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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Lilli Lalli Jimmi

From Selvam · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Selvam
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
16 Nov 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Onnu rendu moonu naalu
Anju aaru ezhu
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raani
Unga moolaikku ippo velai koduppen
Munnukku konjam vaa nee
Munnukku konjam vaa nee vaa nee vaa…
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raani
Unga moolaikku ippo velai koduppen
Munnukku konjam vaa nee
Munnukku konjam vaa nee vaa nee vaa…
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raani…
Vambukku vaayai kodukkaadhae…
Valathavan perai kedukkaadhae…
Vambukku vaayai kodukkaadhae…
Valathavan perai kedukkaadhae…
En kambukku velai kodukkaadhae
Kambukku velai kodukkaadhae
Yaarai kandaalum vaalai aattaadhae
Haei aei aei
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raani
Unga moolaikku ippo velai koduppen
Munnukku konjam vaa nee
Munnukku konjam vaa nee vaa nee vaa…
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raani
Paadam sonna eppadi ketkanum
Pandhai erinja eppadi pudikkanum
Nandriyai nee eppadi kaattanum
Thirudanai nee eppadi verattanum
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raani
Unga moolaikku ippo velai koduppen
Munnukku konjam vaa nee
Munnukku konjam vaa nee vaa nee vaa…
Lilli lalli jimmi jikki lucy rosy raani
One, two, three, four,
Five, six, seven!
Lilly, Lalli, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosie, Rani,
I will put your brains to work now,
Step forward a little,
Step forward a little, come on, come...
Lilly, Lalli, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosie, Rani,
I will put your brains to work now,
Step forward a little,
Step forward a little, come on, come...
Lilly, Lalli, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosie, Rani...
Don't bark and look for trouble...
Don't bring a bad name to the master who raised you...
Don't bark and look for trouble...
Don't bring a bad name to the master who raised you...
Don't make me use my stick,
Don't make me use my stick,
Don't wag your tail at whoever you see!
Hey hey hey!
Lilly, Lalli, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosie, Rani,
I will put your brains to work now,
Step forward a little,
Step forward a little, come on, come...
Lilly, Lalli, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosie, Rani,
When taught a lesson, how should you listen?
When a ball is thrown, how should you catch it?
How should you show your gratitude?
How should you chase away a thief?
Lilly, Lalli, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosie, Rani,
I will put your brains to work now,
Step forward a little,
Step forward a little, come on, come...
Lilly, Lalli, Jimmy, Jikki, Lucy, Rosie, Rani!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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

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