M.I.A. – Paper Planes

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I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make 'em all day
I get one down in a second if you wait

I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make 'em all day
I get one down in a second if you wait

Sometimes I think sitting on trains
Every stop I get to I'm clicking my gun
Everyone's a winner we're making that fame
Bonafide hustler making my name

Sometimes I think sitting on trains
Every stop I get to I'm clocking that game
Everyone's a winner now we're making that fame
Bonafide hustler making my name

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

Pirate skulls and bones
Sticks and stones and weed and bombs
Running when we hit 'em
Lethal poison through their system

Pirate skulls and bones
Sticks and stones and weed and bombs
Running when we hit 'em
Lethal poison through their system

No one on the corner has swag like us
Hit me on my burner prepaid wireless
We pack and deliver like UPS trucks
Already going to hell, just pumping that gas

No one on the corner has swag like us
Hit me on my burner prepaid wireless
We pack and deliver like UPS trucks
Already going to hell, just pumping that gas

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

M.I.A.
Third world democracy
Yeah, I got more records than the K.G.B.
So, uh, no funny business

Some some some I some I murder
Some I some I let go
Some some some I some I murder
Some I some I let go

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

All I wanna do is
And
And take your money

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Lyrics submitted by maggotbrain

Track duration: 04:02

"Paper Planes" as written by Mathangi Arulpragasam, Thomas Wesley Pentz, Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Joe Strummer

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Paper Planes song meanings
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222 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam, which her father was a part of. Google it and you'll find out.
    Flag Grod028on April 13, 2013   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:So, it's a catchy song. Really. I like it. But can we stop pretending it's some commentary on modern day immmigrant woman power blah blah blah. It doesn't take a lot of digging to figure it out. All she wants to do, you see, is shoot people and rob them. Not particularly deep. Give me a break with all this nonsense. It's a gangster song. About as insightful as N.W.A.'s F tha Police.
    Flag fasteddie72on March 14, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:good song. makes me feel like im part of some big ass gang/mafia syndicate. good while high! HuSTLIN!!!! LOL
    Flag dickhwangon January 19, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:What she's saying is, again, something that only an immigrant could understand. We make visas? She's referring to getting fake papers since getting legitimate papers is impossible to some people. Visas in third world countries are obviously only granted to rich people, but poor people will still find a way in order to live better and survive. Also, she's making reference to hustling again and how many immigrants are constantly thinking about making money or showing that they are making money, as a way to show "success" in the new world. Great song and great reference to immigration by sampling The Clash. The chorus, in my opinion, is what Americans and Europeans think immigrants are about. She's making fun of that myth that we are all violent and criminals because, of course, the only reason we go to Europe and America is to "steal ya money" (another reference, by the way, to Bankrobber by The Clash, good work Maya).
    Flag andruchinaon January 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song reminds me of lots of tourist friends who go to India and come back and complain they felt like cash cows. Accept it - to people who don't earn in 10 years what you paid for your cheap flight to india - you ARE massively wealthy. You are a cash cow. Get over it.

    BTW I love the home-made feel of all of MIAs stuff.
    Flag clareakon January 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song sounds really relevant when its used in slumdog millionare
    Flag bananaramnaon November 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Sounds very similar to The Clash - Straight to hell" at least the beginning
    Flag ashran2on September 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Nobody seems to have picked up on the sound effect in the line "All I want to do is BANG BANG BANG BANG!
    And KA-CHING". Between And & KA-CHING there is the unmistakable sound of a revolver being cocked. Not trying to read anything into this just pointing it out
    Flag Niloticon July 25, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:i love the song from first time i heard it in london!!!it reminds me to my life there!...finally a woman who speaks out modern day issues in people's language, ...visas in my name, clocking that game, ...
    does pirate skulls and bones stand for an immigrant mafia or just in general?

    women power!!
    3rd world democracy!!now!


    its not like some posters said a woman trying to sound like gangster, ...she's making fun of the system
    and state of being, and talks in same time of normal daily survival (especially for immigrant young ones, political people, worker's, ...): it's very realistic! and in same time very positive and cheerful!
    being cheerful in a song doesnt mean it has to deal with light issues only!
    mia is immigrant from political background, educated, designer, involved in human rights, ...

    nowadays ..
    youre confronted with all these issues anyway, you dont have to be a gangster!
    especially if you try to be independent, to grasp whats going on, and have social responsiblity, ... and live true to yourself.
    just open your eyes!

    Flag sheidaon May 18, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I can't believe how people find her enlightening. Funny how M.I.A. singles out Americans. While European, Asian, and even Middle Eastern nationalities are exponentially far more xenophobic against immigrants than Americans. Those nations have much stronger anti-immigration policies and sentiments. I guess its cool to berate Americans, for whatever flaws they have.

    M.I.A. lived in Britain, correct? You think THEY are more accepting of immigrants? I am calling BS on M.I.A.

    Plus, she never lived the life of a pauper immigrant. She was living well while daddy was killing innocent people as a Tamil Tiger leader.
    Flag NotAMoronon February 10, 2011   Link

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