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Lyrics & meaning

Ethir Neechal Adi

From Ethir Neechal (2013 Film) · 2013

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Anirudh Ravichander, Yo Yo Honey Singh
Music director
Anirudh Ravichander
Details
Ethir Neechal (2013 Film)2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haan ..haanYeah.. yeah
Yoyo honey singh hhhYo Yo Honey Singh
AnirudhAnirudh
Machan do itBrother, do it
Male
Speedu speedu speedu venumWe need speed, speed, speed
Speedu kaati poda neeShow some speed and go
Late-u late-u late-u illamaWithout being late, late, late
Latest aaga vada neeCome trendy and updated
Male
{Thakida thaka thimi{Thakida thaka thimi
Thaalam thaanIs the rhythm
Thom tharikida melam thaan} (2)Thom tharikida is the drum beat} (2)
Male
Speedu speedu speedu venumWe need speed, speed, speed
Speedu kaati poda neeShow some speed and go
Late-u late-u late-u illamaWithout being late, late, late
Latest aaga vada neeCome trendy and updated
Male
Hey who this honeyHey who is this, Honey?
Hey who is this..honeyHey who is this, Honey?
Hey who is this..Hey who is this...
Who is this..who is this..Who is this... who is this...
HoneyHoney
Hey who isHey who is
Who who who who whoWho who who who who
Who who who who whoWho who who who who
Who is this..honey singhWho is this... Honey Singh
Ah unga aaya …Ah, your grandmother...
Male
Aada vaa aha aada vaaCome dance, ah come dance
Aha aada vaa..aha aada vaaAh come dance.. ah come dance
Aha aada vaa..aha aada vaaAh come dance.. ah come dance
Aha aada vaa..on the floorAh come dance.. on the floor
Male
Naalai endrum namm kaiyil illaiTomorrow is never in our hands
Naam yaarum devan kai bommaigalaeWe all are puppets in the hands of God
Endraal kooda poraadu nanbaEven so, fight on, my friend
Endraikkum thorkkaathu unmaigalaeTruth will never be defeated
Male
Usain bolt-ai pol nillamal ooduRun without stopping like Usain Bolt
Gold thedi varumGold will come seeking you
Chorus :Thedi varumChorus: Will come seeking
Male :Unthan vaazhviruku olympic-ai polaeMale: For your life, just like in the Olympics
Vervai thedi varumSweat will come seeking you
Chorus :Thedi varumChorus: Will come seeking
Male
Naangal rishiyum illaiWe are not sages
Oru kushiyil sonnomWe said this out of joy
Pudicha pudi daGrasp it if you like it, man!
Chorus
Hey hey hey hey hey heyHey hey hey hey hey hey
Male :Ethir neechal adiMale: Swim against the tide
Vendru yeththu kodiWin and raise the flag
Ada jollyOh, what fun!
Namma vaali…eeee……Our Vaali!
Male
Machan dhoolAwesome, mate!
{Ethir neechal adi{Swim against the tide
Vendru yeththu kodiWin and raise the flag
Ada jolly ahJolly well
Vaali sonna padi} (2)As Vaali said} (2)
Male
Hey vaada machiHey come on, buddy
Adichu paakalam ethirneechalLet's try swimming against the tide
Male
Yoyo honey singh hey..Yo Yo Honey Singh, hey...
Ha ha..Ha ha...
I m going down babyI'm going down baby
Deep down to the south..haanDeep down to the South.. yeah
Male
Onnu rendu moonuOne, two, three
Uthaalae apna phonePick up your phone
Baj rahi hey teri babyYour phone is ringing, baby
Kolaveri tuneWith the Kolaveri tune
From mumbai to marinaFrom Mumbai to Marina
Asin se le ke kareenaFrom Asin to Kareena
Sab ke bbm ke pingEveryone's BBM is pinging
Hey who is thisHey who is this?
Male
Hip hop tamizhaHip Hop Tamizha!
Welcome to chennaiWelcome to Chennai
Enga ooruThis is our city
Intha oorukulaIn this city
Naanga thaaru maaruWe are wild and unstoppable
First vaathiyarFirst is Vaathiyar (MGR)
Apram superstarThen comes the Superstar (Rajinikanth)
Male
Kavithai ku yaaru bharathiyaarFor poetry, who else but Bharathiyar?
English padathula “this is sparta”In English movies, it's 'This is Sparta!'
Ithu tamil padam athanala adrango ***This is a Tamil film, so beat the drums hard!
Enga kitta vachukitta avalavuthaanIf you mess with us, you're done for
English pesinaalum tamizhan daEven if I speak English, I am a Tamilian, man!
Male
Zor lagaa kae haishaPush hard with all your might!
Zor lagaakae haishaPush hard with all your might!
Zor lagaakae haishaPush hard with all your might!
Male
Zor lagaakae haishaPush hard with all your might!
Machi are you ready ahMate, are you ready?
Zor lagaakae haishaPush hard with all your might!
Machi are you ready ahMate, are you ready?
Male
Zor lagaakae haishaPush hard with all your might!
Machi are you ready ahMate, are you ready?
Machi are you ready ahMate, are you ready?
Male
Ethir neechal adiSwim against the tide
Vendru yeththu kodiWin and raise the flag
Ada jollyOh, jolly well
Namma vaaliOur Vaali
Male
Bring the fucking beat backBring the fucking beat back
Male
{Ethir neechal adi{Swim against the tide
Vendru yeththu kodiWin and raise the flag
Ada jolly ahJolly well
Vaali sonna padi} (4)As Vaali said} (4)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ethir Neechal Adi' is a high-energy motivational anthem that encourages listeners to persevere, face life's obstacles, and 'swim against the tide' (ethir neechal). Combining philosophical folk lines by legendary lyricist Vaali with modern rap verses by Yo Yo Honey Singh and Hip Hop Tamizha, the song uses marathon imagery and pop culture references to inspire confidence, hard work, and resilience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Naam yaarum devan kai bommaigalae

Human beings are directly compared to puppets controlled by the hands of God.

Simile

Usain bolt-ai pol nillamal oodu

Comparing continuous perseverance in life directly to running relentlessly like world sprinter Usain Bolt using the word 'pol' (like).

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Speedu kaati poda nee / Latest aaga vada nee

Both lines end with the exact same Tamil word 'nee'.

Alliteration / Monai

Vendru yeththu kodi / Vaali sonna padi

Rhythmic repetition of sounds across corresponding verse phrases.

Did you know?

Trivia

This energetic title track brought together a historic cross-regional collaboration featuring North Indian star Yo Yo Honey Singh, Tamil hip-hop pioneer Hip Hop Tamizha, composer Anirudh Ravichander, and legendary lyricist Vaali. It was one of the final hugely popular youth anthems penned by Vaali before his demise in July 2013.

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