Singh Song!

Cards (57)

  • Who wrote Singh Song!?
    Daljit Nagra
  • What era is Singh Song! from?
    Modern
  • I run just one ov my daddy's shops /
    from 9 o'clock to 9 o'clock
  • and he vunt me not to hav a break /
    but ven nobody in I do di lock -
  • cos up di stairs is my newly bride /
    vee share in chapatti /
    vee share in di chutney
  • after vee hav made luv /
    like vee rowing through Putney -
  • Ven I return vid my pinnie untied /
    di shoppers always point and cry:
  • Hey Singh, ver yoo bin? /
    Yor lemons are limes
  • yor bananas are plantain, /
    dis dirty little floor need a little bit of mop
  • in di worst Indian shop /
    on di whole Indian road -
  • Above my head high heel tap di ground /
    as my vife on di web is playing wid di mouse
  • ven she netting two cat on her Sikh lover site /
    she book dem for di meat at di cheese ov her price -
  • my bride /
    she effing at my mum /
    in all di colours of Punjabi /
    ven she stumble like a drunk /
    making fun at my daddy
  • my bride /
    tiny eyes ov a gun /
    and di tummy ov a teddy
  • my bride /
    she hav a red crew cut /
    and she wear a Tartan sari /
    a donkey jacket and some pumps /
    on di squeak ov di girls dat are pinching my sweeties -
  • Ven I return from di tickle ov my bride /
    di shoppers always point and cry:
  • Hey Singh, ver yoo bin?
    Di milk is out ov date /
    and di bread is alvays stale,
  • di tings yoo hav on offer yoo hav never got in stock /
    in di worst Indian shop /
    on di whole Indian road -
  • Late in di midnight hour /
    ven yoo shoppers are wrap up quiet
  • ven di precinct is concrete-cool /
    vee cum down whispering stairs
  • and sit on my silver stool, /
    from behind di chocolate bars
  • vee stare past di half-price window signs /
    at di beaches ov di UK in di brightey moon -
  • from di stool each night she say, /
    How much do yoo charge for dat moon baby?
  • from di stool each night I say, /
    Is half di cost ov yoo baby,
  • from di stool each night she say,
    How much does dat come to baby?
  • from di stool each night I say, /
    Is priceless baby -
  • Why are there no full stops in Singh Song!?
    Because the couple are at the beginning of their relationship
  • Why is the poem called Singh Song!?
    Because the voice of the poem is Mr Singh and it is set out like a song
  • What technique is used in the following phrase and what is the effect: 'I do di lock -'?
    Alliteration - it has a plosive quality to emphasise the motion
  • What is significant about the following phrase: 'newly bride'?
    It is grammatically incorrect to celebrate the poet's Indian heritage
  • What technique is used in the following lines: 'vee share in chaputti / vee share in di chutney'?
    Anaphora
  • What is the effect of anaphora throughout the poem?
    It gives the poem a song-like feel
  • What technique is used in the following line and what is the effect: 'after vee hav made luv / like vee rowing through Putney -'?
    Simile - it is a direct comparison of movement to describe the motion
  • What technique is used in the following line and what is the effect: 'Yor lemons are limes'?
    The lilting alliteration gives the line a more song-like quality
  • What technique is used in the following line and what is the effect: 'dis dirty little floor need a little bit of mop'?
    Alliteration - gives the line a more song-like quality
  • What is the effect of the similar stanzas about the shoppers?
    It suggests the stanza is the chorus in a song, it could also refer to the group of shoppers being a chorus of shoppers
  • What technique is used in the following line and what is the effect: 'Above my head high heel tap di ground'?
    Alliteration - mimics the sound of high heels tapping, emphasises the noise the wife makes
  • What is significant about the wife having her own job?
    It shows that she is independent and challenges stereotypes
  • What is the significance of the phrase 'my bride' being repeated?
    It shows his love for her
  • What is significant about the fact that the voice still refers to his wife as 'my bride'?
    Suggests he is proud of her and suggests their relationship still feels new and exciting