Can You Really Marry Me?

I performed this at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Kubwa sometime last year; the theme was "Can you really marry me?" and I had to build up something that would work with the theme. It was an amazing night!


Enjoy. It's a bit unrefined but hey....we are going some big place to happen!



Young Man, Hot and fine

Sleek as gel & strong as Thor

Walked up to me confident himself divine

I had indeed noticed him awhile

In his striped suit and bow tie wile

His skin like chocolate & six feet tall

Abs that were 6 pack, 7 packs, no 10 packs

His voice of the gods as he wielded his thousand watt smile

“Hey Sister, you look so fine

I noticed you, you blow my mind

Your love, passion & dedication

Cannot be questioned, nay, no altercation

Your strides are like the gazelle’s feet

And when you smile, I see diamond teeth

Your Soft-spoken words & nightingale voice

Fill in me a longing & a void

Your neck is long & stately & fine

From its arch, I can tell you’re principled divine

One cannot begin to describe your eyes

Oh dear me, I’m drawn in; I wave the world a thousand byes

Your nose is the stately third mainland bridge

Connecting eyes to mouth, ears to face

Your lips are the colours of the sunset’s set

Tell me my Darl, have you looked at yourself lately?

Your fingers as fair & smooth as porcelain

I see you stand 5.00am in kitchen admin

Making pancakes, syrup & oats

Calling out to me, “Honey, breakfast’s ready”

Packing my files in my briefcase too

You’re dressed in a copper that brings out your skin

Your hair- not a single strand is out of place

You've got the kids ready & packed up their lunch packs

And yes, fair lady, you’re driving them to school

Hot meals, hot bath, massage awaits my return

Eternal gifts you serve of love & submission

Your figure not destroyed by three born babes

Your breasts still standing like the twin peaks of Sheba

A woman to be feared by the devil & evil

Kabashing, binding, destroying the devil

Such a woman I see in you

Sister, I want to marry you”

He pauses & so I lift up my face

I smile- diamond teeth he says

In the voice he has had endless dreams, I gently ask

“No, I don’t think you can marry me.

Can you really marry me?”

“With all my heart, I can really marry you”

“Are you sure you can really marry me?”

“Cross my heart, I can really marry you”

“Can you really really seriously marry me?”

“Why the questions, Woman? My word is my bond!”

“Can you really marry me?

When you see I am a door & not a wall

When we get married & your mother hates me

Or when my brother high on drugs comes to visit

When I take off the makeup & my acne is revealed

When I get tired & cannot cook dinner

No hot meals, hot bath, massages await you

No pancakes greet you early in the morn

I’m not a Hollywood actress; I can’t be all pristine

And No, I’ll get messy & fuzzy & dozy at morn

My eyes all swollen, dried catarrh stuck in my nostrils

You couldn't sleep ‘cos I snored like a grunting pig

And when I awake, I look like Vampire’s bride

When I can’t be a helper, will you stay?

When I’m beaten & torn by storms of life

Where will you be?

I wouldn't be a size 6 forever!

Don’t you think your 6 pack will become 1 pack?

When I earn in dollars & you in Naira

Will your insecurity swim to the surface?

When I get transferred, will you be faithful?

Or will you say, “She’s not who I married; She’s an elephant!”

When I wear napkin sized pants & not G-strings

When I stop to wear the heels & push up bras

Will you still say I’m your one true love?

When you see me fly off the handle

My face contorted, distorted with rage

Will you be wolverine & slash me into bits

Or run away or just be there with me

Will I remain the seal over your heart?

Or ripped & placed as the foot mat at the door

If you lose your job, will you harbour resentment?

If I get terminally ill & my hair falls off

I’m forty but I look ninety

Will you still say, “You’re the fairest of them all”?

So...the question begs an answer

Can you really marry me?”

I see the words have him in his gut

He sees reality is different from a dream

He shakes his head & smiles in timid uncertainty

And his heart’s content revealed with truth’s beam

“I’ll probably come back, Sister Fair”

But I see his “love” has begun to dim

He walks away & I know he ponders

Can he really marry a woman at all?


Sound track : He sleeps- James Newton Howard


Heard other "versions" of this wonderful score. forgive the pictures; I had to use something to upload a video.