This is my tale of a chai wallah 

Met on an Indian train

If you’ve heard it before forgive me for

You are going to hear it again.

 

We are travelling on an Indian train

The only non Indians there.

A chai wallah’s moving down the train

And I guess you know the score.

 

He’s calling out to sell his wares

So this is what we heard, 

“Chai, chai, chai, chai.”

Moving down the train.

 

“Chai, chai, chai, chai.”

Closer all the time.

“Chai, chai, chai, chai”,

Until he got to me.

 

Without the slightest hint of pause

Or any break in rhythm

He changed his call 

As he went by me

And this is what we heard.

 

“Chai, chai, chai, chai,

Chai, chai, Tea, chai, chai”.

He changed his call from chai to tea

Just as he went by me.

 

Two nations tied together

By so much history

I hope we share our humour

And it’s funny to him

As to me.