198. Translation of Sad Songs of Rafi: Yahaan Main Ajnabee Hoon...

Movie: Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965)
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: Kalyanji-Anandji


Feel the feel of Rafi Sahaab’s voice in Yahaa.n Mai.n Ajnabee Hoo.n......

Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original lyrics:


kabhee pehle, dekhaa nahee.n, yeh samaa.n,
NEVER BEFORE HAVE I SEEN SUCH AMBIENCE,

yeh mai.n bhool se, aa gayaa hoo.n kahaa.n.
OH! WHERE HAVE I LANDED LIKE A BLUNDER-BUSS!

yahaa.n mai.n, ajnabee hoo.n,
I’M A STRANGER HERE,

yahaa.n mai.n, ajnabee hoo.n,
I’M A STRANGER HERE,

mai.n jo hoo.n, bas wohee hoo.n
WHATEVER I’M, THAT’S ENOUGH FOR ME,

mai.n jo hoo.n, bas wohee hoo.n
WHATEVER I’M, THAT’S ENOUGH FOR ME,

yahaa.n mai.n ajnabee hoo.n,
I’M A STRANGER HERE,

yahaa.n mai.n ajnabee hoo.n....
I’M A STRANGER HERE...


kahaa.n shaam-o-sahar yeh,
THESE EVENINGS AND MORNINGS, HOW INCONSISTENT

kahaa.n din-raat mere,
WITH THE DAYS AND NIGHTS OF MINE!

bahut ruswaa huwe hai.n,
MUCH HUMILIATION HAS BEEN HEAPED

yahaa.n jazbaat mere,
UPON MY FEELINGS HERE,

nayee tehzeeb hai yeh,
‘TIS A NEW CULTURE,

nayaa hai yeh zamaanaa,
‘TIS A NEW WORLD,

magar mai.n aadmee hoo.n,
BUT I AM A MAN

woh hee sadiyo.n puraanaa,
AS ANCIENT AS THE RIP WAN WINKLE,

mai.n kyaa jaanoo.n yeh baate.n,
WHAT DO I KNOW OF THESE AFFAIRS,

zaraa insaaf karnaa,
PRAY DO SOME JUSTICE,

meree ghustaakhiyo.n ko, khudaaraa maaf karnaa.
FORGIVE MY ERRORS FOR GOD’S SAKE


yahaa.n mai.n ajnabee hoo.n,
I’M A STRANGER HERE,

yahaa.n mai.n ajnabee hoo.n ...
I’M A STRANGER HERE...


teree baa.nho.n me.n dekhoo.n,
I NOTICE IN YOUR YOU ARMS

sanam ghairo.n kee baa.he.n,
THE ARMS OF STRANGERS, SWEETHEART,

mai.n laaoo.ngaa kahaa.n se,
WHENCE WILL I BRING -

bhalaa aisee nigaahe.n,
SUCH SIGHT PRAY!

yeh koee raqs hogaa,
MAYBE, IT’S A KIND OF SOME DANCE,

koee dastoor hogaa,
MAYBE IT’S SOME CUSTOM,

mujhe dastoor aisaa, kahaa.n ma.nzoor hogaa,
HOW WILL SUCH CUSTOM BE ACCEPTABLE TO ME,

bhalaa kaise yeh meraa, lahoo ho jaay paanee
WELL! HOW WILL I NOT FEEL A SENSE OF SHAME?

mai.n kaise bhool jaaoo.n, mai.n hoo.n hindostaanee.
HOW CAN I FORGET THAT I’M AN INDIAN?

yahaa.n mai.n ajnabee hoo.n,
I’M A STRANGER HERE,

yahaa.n main ajnabee hoo.n ...
I’M A STRANGER HERE...


mujhe bhee hai shikaayat,
I, TOO, HAVE A COMPLAINT,

tujhe bhee toh gilaa hai,
YOU TOO HAVE SOMETHING TO MOAN ABOUT,

yahee shikve hamaaree, mohabbat kaa silaa hai,
THESE VERY COMPLAINTS ARE THE REWARDS OF OUR LOVE,

kabhee maghrib se mashriq, milaa hai jo milegaa,
HAS THE WEST EVER MET THE EAST, THAT IT SHOULD MEET?

jahaa.n kaa phool hai jo, vahee.n pe voh khilegaa,
THE PLACE WHERE THE FLOWER BELONGS, THERE WILL IT BLOSSOM,

tere oo.nche mahal me.n, nahee.n meraa guzaaraa,
YOUR PALATIAL MANSION IS NOT THE PLACE FOR ME,

mujhe yaad aa rahaa hai, voh chhoTaa saa shikaaraa.
I KEEP REMEMBERING THAT SMALL BOATHOUSE.

yahaa.n mai.n ajnabee hoo.n,
I’M A STRANGER HERE,

yahaa.n mai.n ajnabee hoo.n...
I’M A STRANGER HERE...

mai.n jo hoo.n, bas wohee hoo.n
WHATEVER I’M, THAT’S ENOUGH FOR ME,

mai.n jo hoo.n, bas wohee hoo.n
WHATEVER I’M, THAT’S ENOUGH FOR ME,

yahaa.n mai.n ajnabee hoo.n,
I’M A STRANGER HERE,

yahaa.n mai.n ajnabee hoo.n.
I’M A STRANGER HERE.

NASIR

East is East, West is West
Never the Twain shall meet
Rudyard Kipling