This song is based on the history of film culture in India. Since their beginnings, Indian films have relied heavily on song-and-dance numbers. The singing is almost always performed by background singers while the actors and actresses lip sync. Asha Bhosle is a playback singer who has sung over 12,000 songs and is referred to as "Sadi rani" (Punjabi for "our queen") at one point in the lyrics. In the slower, original album recording, playback singers Lata Mangeshkar (her elder sister) and Mohammed Rafi (one of the top male playback singers of the mid-century) are mentioned. The lyrics in the bridge contain a number of references to non-Indian music, including Georges Brassens' song "Les Amoureux des bancs publics", Jacques Dutronc, Marc Bolan, Argo Records and Trojan Records.
Brimful Of Asha
Cornershop Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nu din raat nu aoondian hain, kimarh karke
There's dancing
Behind movie scenes, behind the movie scenes
Sadi Rani
She's the one that keeps the dream alive
From the morning, past the evening
Brimful of asha on the 45
Well, it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Brimful of asha on the 45
Well, it's a brimful of asha on the 45
And dancing
Behind movie scenes, behind those movie screens
Asha Bhosle
She's the one that keeps the dream alive
From the morning, past the evening
To the end of the light
Brimful of asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Brimful of asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
And singing
Illuminate the main streets
And the cinema aisles
We don't care bout no government warning
About their promotion of the simple life
And the dams they're building
Brimful of asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Brimful of asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom, mine's on the 45
Mohamed Rufhi 45
Lata Mangeshkar 45
Solid state radio 45
Ferguson mono 45
Bon public 45
Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan Boogies
The Heavy Hitters and the chi chi music
All India radio 45
Two in ones 45
Argo records 45
Trojan records 45
Brimful of asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Brimful of asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom, mine's on the 45
Seventy-seven thousand piece orchestra set
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Mine's on the RPM
Brimful of asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Brimful of asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of asha on the 45
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom, mine's on the 45
The lyrics of Cornershop's Brimful of Asha are a tribute to the Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle, who is famous for her contributions to Bollywood films. The opening lines of the song are in Punjabi, and they roughly translate to "I said our hope, whose happiness is for everyone, comes and goes day and night." This is followed by a chorus that repeats the phrase "brimful of asha on the 45" several times.
The song talks about the prevalence of Asha's music, not just in India but all over the world. The lyrics mention different types of music and various artists who have released songs on 45rpm vinyl, including Mohamed Rufhi, Lata Mangeshkar, and the Heavy Hitters. The song also discusses the power of music to unite people across borders and cultures, as well as its ability to transcend government censorship.
The lyrics of the song are filled with cultural references, making it a celebration of Indian music and musicians. The refrain "brimful of asha" literally means "full of hope/optimism," which is a fitting tribute to Asha Bhosle - who has been performing for more than six decades despite the many changes to the Indian film industry.
Line by Line Meaning
There's dancing
There is dancing happening
Behind movie scenes, behind the movie scenes
The dancing is going on behind the scenes in movies
Sadi Rani
Sadi Rani is involved somehow in the dancing and is important to it
She's the one that keeps the dream alive
Sadi Rani is the one that is keeping the dream of the dancing alive
From the morning, past the evening
Sadi Rani keeps the dream alive all day long, from morning to night
To the end of the light
Sadi Rani keeps the dream alive until the very end
Brimful of asha on the 45
There is a lot of hope and enthusiasm (asha) in a 45 record
Well, it's a brimful of asha on the 45
This is repeated to emphasize the importance of the previous line
Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle is mentioned as being important to the dancing and keeping the dream alive
And singing
In addition to the dancing, there is singing happening
Illuminate the main streets
The singing is brightening up the main streets
And the cinema aisles
The singing is also affecting the cinema aisles
We don't care bout no government warning
They don't care about government warnings to promote a simpler life
About their promotion of the simple life
The government is promoting a simple life but they don't care
And the dams they're building
They also don't care about the government building dams
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everyone needs someone to lean on, as if using a bosom as a pillow
Mine's on the 45
Their support comes from the 45 record
Mohamed Rufhi 45
There is another 45 record by Mohamed Rufhi
Lata Mangeshkar 45
There is another 45 record by Lata Mangeshkar
Solid state radio 45
There is a 45 record playing on solid state radio
Ferguson mono 45
There is also a 45 record in Ferguson mono
Bon public 45
There is yet another 45 record from Bon public
Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan Boogies
These are artists mentioned along with their music
The Heavy Hitters and the chi chi music
These are more artists mentioned along with their music
All India radio 45
All India radio is playing a 45 record
Two in ones 45
Another 45 record by Two in ones
Argo records 45
Another 45 record by Argo records
Trojan records 45
Another 45 record by Trojan records
Seventy-seven thousand piece orchestra set
This is a reference to another record that has a large orchestra
Mine's on the RPM
Their support comes from the RPM of the record
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tjinder Singh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexk4
There's dancing
Behind movie scenes
Behind the movie scenes
Sadi Rani
She's the one that keeps the dream alive
From the morning
Past the evening
To the end of the light
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
And dancing
Behind movie scenes
Behind those movie scenes
Asha Bhosle
She's the one that keeps the dream alive
From the morning
Past the evening
To the end of the light
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Mine's on the 45
And singing
Illuminate the main streets
And the cinema aisles
We don't care bout no
Gov't warnings,
'bout their promotion of a simple life
And the dams they're building
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
Mine's on the 45
Brimful of Asha on the 45
Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow
Everybody needs a bosom
I'm singin', and dancin'
@Squallfie66
I am 45 today, and all I wanted was a Brimful of Asha. I have waited sixteen years to write this comment.
@0XaZaX0
Everything was so much more colorful in the 90's.
@TheSharpeful
Oh man... this takes me back!
Ahh when MTV still played music and not fake reality shows.
Good times.
@TheSharpeful
***** Watched VH1 all the time as well ;)
We're getting old man :(
@Samuel.U
I've been looking for this song for years, finally...
@jarrodbutts716
Sammy Unwin 'Cause everybody needs a bosom for a pillow :)
@chelseasearle992
Sammy Unwin the only lyrics i knew was 45 lmao it was so hard D:
@SmeXyNL
***** I had the exact same thing! found it though ;p
@stephencharles4525
Sammy Unwin allsome
@blackbirrd.1790
+Sammy Unwin same