Singh Song! Daljit Nagra

Singh Song! The name 'Singh' comes from a Sanskrit word meaning 'lion' and it is an essential part of the name of any Sikh male.

Daljit Nagra Born in Bradford in 1966 and of Indian descent. First poetry collection published in 2007. He writes about the experience of first generation immigrants and the experiences of their children growing up in Britain. He feels that Indians are often stereotyped as Doctors or shop-keepers. Indeed his own parents were shop-keepers. This poem aims to celebrate this. First generation Indians were often transported for free to work in the UK, but the jobs were often poorly paid and physically challenging. Often Indians wanted to be independent – one way to do this was to buy and run a shop. He writes in an Indian character, which could be seen as mocking, but he hopes readers can see through this and their own prejudices as well. By having to read the poem in an Indian accent, he believes it makes people face their prejudices head on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYIDS4Ka7CE

STRUCTURE: First Person love poem Stereotypes? Childish language – the father still has control over his life Suggests a long, boring working day 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 - He rebels against his father’s rules – takes control of his own life

Non-standard use of the word suggests that he is getting used to the language ‘Putney’ is Punjabi for ‘wife’ AND is an area of London STRUCTURE: Repetition emphasises the couple’s unity 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 - Unusual simile to describe love-making - creates humour, light-hearted language

Isn’t ruled by the rules of the shop. He is distracted by love Sounds like a chorus of voices, emphasised by phonetic spellings 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 - Exaggeration creates humour and highlights the contrast between the unreliable narrator and his careful father

His new bride is glamorous Monosyllabic – imitates her heel tapping the ceiling Suggests that his wife runs a dating agency – modern idea and contrasts with the idea of arranged marriage – stereotypical part of Indian culture 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 - ‘cat and mouse’ game – the wife is in the position of power Mouse- computer mouse: double meaning

Suggests he finds his wife’s swearing funny - we might not expect this? Shows that they both have a sense of humour – he doesn’t mind her poking fun at his parents ‘colourful language’ = swearing Simile ‘like a drunk’ my bride      she effing at my mum      in all di colours of Punjabi      den stumble like a drunk      making fun at my daddy STRUCTURE: Repetition – suggests that he is proud of her and can’t stop thinking about her. ‘bride’ – still new and exciting

my bride tiny eyes ov a gun and di tummy ov a teddy Metaphors describe the wife as both dangerous and cute – she’s a combination of lots of different things my bride      tiny eyes ov a gun      and di tummy ov a teddy

He doesn’t care about losing profit Her clothes are a mixture of Indian and British culture – she embodies both – cultural fusion 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 - He doesn’t care about losing profit

The relationship is affectionate and carefree Metaphor for sex He’s a terrible shopkeeper, but the complaints sound quite playful as they are written phonetically 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 –

Makes up English words – shows that the 2 cultures are merging through language Allusion to a song Seems to be addressing the reader and suggesting that they (shoppers) are the problem Bathos – when something is built up to a grand scale, then brought back down with humour 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 - Sudden moment of calm shows the couple are alone. More concerned with his new wife than the shoppers Metaphor adds romance Imagery contrasts with romantic descriptions of beaches in the moonlight

from di stool each night I say, Is half di cost ov yoo baby, STRUCTURE: Repetition makes the couple’s conversation sound song-like. It highlights the closeness between them Mimicking the life in a shop 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 - Poem left hanging- looks to the future - ongoing Suggests that their love is more important than money Love doesn’t have to be perfect

Structure and form The poem is written as a song – strong lyrical element Has a refrain (chorus) ‘my bride’ Rhyme makes it lyrical

Light-hearted Marriage Intimate Contrasts Humour Phonetic Love Rebellion Passion Romantic Metaphor Dramatic monologue Possessive pronoun Bathos Light-hearted Marriage Intimate Contrasts Humour Phonetic Love Rebellion Passion Romantic Metaphor Dramatic monologue Possessive pronoun Bathos Light-hearted Marriage Intimate Contrasts Humour Phonetic Love Rebellion Passion Romantic Metaphor Dramatic monologue Possessive pronoun Bathos Light-hearted Marriage Intimate Contrasts Humour Phonetic Love Rebellion Passion Romantic Metaphor Dramatic monologue Possessive pronoun Bathos DADDY’S – BRIDE – SHARE – CHUTNEY – LUV – ROWING – PINNIE – SHOPPERS – WORST – HEEL – LOVER – PRICE – EFFING – COLOURS – FUN – GUN – TEDDY – CREW – TARTAN – PINCHING – TICKLE – CRY – MIDNIGHT – QUIET – CONCRETE-COOL – SILVER – STOOL – MOON – BABY – NIGHT - PRICELESS DADDY’S – BRIDE – SHARE – CHUTNEY – LUV – ROWING – PINNIE – SHOPPERS – WORST – HEEL – LOVER – PRICE – EFFING – COLOURS – FUN – GUN – TEDDY – CREW – TARTAN – PINCHING – TICKLE – CRY – MIDNIGHT – QUIET – CONCRETE-COOL – SILVER – STOOL – MOON – BABY – NIGHT - PRICELESS DADDY’S – BRIDE – SHARE – CHUTNEY – LUV – ROWING – PINNIE – SHOPPERS – WORST – HEEL – LOVER – PRICE – EFFING – COLOURS – FUN – GUN – TEDDY – CREW – TARTAN – PINCHING – TICKLE – CRY – MIDNIGHT – QUIET – CONCRETE-COOL – SILVER – STOOL – MOON – BABY – NIGHT - PRICELESS DADDY’S – BRIDE – SHARE – CHUTNEY – LUV – ROWING – PINNIE – SHOPPERS – WORST – HEEL – LOVER – PRICE – EFFING – COLOURS – FUN – GUN – TEDDY – CREW – TARTAN – PINCHING – TICKLE – CRY – MIDNIGHT – QUIET – CONCRETE-COOL – SILVER – STOOL – MOON – BABY – NIGHT - PRICELESS