids on the movie.

    DARKon December 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is a fighting song for me. Everytime I hear it my mind goes into battle mode.

    It seems like it's about a civil war... You know, brothers against brothers, people pitted against their friends...

    carannilwenon November 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The lyrics are by Mos def but the music is definitely by Massive attack. The chorus of the song refers to the fight between Blade, who has vampire abilities, and another real vampire

    ginissimoon March 13, 2008   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    This is not Massive Attack at all ...

    Mayoron November 02, 2006   Link
  • -2
    General Comment

    I-ya I-ya ???? what the fuck!!!!

    i agree with Mayor. this is not massive attack at all. they shouldnt have worked with that Blade bastard...

    .

    deliibrahimon May 17, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.