Exodus – English Lyrics

• By: M.I.A.

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into M.I.A.'s "Exodus," a captivating blend of electronic R&B and trip-hop that features The Weeknd's ethereal vocals. This song from her "Matangi" album isn't just a sonic journey; it's a thought-provoking exploration of ambition and meaning. Through its rich soundscape and introspective lyrics, you can uncover a unique vocabulary of modern musical expression and delve into deeper philosophical questions, making it an intriguing piece for language learners.

[English]

Come on this exodus

Do you want to come on this exodus?

If you got swag, fuck with us

And do you wanna ride like a crusader?

You ain't gotta Christian Dior (christ endour)

My blood type is no negative

But I'm positive that I'm too deep

Switch the light on when we hit the sheets

Truly what I see is all I keep

I see you stacked chicks their views are blocked in

When I help 'em you say broke in

I see you locked in you say I don't let you in

How come all this drama's still trending

Baby you can have it all

Tell me what for

...

Baby you can have it all

Tell me what for

New frontier I got news from there

Let's sail it to a new frequency

I left the graveyard selling full of fancy

Bring your homie with transparency

My blood type is no negative

But I'm positive the dark ain't deep

Just switch your light on when we hit the streets

Truly what I see is all I keep

My sights are set in higher times

And my eyes can see in 3D

Make it bright and I see 360

I can get you, but you can't get me

Baby you can have it all

Tell me what for

...

Baby you can have it all

Tell me what for

...

Yeah you keep on telling me you wanna have it all

Tell me what for

Yeah you keep on telling me you wanna have it all

Tell me what for

...

Cash and Kashmir, gold in Zaier

I got a new want from over there

You can drink a mint tea by the Red Sea

As you're living out whose fantasy

Yeah the sun the moon are both

Hitting the hood and the heat's too hot to be cool

Yeah I'm sailing my bed to a better man school

And it's two in the afternoon

We already bullet-proof we got a big crew

And we're running on a force that's true

We don't fear you wear up-to-date shoes

Or fall for the point of view

Baby you can have it all

Tell me what for

...

Baby you can have it all

Tell me what for

...

Yeah you keep on Annotatetelling me you wanna have it all

Tell me what for

Yeah you keep on telling me you wanna have it all

Tell me what for

...

What d'you want it all for?

What d'you want it all for?

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
exodus /ˈɛksədəs/ B2	noun - a departure of a large number of people
swag /swæɡ/ B1	noun - goods stolen or taken as loot noun - confident style or charm
crusader /ˈkruːseɪdər/ B2	noun - a participant in a crusade
negative /ˈnɛɡətɪv/ A2	adjective - not positive or optimistic
positive /ˈpɒzɪtɪv/ A2	adjective - confident in opinion or belief
frequency /ˈfriːkwənsi/ B2	noun - the rate of occurrence of something
graveyard /ˈɡreɪvjɑːrd/ A2	noun - a place where dead people are buried
transparency /trænˈspærənsi/ B2	noun - the quality of being clear and easy to understand
sights /saɪts/ A2	noun - things seen or visited
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - giving out a lot of light
bullet-proof /ˈbʊlɪtˌpruːf/ B1	adjective - able to resist the penetration of bullets
crew /kruː/ A2	noun - a group of people working together
fantasy /ˈfæntəsi/ A2	noun - imagination or creative thinking
hood /hʊd/ A2	noun - a covering for the head noun - a neighborhood or area
trend /trɛnd/ B1	noun - a general direction in which something is developing
cash /kæʃ/ A1	noun - money in the form of coins or banknotes

Key Grammar Structures

• If you got swag, fuck with us

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Zero/First Conditional) + Imperative

  ➔ The sentence uses an 'if' clause to state a condition – if you possess 'swag'. The main clause is an imperative, directly commanding the listener to 'fuck with us'. This is a colloquial expression meaning to associate with or support.

• My blood type is no negative, But I'm positive that I'm too deep

  ➔ Adjective + Noun, Conjunction + Adjective + Clause

  ➔ This line plays on the double meaning of 'positive' and 'negative' in relation to blood types and emotional state. 'No negative' refers to the blood type, while 'positive' describes a strong feeling of being deeply involved or overwhelmed ('too deep').

• I can get you, but you can't get me

  ➔ Modal Verb + Verb, Conjunction + Modal Verb + Verb

  ➔ This line uses 'can' as a modal verb to express ability or possibility. It suggests a power dynamic where the speaker has influence over the listener ('I can get you') but the listener cannot reciprocate ('you can't get me').

• You can drink a mint tea by the Red Sea

  ➔ Modal Verb + Verb + Noun + Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ This sentence uses 'can' to express possibility or permission. The prepositional phrase 'by the Red Sea' provides a specific location, creating a vivid image.