Timor, Timor
Yale, Yale, East Timor, Timor
Timor, Timor
Timor, Timor

Going on and on and on and on
This is going on and on and on and on now
Said it once and say it twice, I want to save your time
Safety, safety

It's alright, it's alright
'Cause the system never fails
The good guys are in power and the bad guys are in jail

It's alright, it's alright
Just as long as we can vote
We live in democracy and that's what we promote

Isn't it, sn't it? (ooh-ooh)
Isn't it, isn't it? (ooh-ooh)

It's alright, it's alright
At least there's half the truth
Hearing what we want's the secret of eternal youth

It's alright, it's alright
The planet's split in three
'Cause I'll keep on selling records and you've got your MTV

If we forget about 'em
Don't worry
If they forget about us
Then hurry
How about the people who don't matter anymore?

East Timor, Timor, Timor
Ooh
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah

It's alright, it's alright
We'll show all on TV
So we won't really know it just by watching *BC

It's alright, it's alright
For a flag we die or kill
As long as we don't know it, do it just to pay the bills

If we forget about 'em
Don't worry
If they forget about us
Then hurry
How about the people who don't matter anymore?

If we forget about 'em
Don't worry
If they forget about us
Then hurry
How about the people who don't matter anymore?

East Timor, Timor, Timor

Let's keep telling the world it's sunny
They risk their hides to make the money
Now don't you find that funny?

If we forget about 'em
If they forget about us
Then hurry
(How about those people who don't matter anymore?)

If we forget about 'em
Don't worry
If they forget about us
Then hurry
(How about those people who don't matter anymore?)

East Timor, Timor, Timor

East Timor, Timor, Timor

East Timor


Lyrics submitted by shallremain

Timor Lyrics as written by Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll Peter Gabriel

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Timor song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

6 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General Comment

    The song criticizes the media (that showed East Timor's independence case for a while and then completely forgot about that country, leaving it poor and abandoned) as shown in the phrase "It's alright, they don't show it on TV, so we won't really know it just by watching BC". "BC" are the two final letters of some television networks acronymous, such as NBC, ABC, BBC and CBC meaning "Broadcasting Company/Corporation". Notably, music reviewers describes Timor as the most danceful and protestful song on the entire album.

    The song was renamed "It's Alright" in the Indonesian version of the album, because East Timorese independence is still a highly controversial issue. The album cover was also changed in many Muslim nations.

    dreamjaymon August 02, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think Lizzie's statement that East Timor is "some sort of Arabian place" serves to highlight the point of this song. No offence, since I did not know anything about East Timor till I read: John Pilger's 'The New Rulers of the World'. (A good read, highly recommended).

    East Timor is actually near Indonesia (south east Asia) and is not Arabian. General Suharto, the second president of Indonesia, forcefully occupied East Timor killing 200,000 of the East Timorese people.

    He was supported by the West because he was anti-communist and because he was buying weapons from many western countries, e.g. UK and Tony Blair. He also oppressed his own people, the Indonesians, by forcing them into slave labour for the western factories.

    This was the reason their was little to no coverage by the "bc". Everything was considered fine over there, and General Suharto was treated like a great man ("The good guys are in power").

    Until this day, no one really cares about these people and what happened to them (despite Amnesty International's efforts).

    RichardEon September 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This might just be the point of the song... but where exactly is East Timor? And what's going on there that is so important? I'm guessing it's some sort of Arabian place... given Shakira's heritage... and most Middle Eastern places have a lot of problems (not meaning to offend anyone... but that's all I have ever learned about the Middle East... war, sand, and oil)

    lizzieluvs2playon June 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    PS. This song has a great amount of sarcasm in it. It's a bitter song, and considers our "democracy" a sham since the news only provides half the truth.

    RichardEon September 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    east timor got seperated from indonesia somewhere in 1998 i guess, now the country is one of the most or even the poorest country in the world. theres this west timor which is still part of Indonesia, and you can see the huge difference between the living condition of these two places, i heard everyday there are probably 2000 eastern timorese illegally flew from their country to Indonesia, and what indonesian government do is just putting them all in jail coz the county(timor) doesnt have any newspaper or stuff to realize that their citized are being captured by the indonesian gvn

    vauinon October 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    Translation

    It's alright, it's alright خوبه، اشکالی نداره Cause the system never fails چون این نظام هرگز شکست نمی خوره The good guys are in power آدم های خوب در قدرت هستند And the bad guys are in jail آدم های بد هم تو زندان It's alright, it's alright اشکالی نداره، عیبی نداره Just as long as we can vote مادامی که بتونیم رای بدیم We live in democracy در جامعه دمکرات زندگی می کنیم And that's what we promote این چیزیه که می خوایم رواج بدیم Isn't it? Isn't it? این طور نیست؟ این طور نیست؟ Isn't it? Isn't it? این طور نیست؟ این طور نیست؟

    It's alright, it's alright اشکالی نداره،هیچ عیبی نداره If the news says half the truth اگه همه حقیقت در تلویزیون نشون داده نمی شه Hearing what we want's the secret of eternal youth انگار چیزی که میخوایم بدونیم رازچگونه تا ابد جوان ماندن هست It's alright, it's alright, اشکالی نداره،هیچ عیبی نداره The planets splits in three سیاره ها به سه بخش تقسیم می شوند (اشاره به لفظ جهان سوم) Cause I'll keep selling records چون من رکورد فروش رو همچنان می زنم And you've got your MTV و شما هم "ام تی وی" تون رو دارید

    If we forget about them, don't worry اگه ما اونارو فراموش کردیم، نگران نباش If they forget about us then hurry اگه اونا مارو فراموش کردن پس عجله کن

    How about the people who don't matter anymore? نظرتون راجع به افرادی که دیگه برامون اهمیت ندارن چیه؟ East Timor, Timor, Timor تیمور شرقی،تیمور تیمو

    It's alright, it's alright اشکالی نداره،هیچ عیبی نداره If they don't show all on TV اگه همه ی حقیقت رو از تلوزیون نمی بینیم So we won't really know it بنا بر این ما اونو نمی دونیم Just by watching *BC اگه فقط "بی سی" هارو می بینیم (اشاره به شبکه های سی بی سی، ان بی سی، بی بی سی و ...) It's alright, it's alright اشکالی نداره،هیچ عیبی نداره (کنایه) For our flag we die or kill اگه فقط به خاطر پرچممون آدم می کشیم و می میریم As long as we don't know چونکه نمی دونیم We do it just to pay the bills این کارو به خاطر پرداخت بدهی می کنیم If we forget about them, don't worry اگه ما اونارو فراموش کردیم، نگران نباش If they forget about us then hurry اگه اونا مارو فراموش کردن پس عجله کن How about the people who don't matter anymore? نظرتون راجع به افرادی که دیگه برامون اهمیت ندارن چیه؟ If we forget about them don't worry اگه ما اونارو فراموش کردیم، نگران نباش If they forget about us then hurry اگه اونا مارو فراموش کردن پس عجله کن How about our people who don't matter anymore? نظرتون راجع به افرادی که دیگه برامون مهم نیستن چیه؟ East Timor, Timor, Timor تیمور شرقی،تیمور تیمو

    We'll be tanning while it's sunny ما داریم برنزه میشیم وقتی هوا افتابی They'll risk our hides just to make their money انها مجبورن زندگیشون رو به خطر بندازن تا کمی اقتصادشون بهتر شه Now don't you find that funny? فکر نمی کنه این خنده دار باشه؟

    If we forget about them اگه ما اونارو فراموش کردیم، If they forget about us then hurry اگه اونا مارو فراموش کردن پس عجله کن How about our people who don't matter anymore? نظرتون راجع به افرادی که دیگه برامون مهم نیستن چیه؟ If we forget about them don't worry اگه ما انها فراموش کردیم، نگران نباش If they forget about us then hurry اگه اونا مارو فراموش کردن پس عجله کن How about those people who don't matter anymore? نظرتون راجع به افرادی که دیگه برامون مهم نیستن چیه؟ East Timor, Timor, Timor تیمور شرقی،تیمور تیمو East Timor, Timor, Timor تیمور شرقی،تیمور تیمو East Timor تیمور شرقی

    (Timor-Leste جمهوری دموکراتیک تیمور شرقی (به پرتغالی کشوری است واقع در جنوب شرق آسیا ، جنوب مجموعه جزایر ملوک اندونزی و شمال غرب استرالیا و پایتخت آن دیلی است. تیمور شرقی بیش از یک میلیون جمعیت دارد که اکثر آنان مسیحی کاتولیک هستند. در جریان خشونت‌ها در سال ۱۹۹۹ بیش از یک هزار نفر کشته و عده زیادی بی خانمان شدند. بیشتر موارد نقض حقوق بشر و خونریزی‌ها در تیمور شرقی در سال ۱۹۹۹، نتیجه اقدامات شبه نظامیان مسلح بوده و ارتش اندونزی مسئول مسلح کردن و متشکل کردن این شبه نظامیان بوده‌ است تیمور شرقی تا سال ۲۰۰۲ میلادی از جمله استان‌های اندونزی بود و در پی قیام ها و شورش های استقلال طلبانه از این کشور جدا شد، سرانجام ۲۰ مه ۲۰۰۲ میلادی تیمور شرقی از اندونزی اعلام استقلال کرد مردم این کشور کوچک طی همه‌پرسی عمومی و زیر نظارت نیروهای حافظ صلح ملل متحد، در سال ۲۰۰۲ به استقلال خود از اندونزی رای دادند

    mohammadiranion June 03, 2015   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.