What does Paper Planes mean?

M.I.A.: Paper Planes Meaning

Album cover for Paper Planes album cover

Song Released: 2008


Paper Planes Lyrics


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 them 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...

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  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
     Jul 29th 2009 !⃝

    It definitely is a sociocritical and in a way ironical song.
    She is dealing with the stereotypes, prejudices and generalizations many people have against foreigners respectively immigrants e.g. That they are criminal, violent etc. as she is a british woman with sri lankan roots herself.

    Another speculated interpretation:
    In her refrain she condemns the american foreign policy

    Explanation:

    All I wanna do is [start a war] -> (BANG BANG BANG BANG!)
    And [rob your ressources, oil, whatever] -> (KKKAAAA CHING!)
    And take your money [this is literally]


    There are many other assumptions - probably only M.I.A. Herself can doubtlessly explain what she is singing about ;)



    p.s.: You're right, in the video she is selling subs, no drugs, but just look at the shape... I think its supposed to appear like a giant joint or maybe even well wrapped drugs. The scene is redolent of the video "because I got high" by afroman, who is selling drugs out of a ice cream truck as well. The jamaican-looking fellow next to her might even support this thesis, because I think everyone knows what they are renowned for ;)

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    iholloway
    click a star to vote
     Jul 17th 2010 !⃝

    This song is from the point of view of a minority or someone being discriminated against. People automatically assume that they're a murderer or a drug dealer, when they really just lead a simple life. So this song is basically that person humoring the people who think they're something they're not. An example of this is the chorus, "All I want to do is BANG BANG BANG BANG!
    And KA-CHING! And take your money". Another example, my favorite is when she sings "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"

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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     Jan 26th 2009 !⃝

    It's possible that the song has to do with being an immigrant in a new country and the various stereotypes associated with immigrants...that they are only interested in being gangsters, dealing drugs, and "taking your money"

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
     Mar 1st 2018 !⃝

    MIA said in an interview that her inspiration for the song came from her observation of the negative stereotypes associated with immigrants in the UK, even though the majority of immigrants just want to work hard and make an honest living and carve out a better life for themselves. The lyrics are satirical, i.e. "yeah, we immigrants all just want to shoot you up and steal your money".

  5. anonymous
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     Mar 11th 2009 !⃝

    this song confusses me because if you watch the music video she is selling subs...but everyone says its about drugs...

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  6. anonymous
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     Jan 27th 2009 !⃝

    My boyfriends is friends with her boyfriend and he told me its about hooking up with a guy...robbing him...then killing him!!!

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  7. anonymous
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     Dec 31st 2008 !⃝

    I think this songs about hustling in many different ways its kinda hard to decide which one fits best ( poker / hitman / drug dealers / robberies )

  8. anonymous
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     Dec 28th 2008 !⃝

    I think in this song the line "I fly like paper get high like planes" is meant to be sort of backwards, because planes fly and you can get high from paper (a rolled joint)

    The obvious interpretation of the chorus is an armed robbery, but MIA herself said the other possibility was a black market business selling guns. You decide.

  9. memeggerz
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     Sep 1st 2008 !⃝

    I've seen a few request to interpret M.I.A- Paper Planes. Personally I think it's quite obvious it's about drug dealing. because of the lyrics "I fly like paper get high like planes" "lethal poison for the system" "If you come around here I make 'em all day." and "pirate skulls sticks and stones and weed and bongs" It could also just be about vaguely gang banging. Because of the often mentions of killing people.


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