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22 Mar 2022 — "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. Deeper Meaning | Lyrics Explained - YouTube. This content isn't available. YouTube·The Pop Song Professor
: M.I.A. wrote the song to mock the fearful perception Americans often have of immigrants from war-torn countries. The lyrics play into "scary" tropes—like street crime and visa fraud—to highlight how these individuals are often viewed through a lens of suspicion rather than humanity. Mia Paper Planes
: The song is built around a prominent sample of The Clash's 1982 track " Straight to Hell ". This choice was intentional, as the original song also deals with themes of abandonment and the plight of the marginalized. 22 Mar 2022 — "Paper Planes" by M
: The chorus, featuring the line "If you catch me at the border, I got visas in my name," directly references her personal frustrations with the U.S. visa process and the broader global struggle of displaced people seeking entry into Western nations. Production & Sound YouTube·The Pop Song Professor : M