202. Translation of Sad Songs of Rafi: Kal Chaman Thaah...

Movie: KHANDAAN (1965)
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan
Music: Ravi

Rafi Sahaab singing about a house divided: Kal Chaman Thaah...

Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original lyrics:


mujhe jab jab, bahaaro.n kaa, zamaanaa, yaad aayegaa
WHENEVER THE TIMES OF SPRING WILL COME TO MY RECOLLECTION,

kahee.n apanaa bhee thaah, ik aashiyaanaa, yaad aayegaa.
THAT WE’D OUR HOME TOO SOMEWHERE, WILL COME TO MY RECOLLECTION.

kal chaman thaah, aaj ik, sehraa huwaa,
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN, ‘TIS A WILDERNESS TODAY,

dekhte hee, dekhte, yeh kyaa huwaa,
WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE THE EYES!

kal chaman thaah, aaj ik, sehraa huwaa,
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN, ‘TIS A WILDERNESS TODAY,

dekhte hee, dekhte, yeh kyaa huwaa
WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE THE EYES!

kal chaman thaah ...
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN....


mujhko barbaadee kaa koee, gham nahee.n,
RUINATION IS NOT WHAT I GRIEVE ABOUT,

mujhko barbaadee kaa koee, gham nahee.n,
RUINATION IS NOT WHAT I GRIEVE ABOUT,

gham hai barbaadee kaa kyu.n, charchaa huwaa.
MY GRIEF IS WHY THE “RUINATION” WAS DISCUSSED.

kal chaman thaah, aaj ik, sehraa huwaa,
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN, ‘TIS A WILDERNESS TODAY,

dekhte hee, dekhte, yeh kyaa huwaa,
WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE THE EYES!

kal chaman thaah ...
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN....


ek chhoTaa saa thaah meraa, aashiyaa.n,
I’D MY SMALL NEST,

ek chhoTaa saa thaah meraa, aashiyaa.n,
I’D MY SMALL NEST,

aaj tin-ke se alag, tin-kaa huwaa.
TODAY, ALL THE STALKS AND STRAWS HAVE FALLEN APART.

kal chaman thaah, aaj ik, sehraa huwaa,
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN, ‘TIS A WILDERNESS TODAY,

dekhte hee dekhte, yeh kyaa huwaa,
WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE THE EYES!

kal chaman thaah ...
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN....


sochtaa hoo.n apne ghar ko, dekh kar,
ON LOOKING AT (WHAT WAS ONCE) MY HOME, I REFLECT....

sochtaa hoo.n apne ghar ko, dekh kar,
ON LOOKING AT (WHAT WAS ONCE) MY HOME, I REFLECT:

ho naa ho, yeh hai meraa, dekhaa huwaa.
HAVEN’T I SEEN THAT ONE BEFORE?

kal chaman thaah, aaj ik, sehraa huwaa,
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN, ‘TIS A WILDERNESS TODAY,

dekhte hee, dekhte, yeh kyaa huwaa
WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE THE EYES!

kal chaman thaah ...
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN....


dekhne vaalo.n ne dekhaa, hai dhuaa.n,
THE SMOKE THE ONLOOKERS HAVE SEEN,

dekhne vaalo.n ne dekhaa, hai dhuaa.n,
THE SMOKE THE ONLOOKERS HAVE SEEN,

kisne dekhaa, dil meraa, jaltaa huwaa.
MY BURNING HEART – NO ONE HAS SEEN.

kal chaman thaah, aaj ik, sehraa huwaa,
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN, ‘TIS A WILDERNESS TODAY,

dekhte hee, dekhte, yeh kyaa huwaa
WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE THE EYES!

kal chaman thaah ...
YESTERDAY IT WAS A GARDEN....

NASIR

“A House divided against itself cannot stand....’
Abraham Lincoln.