Singh Song

Daljit Nagra

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
       den 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 all 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,
the 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 -