Singh Song! The narrator’s name is Sikh and the name Singh is a common Sikh name A pun on ‘sing song’ People say Indians speak in a ‘sing-song’ manner and rhythm when they speak English – the song of Singh

Read the poem h-song-by-daljit-nagra/11723.html h-song-by-daljit-nagra/11723.html

Stanza One 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 — A focus on the Indian working class in Britain It is a stereotype that Asians run corner shops in Britain A young Asian man who runs one of his dad’s businesses The poem has been written phonetically to show Singh’s accent Alternate rhyme to illustrate the song-like qualities

Stanza Two 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 — Half rhyme to illustrate the ‘song- like’ quality of Singh’s accent Singh is expected to run the shop for 12 hours but when nobody is around he sneaks upstairs to ‘make luv’ to his wife – the poet is discussing the culture in a humorous manner Typical Indian foods are discussed

Stanza Three 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 — Structurally, italics are used by the poet to show someone else’s comments The customers complain about the state of the shop

Stanza Four above my head high heels tap di ground as my vife on di net 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 — The ‘high heels’ suggest that Singh’s wife has adopted the female dress sense in Britain and is immersed in the culture This also suggests that Singh’s wife does not work – in Indian culture the women at one stage were expected to stay at home Notice that the wife is also on ‘her Sikh lover site’ – what might this suggest to you? This is what Singh imagines she is doing

Stanza Five my bride she effing at my mum in all di colours of Punjabi den stumble like a drunk making fun at my daddy Singh’s wife swears at his mum in Punjabi She also makes fun of his dad – by stumbling around which suggests his dad is a drunk

Stanza Six my bride tiny eyes ov a gun and di tummy ov a teddy The repetition of ‘my bride’ shows us that Singh is possibly newly wed because he focuses on her instead of the shop A metaphor is used to describe his wife’s eyes – the comparison to a gun suggests her looks might be deadly

Stanza Seven 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 who are buy my penny sweeties — Singh’s wife’s haircut and clothes suggests she has embraced Western culture

Stanza Eight 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 — Humour ‘tickle’ is an innuendo for having sex with his wife Again the shoppers are complaining about the way Singh runs the shop – the repetition of this stanza structure suggests Singh’s day is monotonous

Stanza Nine 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 — Singh includes the reader in the poem as though you are one of the customers This stanza suggests there is something more romantic about Singh. The couple sit together and stare beyond the criticising community They stare at the moon and the beaches The fact they stare past the signs and the chocolate bars suggest they don’t really care about them

Stanza Ten from di stool each night she say, How much do yoo charge for dat moon baby? The wife speaks…the question is deliberately about money!

Stanza Eleven from di stool each night I say, Is half di cost ov yoo baby, A little bit of romance…Singh is showing that he thinks his wife is priceless = very romantic! The poet is deliberately showing us that there is more to life than money

Stanza Twelve from di stool each night she say, How much does dat come to baby?

Stanza Thirteen from di stool each night i say, Is priceless baby — Singh does not care about running his shop: true love and passion cannot be sold

What is the poet trying to say? That love is more important than anything That Indian’s rebel against their parents like everyone else does He is showing us the cultural combination of second generation British Indians He rejects the stereotypical work ethics and materialism of older generations Shows a character rejecting his father Imitates an accent to give us an authentic sense of character