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.

115. Translation of Sad Songs of Rafi: Aaye Na Baalam Vaada Kar Ke...

Movie: SHABAB (1954)
Music: Naushad
Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni


Again, another Rare gem from the Legendary Rafi Sahaab: Aaye Na Baalam Vaada Karke...

Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original lyrics:


aaye na, baalam vaadaa kar ke,
THE BELOVED DIDN’T COME AFTER PROMISING,

aaye na baalam, vaadaa kar ke
THE BELOVED DIDN’T COME AFTER PROMISING

aaye na baalam, vaadaa kar ke
THE BELOVED DIDN’T COME AFTER PROMISING

thak gaye nainaa, dheeraj dhar ke
EYES GOT WEARY OF BEING PATIENT,

dheeraj dhar ke,
OF BEING PATIENT,

aaye na baalam, vaadaa kar ke
THE BELOVED DIDN’T COME AFTER PROMISING

aaye na baalam.
THE BELOVED DIDN’T COME.


chhup gayaa chandaa,
THE MOON’S GONE INTO HIDING,

luT gayee jyoti
THE LIGHT GOT LOOTED,

chhup gayaa chandaa,
THE MOON’S GONE INTO HIDING,

luT gayee jyoti,
THE LIGHT GOT LOOTED,

taare ban gaye, jhooThe motee
THE STARS BECAME SIMULATED PEARLS

taare, ban gaye, jhooThe motee
THE STARS BECAME SIMULATED PEARLS

pa.D gaye pheeke, ra.ng najar ke
FADED ARE THE SHADES OF SIGHT,

pa.D gaye pheeke, ra.ng, najar ke
FADED ARE THE SHADES OF SIGHT.

aaye na baalam, vaadaa kar ke
THE BELOVED DIDN’T COME AFTER PROMISING

aaye na baalam.
THE BELOVED DIDN’T COME.


aao ki tum bin, aa.Nkho.n me.n dam hai
COME, FOR IN THY ABSENCE THE EYES BEAR LIFE STILL,

aao ki tum bin, aa.Nkho.n me.n dam hai
COME, FOR IN THY ABSENCE THE EYES BEAR LIFE STILL,

raat hai lambee, jeevan kam hai
LONG IS THE NIGHT, THE LIFE IS SHORT,

raat hai, lambee, jeevan kam hai
LONG IS THE NIGHT, THE LIFE IS SHORT,

dekh luu.N tum ko, mai.n jii bhar ke
LET ME BEHOLD YOU TO MY HEART’S CONTENT,

dekh loo.n, tum ko, mai.n, jee bhar ke,
LET ME BEHOLD YOU TO MY HEART’S CONTENT,

aaye na baalam, vaadaa kar ke
THE BELOVED DIDN’T COME AFTER PROMISING

aye na baalam.
THE BELOVED DIDN’T COME.

NASIR.


With what a deep devotedness of woe
I wept thy absence - o'er and o'er again
Thinking of thee, still thee, till thought grew pain,
And memory, like a drop that, night and day,
Falls cold and ceaseless, wore my heart away!
~Thomas Moore.

113. Translation of Sad Song of Rafi: Teraa Kaam Hai Jalna...

From: Paapi (1953)
Music: S Mohinder
Lyricist: Rajinder Krishen




Rafi's Rare Gem: Tera Kaam Hai Jalna Parwaane...

Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original lyrics:

Tera Kaam Hai Jalna Parwaane
YOUR JOB IS SELF-IMMOLATION O LOVER

Chaahe Shama Jale Ya Na Jale
WHETHER THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Shama Jale Ya Na Jale,
THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Tuu Pankh Jalaale Deewaane
BURN YOUR WINGS O CRAZY ONE

Chaahe Shama Jale Ya Na Jale
WHETHER THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Shama Jale Ya Na Jale...
THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT...


Yeh Dard Muhabbat Ka Sahe Jaa
THIS PANG OF LOVE GO ON SUFFERING,

Tuu Aag Ke Dariya mein Bahe Jaa
IN THE BLAZING RIVER GO ON DRIFTING,

Kehti Hai Tau Duniya Kehne De
IF THE WORLD BLAMES – BE IT,

Tuu Jalte Jalte Yeh Kahe Jaa
TELL THEM THIS WHILE YOU GO ON BURNING,

Yeh Kahe Jaa
THIS (YOU) GO ON TELLING:

Yoo.n Jal Marte Hai.n Deewaane
THUS THE CRAZY ONES BURN AND DIE,

Yoo.n Jal Marte Hai.n Deewaane
THUS THE CRAZY ONES BURN AND DIE,

Chaahe Shama Jale Ya Na Jale
WHETHER THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Shama Jale Ya Na Jale...
THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT....


Tera Pyaar Nahi.n Hai Harjaaee,
YOUR LOVE IS NOT INCONSTANT,

Tuu Saudaaee Hai Saudaaee,
YOU’RE MAD, INSANE,

Marne Mei.n Hai Shaan Muhabbat Ki
IN DEATH IS THE GLORY OF LOVE

Jeene mein hai Teri Ruswaaee
IN LIVING LIES YOUR IGNOMINY

Ruswaaee,
IGNOMINY

Marte Nahi.n Jalkar Parwaane
LOVERS DON’T DIE AFTER BURNING

Marte Nahi.n Jalkar Parwaane
LOVERS DON’T DIE AFTER BURNING

Chaahe Shama Jale Ya Na Jale
WHETHER THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Shama Jale Ya Na Jale...
THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT...


Teraa Kaam Hai Jalna Parwaane
YOUR JOB IS SELF-IMMOLATION O LOVER

Chaahe Shama Jale Ya Na Jale
WHETHER THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Shama Jale Ya Na Jale,
THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,


NASIR.

Neither the tale of that candle of Chegel one can tell,
Nor about the state of the burnt heart one can tell.
There is grief in my distressed heart because there is
Not one friend to whom the grief in one’s heart one can tell.
- HAFEZ


Notes: In mid-eastern and Indo-Pak culture and literature, Moth is a metaphor for Lover and the lighted Candle or Lamp is a metaphor for the beloved. Moths hover around the flames till they are burnt down. The lovers are expected to rise to such sublime level.