Warriors – English Lyrics

• By: M.I.A.

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into M.I.A.'s "Warriors" to experience a dynamic fusion of global sounds and potent storytelling. This track offers a unique gateway to understanding how English can be used to convey powerful themes of resilience, identity, and social commentary, making it a vibrant and meaningful choice for language learners to explore cultural narratives through music.

[English]

OM

...

I tick tick tick I collected my ticks

Top dog even though I didn't speak no english

Guess I got Grit coz I suffer for my shit

Guess I came from the sticks and moved to the bricks

You can't fix this coz I'm in the same mix

Guess I'm in the air you can smell me like Vick'ss

This chicks bringing back this

It's my last wish

One snare one kick oh look at this

I freak in minds like

Giddy up Giddy up Giddy up

Come take a ride

Light the city up city up city up

You've got me fired up

Sound boy got me back up

I keep my head downbeat it up beat it up beat it up

M.I.A

Warriors in the dance

Warriors in the dance

GANGSTERS BANGERS WERE PUTTIN 'EM IN A TRANCE

Put them in a trance

OM

We're putting em in a trance

Warriors in a dance

W-W-W-Warriors in a dance

W-W-W-Warriors in a dance

I tick tick tick I collected my ticks

I tick tick tick I collected my ticks

Top dog even though I didn't speak no english

Guess I got Grit coz I suffer for my shit

Guess I came from the sticks and moved to the bricks

You can't fix this coz I'm in the same mix

Guess I'm in the air you can smell me like Vick'ss

This chicks bringing back this

It's my last wish

One snare one kick oh look at this

M.I.A

Warriors in the dance

Warriors in the dance

GANGSTERS BANGERS WERE PUTTIN 'EM IN A TRANCE

Warriors in the dance

W-W-W-Warriors in a dance

W-W-W-Warriors in a dance

OM

M.I.A

Warriors in the dance

...

Warriors in the dance

...

OM

M.I.A. mudra middle finger

Fuck 'em other bitches that try to be my ringer

This time I come as singer

Next time ill come as pain

I ain't talking money

But I can make it rain

Bitches try to get me with

Their witches on cocaine

Snitches turn to dust

And I wash em down the drain

Vitamins for your brain

Protein for your weight gain

Warriors in the dance

This is how we train!

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
warrior /ˈwɒriər/ A2	noun - a person who fights in battles or wars
dance /dɑːns/ A1	noun - a series of movements that match the rhythm and style of music verb - to move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps
grit /ɡrɪt/ B1	noun - courage and resolve; strength of character
trance /trɑːns/ B2	noun - a half-conscious state characterized by an absence of response to external stimuli
snare /snɛər/ B2	noun - a trap for catching animals, or a drum
kick /kɪk/ A1	verb - to strike out with the foot noun - a strike with the foot
freak /friːk/ B1	noun - a person who is unusually strange or bizarre verb - to behave or react in a wild or irrational way
gangster /ˈɡaŋstər/ B1	noun - a member of a gang, especially a criminal one
banger /ˈbaŋɡər/ B2	noun - a very good or impressive song, or a firearm
suffer /ˈsʌfər/ A2	verb - to experience pain or distress
stick /stɪk/ A1	noun - a long, thin piece of wood or other material
brick /brɪk/ A1	noun - a rectangular block of hardened clay used for building
smell /smɛl/ A1	verb - to perceive a scent or odor
snitch /snɪtʃ/ B1	noun - an informer, especially one who tells on others to the authorities
dust /dʌst/ A1	noun - fine, dry particles of matter

Key Grammar Structures

• I tick tick tick I collected my ticks

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present perfect tense with 'have/has + past participle' to describe an action that started in the past and is relevant to the present. Here, 'collected' is the past participle of 'collect'.

• Guess I got Grit coz I suffer for my shit

  ➔ Informal Contractions

  ➔ The line uses informal contractions like 'coz' (because) and 'got' (have got). These are common in spoken English and informal writing.

• Guess I came from the sticks and moved to the bricks

  ➔ Simple Past Tense

  ➔ The sentence uses the simple past tense with 'came' and 'moved' to describe completed actions in the past.

• You can't fix this coz I'm in the same mix

  ➔ Modal Verb (can't)

  ➔ The modal verb 'can't' is used to express inability or impossibility. Here, it indicates that fixing the situation is not possible.

• Warriors in the dance

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The phrase 'in the dance' is a prepositional phrase that modifies the noun 'Warriors', indicating location or context.

• This chicks bringing back this

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present continuous tense with 'bringing' to describe an action happening now. Note the informal 'chicks' instead of 'these girls'.

• It's my last wish

  ➔ Possessive Adjective

  ➔ The possessive adjective 'my' is used to show ownership. Here, it indicates that the wish belongs to the speaker.

• One snare one kick oh look at this

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The phrase 'look at this' is in the imperative mood, used to give a command or make a request.

• I ain't talking money

  ➔ Contraction with 'ain't'

  ➔ The contraction 'ain't' is an informal negation of 'am not'. It is commonly used in spoken English and informal contexts.