Nasir's Eclectic Blog: 368. Translation of Sad Songs of Rafi: Teraa Kaam Hai Jalnaa Parwaane...

Movie: PAAPI (1953)
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan
Music: S.Mohinder

Rafi Sahaab’s song that kept the movie-goers glued to the seat: Teraa Kaam Hai Jalnaa Parwaane...

Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original Urdu-Hindi Lyrics:

teraa kaam hai jalnaa parwaane,
‘TIS YOUR JOB, O MOTH, TO BURN,

chaahe shamaa jale ya naa jale
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

tu pankh jalaale deewaane,
SINGE YOUR WINGS O CRAZY ONE

chaahe shamaa jale ya naa jale
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT.

Yeh dard mohabbat kaa sahe jaa,
THIS PAIN OF LOVE GO ON ENDURING,

tuu aag ke dariyaa me.n bahe jaa,
IN THE SEA OF FIRE, GO ON FLOWING,

Kehtee hai jo dunyaa kehne de,
LET THE WORLD SAY WHAT IT’LL,

tuu jalte jalte yeh kahejaa
WHILE BURNING, THIS YOU GO ON SAYING...

Yeh kahejaa....
THIS, YOU GO ON SAYING:

Yoo.n jal marte hai.n deewaane,
THUS THE CRAZY ONES DIE BURNING,

Yoo.n jal marte hai.n deewaane,
THUS THE CRAZY ONES DIE BURNING,

chaahe shamaaa jale yaa naa jale,
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale...
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT...

teraa kaam hai jalnaa parwaane,
‘TIS YOUR JOB, O MOTH, TO BURN,

chaahe shamaa jale ya naa jale,
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale...
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT...

teraa pyaar nahee.n hai harjaayee,
YOUR LOVE IS NOT UNFAITHFUL,

Tuu saudaai hai saudaai,
YOU’RE PASSIONATE, LOVING,

marne me.n hai shaan mohabbat kee,
‘TIS HONOUR FOR THE LOVE IN DYING,

jeene me.n hai teree ruswaayee,
‘TIS IGNOMINY FOR YOU IN LIVING,

Ruswaayee...
IGNOMINY...

marte nahee.n jal kar parwaane,
THE MOTHS DON’T DIE AFTER BURNING,

Marte nahee.n jal kar parwaane,
THE MOTHS DON’T DIE AFTER BURNING,

chaahe shamaa jale ya naa jale
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

teraa kaam hai jalnaa parwaane,
‘TIS YOUR JOB, O MOTH, TO BURN,

chaahe shamaa jale ya naa jale
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT.

NASIR.