“Pull Up The People”,the first song off her debut album “Arular”, sets the stage for M.I.A.’s unique use of Guerrilla Wafare analogies and Warfighter metaphors.
[Intro]
Oh-ah, oh-ah, oh-ah
M-M-I-I-A-A, M.I.A
M-M-I-I-A-A, M.I.A
M-M-I-I-A-A, M.I.A
[Refrain]
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the poor, pull up the poor
[Chorus]
Sleng teng, that's that M.I.A. thang
I got the bombs to make you blow
I got the beats to make you bang
Sleng teng, that's that M.I.A. thang
I got the bombs to make you blow
I got the beats to make you bang
[Verse]
Yeah, we got God now we got you
Every day thinking 'bout how we get through
Everything I own is on IOU
But I'm here bringing you something new
You no like the people, they no like you
Then they go and set it off with a big boom
Son in a battle is a son and daughter too
Why you wanna talk about who done who?
Why you wanna talk about—
[Chorus]
Sleng teng, that's that M.I.A. thang
I got the bombs to make you blow
I got the beats to make you bang
Sleng teng, that's that M.I.A. thang
I got the bombs to make you blow
I got the beats to make you bang
[Refrain]
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the poor, pull up the poor
[Bridge]
I'm a fighter, fighter God
I'm a soldier on that road
I'm a fighter, nice, nice fighter
I'm a soldier on that road
Bring me the reaper
Bring me the lawyer
Imma fight, I'll take 'em on
You treat me like a killer
I ain't never hate ya
I'm a soldier on that road
I'm a fighter, fighter God
I'm a soldier on that road
I'm a fighter, nice nice fighter
I'm a soldier on that road
[Chorus 2]
Sleng teng, that's that M.I.A. thang
I got the bombs to make you blow
I got the beats to make you bang, bang, bang
Sleng teng, that's that M.I.A. thang
I got the bombs to make you blow
I got the beats to make you—
Sleng teng, that's that M.I.A. thang
I got the bombs to make you blow
I got the beats to make you bang, bang, bang
Sleng teng, that's that M.I.A. thang
I got the bombs to make you blow
I got the beats to make you bang
[Outro]
Oh-ah, oh-ah, oh-ah
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull up the people, pull up the poor
Pull Up the People was written by M.I.A. & Paul Byrne & Switch.
Pull Up the People was produced by Paschal Byrne & Switch.
M.I.A. released Pull Up the People on Tue Mar 22 2005.