If I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children
If I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children

Well out of my toes,
My little black baby grows
And that's my fact

Well if I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children
Yeah, if I lived in China,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well if I lived in China,
If I lived in China

Well out of my ears,
My little black baby hears
And that's my fact

Now if I lived in Russia,
I'd have some Chinese children
Yeah, if I lived in Prussia,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well if I lived in India,
They'd still be Chinese children

And out of my toes,
My little blue baby grows
And that's another fact

Now if I lived in Ireland,
I'd have some Chinese children
Yeah, if I lived in Ireland,
I'd have some Chinese children
Well if I lived in Spain-land,
They'd still be Chinese children
And if I lived in Greece-land,
They'd still be Chinese children

But out of my thumbs,
My little red baby runs
And that's another fact
An unchanging fact

Now if I lived in my land, which I do,
I'd still have Chinese children
And if I lived in Iceland,
I'd still have Chinese children
Well if I lived in Greenland,
I'd still have Chinese children

But out of my ears,
My little gray baby hears
And that's my fact

Well if I lived in Thailand,
I'd have some Chinese children
And if I lived in Japan
I'd still have Chinese children
Well if I lived in this land,
Or if I lived in that land

And up from my lungs
And standing on my tongue
My little baby sung

Yeah, if I lived in Brooklyn,
I'd still have Chinese children
And if I lived in Oakland,
I'd still have Chinese children
If I was an Indian
Yeah, if I was an Indian

Whatever I do,
They're Chinese through and through

Well I like Chinese children
I got Chinese children


Lyrics submitted by bollywoodtoile

Chinese Children Lyrics as written by Devendra Banhart

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Chinese Children song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentI wonder if it has anything to do with a myth that he just decided to turn in to a nonsensical song? I know he was talking about China, but there is this Yourba (Nigerian) myth about this woman who gives birth to a baby through her thumb, and his name is ZURRJIR and basically he eats everything in the house so his parents decide to kill him, but he comes back as a half-baby and affixes himself to his mothers head. Yeah, this is sort of trippy and unrelated, but interesting nonetheless. It was just like, as soon as i read that I was like "Out of my thuuuuuubs, my little red baby runs, and thats another fact!"
    imaginaryordinaryon September 27, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI suppose the prospect of all these Chinese children would ensure a slightly more progressive and attractive world.
    TehTouriston September 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think it's because he was thinking about how there are more chinese people in the world then any other people.

    And also, how a person can be from anyway. Like you could be the most white-english person and live in venezuela, and be venezuelen and english too.
    colour doesn't mean much.

    and chinese children are very sweet looking =)
    tigersroamfreeon November 11, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's about china being the next world power jk. i just think he is attracted to chinese women, and he wants to have chinese children :)
    SilentZephyron January 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think it is just a song without a meaning..... everywhere chinese children!! :-)
    HenkHon March 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentChinese children for all!
    brittanyanneleeon May 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentwhen i first heard this song, i thought it was about allways staying the same as a person no matter where you are or what setting you are in. but thats just my opinion
    jadore_beeon June 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentFirst of all I appreciate "easy goingness" of this song.I feel free and powerful when i listen to it.SecondlyI think is about the fact that you CAN be who you are wherever you are, in spite of all the social conditions that may hide your identity in a cage."if I lived in...I still be whoever I want and make my way,my own way"
    george.cfon September 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentalright, say he already has children who are chinese, therefore, no matter where he goes, they are still going to be chinese. i don't think it has a real meaning, it's just a song that sounds super sweet.
    kortibon December 13, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think the parts where he is talking about where his baby is growing, he's talking about parts of himself: on his toes...black hairs grow, out of his thumbs, his red baby runs...that's blood...and out of his ears his little grey baby hears..that could possibly be grey ear hairs? Maybe it's far fetched but I think this song also reflects Devendra's common theme of having a child still in his adult body.
    katenon December 19, 2006   Link

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