War war war
Talkin' about y'alls such a bore
I'd rather talk about moi
Like do you know the cost of AK's up in Africa?
20 dollars ain't shit to you
But that's how much they are
So they're gonna use this shit just to get by

Is gold, diamonds helpin' ya?
Don't you like my bandana?
My stains hang low
On my shirts like a-ya-ya
Monkey brains and banana
I'll hit you with my antenna
I put soap in my eye
Make it red so I look raaa ra ra

So I woke up with my holy Qur'an and found out I like Allah-lah
So we shooting til the song is up
Little boys are acting up
Baby mamas are goin crazy
And the leaders all around cracking up
We goat rich, we fry
Price of living in a shanty town just seems very high
We still like T.I.
We still look fly
Dancing as we shooting up
And looting just to get by

With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head'll collapse when there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself:
Where is my mind?
Where is my mind?
Where is my mind?

War war war
Who made me like this?
Was it me and God in co-production?
My devil's on speed dial
Everytime I take the wrong direction
All I want is one thing and that is what you got
Sometimes I go lose my mind and then I feel numb

There's 24 hours in a day
I used to split it 8, 8, 8
8 work, 8 sleep, 8 for play
Now I give it all takes

People on the Internet
A new life for the intellect
People judge me so hard
Coz I don't floss my titty set
I was born out of dirt like I'm porn in a skirt
I was a little girl who made good with all that I blurt
I put people on the map that never seen a map
I show 'em something they ain't ever seen
And hope they make it back

With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head'll collapse when there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself:
Where is my mind?
Where is my mind?
Where is my mind?

With your feet on the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head'll collapse when there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself:
Where is my mind?



Lyrics submitted by feel me loud

Track duration: 04:34

"20 Dollar" as written by Dave Taylor, Writer Unknown

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


20 Dollar song meanings
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38 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:"Is those diamonds helpin' ya?" should be "Is gold, diamonds helpin' ya?"
    "So they're gonna use the shit just to get by" should be "So they're gonna use the shit just to get far"
    "Make it red so I look rawr, rawr, rawr" I think it should be raw, not rawr.
    "I was a little girl who made good with all what I blurt" For some reason I always heard it as "I was a little girl who made good, bid au revoir, adieu" (both meaning "goodbye")

    Anyway, I know that she's from Sri Lanka and had to live during a war there, so she's speaking from experience when she talks about war.
    It's a contrast to our cultures when she says that you can buy an AK in Africa for $20. Here $20 might be a family meal from a fast food place or a new shirt, when in Africa it's the difference between life and death. Aside from that I can't really make sense of the lyrics, but a great song nonetheless!
    Flag alyssarcasticon July 28, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:First of all, the chorus is a pixies song, which is great that she made it sound so original and completely different from the original version. But the song is basically just saying how easy it is for people to get weapons in Africa and about how war affects everyone.
    Flag shanbalabuchon October 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:blue monday and where is my mind <3
    MIA gained a lot of respect for me, right now, by listening to this song
    no one could combne new order and the pixies as well as this and stil make it their own

    strong
    Flag sweetx3on June 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:"Put soap in my eye
    Make it red so I look rawr, rawr, rawr"

    Talking about Joseph Kony, the leader of the child soldiers in Uganda, who is renowned for his red eyes.

    Flag chicparisienneon April 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:some of the lyrics are wrong, lol.

    The song is talking about how you can buy an AK47 in Africa for 20 dollars,

    "Like do you know the cost of AK's up in Africa?
    20 dollars ain't shit to you
    But that's how much they are
    So they're gonna use this shit just to get by"

    and as for the rest of the song, I'm assuming she's talking about the war in Uganda, and how she grew up.


    Flag mymeaning226on January 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:what does "goat rich" mean?
    Flag strangenoiseon January 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's TT set as in like DJ equipment

    She's saying she doesn't jack her own beats


    (I think)
    Flag RobotOeufon January 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The lyrics are screwed up
    Flag zombiewakeupon October 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song won me over for m.i.a.
    the incorporation of the pixies' "where is my mind" is masterful and i love the pixies
    Flag NK_BBC_MEXI_loverzon September 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:She's tired of talking about American now, she's gonna talk about her and where she come from.

    The most important thing about her and where she come from is the violence. So, in America, to get a gun takes a lot of work. But surprisingly, a gun in Africa is worth a dinner that people spend so easily here in America.

    Again, look at your items of status things that you desire so much here in America (and england or whatever). She wonders how you see what she has on her. Bananda, stains, etc. Signs of violence.

    She started out spiritual, but then got material and look at what it's caused. Yes, more violence in their homes. I'm not sure if she's saying America influenced it or not. If they're valuing TI and nice things for what reason? However, it says that the things we value here and people just go and get are blood there.

    So it leads her to ask where her mind is really.

    I'm tired of analyzing now. Someone finish it for me.
    Flag quitejadedon September 20, 2008   Link

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