12 Meanings
Add Yours
Share
Q&A

Born Free Lyrics

Yeah, man made power s
Stood like a tower, higher
Hi'ya, hello
And the higher you go
You feel lower, oh

So I was close to the end
Staying under cover, staying under cover
With the nose to the ground
I found my sound

Got myself an interview tomorrow
Got myself a jacket for a dollar
And my nails are chipped
But I'm eager
And car doesn't work so I'm stuck here

I don't wanna live for tomorrow
I'll push my luck today
I'll throw this in ya face when I see ya
I got somethin' to say
I'll throw this shit in ya face when I see ya
Cause I got somthing to say

I was born free, born free
I was born free, born free

Bo-bo-bo-born free
Bo-bo-bo-born free
Bo-bo-bo-born free
Bo-bo-bo-born free

You might try to find ways to be happier
You might end up somewhere in Ethiopia
You can think big with your idea
You ain't never gonna find utopia

Take a bite out life make it snappier, yeah
Ordinary gone super trippier
So I check shit cause I'm lippier
And split a cheque like Slovakia

Yeah, I don't wanna live for tomorrow
I'll push my life today
I'll throw this in ya face when I see ya
I got somethin' to say
I'll throw this shit in ya face when I see ya
Cause I got something to say

I was born free, born free
I was born free, born free
I was born free, born free
I was born free, born free

Bo-bo-bo-born free
Bo-bo-bo-born free
Bo-bo-bo-born free
Bo-bo-bo-born free

I don't wanna talk about money
'Cause I got it
I don't want to talk about hoochies
'Cause I've been it
And I don't wanna to be that fake
'Cause you can do it
And imitators, yeah, speak it!

Oh Lord, whoever you are,
Come out wherever you are
Oh Lord, whoever you are,
Come out wherever you are

I was born free, born free
I was born free, born free
I was born free, born free
I was born free, born free

Bo-bo-bo-born free
Bo-bo-bo-born free
Bo-bo-bo-born free
Bo-bo-bo-born free
Song Info
Submitted by
bananahero On Apr 27, 2010
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

12 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for Born Free lyrics by M.I.A.

The brilliant short film, by controversial French director Romain Garvas, is just what everyone needs to see the brutal treatment used by various governments all over the world towards minorities. It's filled with great metaphors and some sick drumming by Igor Cavalera.

http://vimeo.com/11219730

I wouldn't call that film brilliant, not even close. There are so many real injustices in the world why would you even consider the story line he did. It's laughable and sad at the same time.

Not Valid
Cover art for Born Free lyrics by M.I.A.

Suicide is the fucking shit and M.I.A. used their beat beautifully pretty awesome song pretty awesome video fuck gingers loljk

Cover art for Born Free lyrics by M.I.A.

i think instead of "oh, and split a check like Slovakia" should be "oh, and split a Czech like Slovakia" it would make more sense but now i still don't understand this whole verse: "Take a bite out of life make it snappier yeah Ordinary gon' super trippier So I check shit 'cause I'm lippier Oh, and split a Czech like Slovakia"

  • if it has negative or positive meaning, because this splitting in 1993 was very peaceful and we both (czechs and slovaks) still have very good relationship Oh yes I am very proud that name of my lovely little european country Slovakia has appeared in of the songs of this extremelly talented and beautiful lady. Love you MIA
Lyric Correction
Cover art for Born Free lyrics by M.I.A.

I LOVE this song. I think it's about just being who you are even if you will be persecuted for it. You're born free to become the person that you want to be so don't let societal problems or society as a whole to stop you.

Cover art for Born Free lyrics by M.I.A.

Awesome song...I like it 'cause it encourages you to think for yourself. There's all these systems out there trying to tell you what to do, promising you some reward in the end if you buy their bullshit. Whether it be the money-greedy corpotocracy (manmade towers, suit-ed interviews), new-age hippie spiritualism (uptopian dogma), or cash-crazed celebrity culture (money, hoochies), the end result is all the same: do what they want, not what you feel. And the video is mind-blowing...it takes the concept to an extreme and warns what the world might be like if we all totally ascribed to mass, totaliterian fear-mongering.

I also dig the diss on hip-hop/dance lyrics when she's putting down the money/hoochies/fakeness...might just be me, but I totally thought about all the drunk, lame people grinding to Paper Planes at bars for the past few years (myself included)...it must be hard to have your tune become commodotized like that.

Thanks dude. That makes a lot of sense

Not Valid
Cover art for Born Free lyrics by M.I.A.

I loveeeee this song! It's definitely one of her greatest.

Cover art for Born Free lyrics by M.I.A.

just watched the video. holy sketch, David Blaine. M.I.A. has proven her brilliance yet again. absolutely amazing track with and absolutely fantastic video. can't wait to get my hands on the new album.

Cover art for Born Free lyrics by M.I.A.

This is what I got from the song before seeing the video: Who is born free? Americans, and they like to let the world know it ("throw this shit in your face when I see you"). From this point of view, the lyrics take on a more arrogant view when coming from a 'world super power.'

My Interpretation
Cover art for Born Free lyrics by M.I.A.

"But now I gotta check for the (?)"

I think it's: "And my nails are chipped but I'm eager"

That's what I hear :)

Lyric Correction
Cover art for Born Free lyrics by M.I.A.

"I was close to the end, staying undercover," I'm pretty sure it's "I was close to the ants," Which I think could make just as much sense.. "With my nose to the ground" literally.

Also almost positive that one line is: "and by now i got checked by the meter," as in parking meter.

This song is the best. I think the shocking content of the video distracted a lot of people from the music.