Call and I'll answer at home in the lost and found
You say that I'm much too proud
Someone who's taken pleasure in breakin' down

Never mind mannequins, drunk in their hollow town
Drinkin' their spoils down
Cheap imitations, a revelation is now

Yeah, you won't find me, I'm goin' M.I.A.
Tonight I'm leaving, goin' M.I.A.
Gettin' lost in you again is better than being numb

Counting every minute 'til the feeling comes crashing down
Run when it hits the ground
I'm good at escaping, but better at flaking out
Calling unanswered, the center becomes blown out
Stuck in the inside now
It's fear I'm embracin', I never could face you down

Yeah, you won't find me, I'm goin' M.I.A.
Tonight I'm leaving, goin' M.I.A.
Gettin' lost in you again is better than being numb

Red, red
Laced around your head
Cold and rescued, cold and rescued
Cold and rescued, cold and rescued
Cold and rescued, cold and rescued now

Call and I'll answer, at home in the lost and found
You say that I'm much too proud
Someone who's taken pleasure in breakin' down

Yeah, you won't find me, I'm goin' M.I.A.
Tonight I'm leaving, goin' M.I.A.
So you don't find me, I'm goin' M.I.A.
Tonight I'm leaving, goin' M.I.A.
Say goodbye to me, I'm goin' M.I.A.
I can find relief, I'm goin' M.I.A.
Gettin' lost in you again is better than being numb
Better than being numb
Better than playin' dumb


Lyrics submitted by me109cito

M.I.A. Lyrics as written by Nate Mendel David Eric Grohl

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

M.I.A. song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    One of the Foo's best.

    Foo Fighteron April 18, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song has nothing to do with Kurt.

    After The Colour and The Shape, Dave was living in LA and partying alot, he eventually got sick of this lifestyle and moved back to Virginia where the album "There is Nothing Left to lose" was recorded.

    "Nevermind the mannequins, drunk in their hollow town"

    Mannequins is a reference to all the "pretty people/actors/models", hollow town is a reference to Los Angeles

    "The revelation is now"

    He realises he's sick of this lifestyle.

    "You wont find me I'm going MIA"

    MIA = Missing in Action; ie. he's leaving LA, moving back to Virginia.

    "Red, red, laced around your head"

    Is a reference to a girl with red hair, and Dave was dating a redhead at the time (Pro-Snowboarder Tina Basich)

    This song is about the LA lifestyle & moving back to Virginia, which alot of the album is about (Stacked Actors, Next Year, Ain't it the Life and this song.)

    intothegrinder2on June 03, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Though I agree with the "leaving LA" idea, I think it could be about an ending relationship. "Calling unanswered at home in my lost and found," I'm at home calling you and you're not there. "You won't find me I'm going MIA, tonight I'm leaving going MIA" I'm ending our relationship tonight. "Getting lost in you again it's better than being numb," You don't know if you want to end it b/c after a relationship you feel numb (I do at least) and getting lost in someone's games is sometimes better than not caring for anyone at all. "Counting every minute 'til the feeling comes crashing down. Run when it hits the ground." You're just waiting until you can tell her that it's over, but once you say it (it hits the ground), you're gone, nowhere to be seen. "I'm good at escaping, but better at flaking out." I'm good at just getting out of a relationship, but it's easier to just let the person know it's over. But the flaking out part is b/c we usually don't tell people everything, we just act like it's one thing that killed us when it was really all this other stuff that built up.

    scottypon March 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is song is good...i probably wouldn't have signed if somebody already signed it...but i think that this song definetly deserves some entries - greg

    joesgayon August 23, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    If my interpretation of the song seems too overused or contrite, I'm sorry. But after pouring over the lyrics, there's only one conclusion that I keep coming to: Dave's singing about Kurt. He jumps in and out of character using his own perspective some of the time and Kurt's at others. The whole chorus of "Tonight I'm leaving going MIA" is Kurt saying goodbye while the line "red, red laced around your head" is Dave description of the suicide. The lines "Nevermind the mannequins...the revelation is now" I found very interesting too. Using the name of the album that changed alternative music, the narrator (Kurt in this case) is saying "Let's see what happens to all those carbon copy bands riding the wake of our success when I'm gone." You can disagree, but I really like this song and I was disappointed to see that no one had posted an opinion on what the song meant.

    unc1emoeon September 20, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    What is M.I.A.? Thanks

    WildFlower594on November 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    M. I. A. is Missing in Action. This song is definetly about suicide and death and as above probably Kurt based. One of my favourite Foos songs.

    Burnson December 02, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    intothegrinder is correct, and all the others who are Kurt-obsessed are incorrect. I thought that the meaning behind the song was obvious, but I dunno.

    freewebs.com/thejakesite

    Jakeberton July 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Why is it that everyone always says FF songs are about Kurt Cobain? Jeez...

    Anyway, I agree with intothegrinder2. Love this song.

    Krystleon July 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i found a quote by Dave referring to this song: "'M.I.A.' is a good example of me, and how so often I'll just say "You know what? I'm outta here and I'll be back whenever, and please don't call."

    Mishoon September 28, 2005   Link

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