Lillian is a lily white girl

Whom I intend to marry

As black as a tar as I am,

Unless there’s any objection

I want to take Lilly to Alex[1]

And vex many Alexan girls

Who have fixed their eyes on me,

Unless my mother has any objection

I ‘m going to take her to Juskei River

For a swim and expose her to the crab bite

And a couple of what her folks call germs,

Unless there’s any objection

I’m going to take Lily out of Sandton

Where she does not see sundown

And expose her lily white skin to the Alexan scorching sun,

Unless she’s got any objection

I’m going to feed Lilly mopani[2] worms,

Give her some home brewed sorghum beer

And feed her cow tripe to nourish her ‘starved’ figure,

Unless there’s any objection

I’m going to take Lilly to our local bar

For two of those strong mampuru[3] shots,

But I surely need a helmet for her for any stray bullets

On our way there,

Unless there’s any objection

I’m going to pay lobola[4] for Lilly, my white girl

With cattle of a motley rainbow

And make her mother proud,

Unless there’s any objection

I love Lilly, my white girl

And I’m sure she’s stuck on me too,

For she knows her soul is as black as a tar as my kin,

Come forward with all your objections or die that way.

[1] A township considered dangerous in Johannesburg

[2] Worms that are dried and eaten, more especially by people in the northern parts of South Africa

[3] An illegal home brewed whisky

[4]  A pride price, not practiced by the South African white community