Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Lilli Lalli Jimmi

From Selvam · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Selvam1966

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Female
Onnu rendu moonu naaluOne, two, three, four
Anju aaru ezhuFive, six, seven
Female
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raaniLilly, Lally, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosy, Rani
Unga moolaikku ippo velai koduppenI will now give work to your brain
Munnukku konjam vaa neeCome forward a little
Munnukku konjam vaa nee vaa nee vaa…Come forward a little, come, come...
Female
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raaniLilly, Lally, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosy, Rani
Unga moolaikku ippo velai koduppenI will now give work to your brain
Munnukku konjam vaa neeCome forward a little
Munnukku konjam vaa nee vaa nee vaa…Come forward a little, come, come...
Female
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raani…Lilly, Lally, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosy, Rani...
Female
Vambukku vaayai kodukkaadhae…Do not offer your mouth to unnecessary trouble...
Valathavan perai kedukkaadhae…Do not ruin the reputation of the person who raised you...
Vambukku vaayai kodukkaadhae…Do not offer your mouth to unnecessary trouble...
Valathavan perai kedukkaadhae…Do not ruin the reputation of the person who raised you...
En kambukku velai kodukkaadhaeDo not give work to my stick
Kambukku velai kodukkaadhaeDo not give work to my stick
Yaarai kandaalum vaalai aattaadhaeDo not wag your tail at whoever you see
Haei aei aeiHey hey hey
Female
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raaniLilly, Lally, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosy, Rani
Unga moolaikku ippo velai koduppenI will now give work to your brain
Munnukku konjam vaa neeCome forward a little
Munnukku konjam vaa nee vaa nee vaa…Come forward a little, come, come...
Female
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raaniLilly, Lally, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosy, Rani
Female
Paadam sonna eppadi ketkanumHow you should listen when a lesson is taught
Pandhai erinja eppadi pudikkanumHow you should catch the ball when thrown
Nandriyai nee eppadi kaattanumHow you should show your gratitude
Thirudanai nee eppadi verattanumHow you should chase away a thief
Female
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raaniLilly, Lally, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosy, Rani
Unga moolaikku ippo velai koduppenI will now give work to your brain
Munnukku konjam vaa neeCome forward a little
Munnukku konjam vaa nee vaa nee vaa…Come forward a little, come, come...
Female
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raaniLilly, Lally, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosy, Rani

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and lighthearted song from the movie Selvam (1966) features a master or trainer addressing pet dogs named Lilly, Lally, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosy, and Rani. The speaker commands the pets to exercise their intelligence, obey instructions, and learn useful behaviors such as catching a ball, expressing gratitude, guarding against thieves, and maintaining discipline without causing unnecessary trouble.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Vambukku vaayai kodukkaadhae… / Valathavan perai kedukkaadhae…”

Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines, such as 'Vambukku' and 'Valathavan'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Vambukku vaayai kodukkaadhae… / Valathavan perai kedukkaadhae… / En kambukku velai kodukkaadhae”

The repeating end suffix '-aadhae' across lines creates a rhythmic prohibitory rhyme scheme.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Paadam sonna eppadi ketkanum / Pandhai erinja eppadi pudikkanum”

Rhyming line terminations ending in '-anum' establishing instructional cadence.

Anaphora / Repetition

“Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raani”

Repetition of pet names to create a catchy, playful refrain.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Vaali for the 1966 movie Selvam, this unique track uses common pet names to structure a rhythmically engaging, educational command song directed at trained dogs.

Keep listening

More from Selvam