The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #152585   Message #3569474
Posted By: Gibb Sahib
24-Oct-13 - 01:48 AM
Thread Name: Lyr ADD: Punjabi Girl (Vin Garbutt)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Derby Girl/Punjabi Girl (Vin Garbutt)
I can hear/ comprehend the lyrics. I find them mildly offensive - mind you, I know they are not *intended* to give offense, so I don't "take offense"...but still, not my cup of chaah. Suffice to say, I doubt there were any Punjabi women in the audience! Even if his wife were Punjabi, it's an awkward portrayal in my opinion.

Anyway, I am assuming, Guest, marmdad, that now a recording has been located (thanks, maeve!), you can go at getting the lyrics. However, if there is something hard to hear, I'm happy to offer what I hear.

N.B. Garbutt references "the war of '47". There was no "war" in 1947. That was the year when the British empire left India, and one of their men drew up the border that would divide the now-independent nations of Pakistan and India. Punjabis/Indians/Pakistanis know the event as "the Partition." This dis[placed millions, but generally it was the exchange of population across the new border, to either the Indian or the Pakistani side of the Punjab region. When he says the father (of the girl) left Punjab at the age of 2, that is confusing. More likely, the father went from one side of Punjab to the other. Later he says the family came to UK (Acklam, in the northeast, I presume) in 1969.