aji ham dilli ke dade hain
dade kya pardade hain
buron ke haq mein tedhe hain
bhalo ke haq me saade hai
ham dilli ke dade hain
dade kya pardade hain
buron ke haq mein tedhe hain
bhalo ke haq me saade hai
ham dilli ke dade hain

shahar ki chaudi sadkon par
ham sina tan ke chalte hain
dhan-daulat vale bhadabhuje hamko dekh ke jalte hain
aji unke aur irade hain apane aur irade hain
arey ham dilli ke dade hain
dade kya pardade hain
buron ke haq mein tedhe hain
bhalo ke haq me saade hai
are ham dilli ke dade hain

jama masjid ki sidhi par baith kar khichda khate hain
lal qile ke agale-pichhle sab kisse doharate hain
aji yun lagata hai jaise ham lavaris shahazade hain
arey ham dilli ke dade hain
dade kya pardade hain
buron ke haq mein tedhe hain
bhalo ke haq me saade hai
ham dilli ke dade hain

do din apna baind baja kar gayi huqumat goron ki
lekin ab bhi dhauns hai baki chor-munafakoron ki
dekhein kab tak pure hon jo sarkar ke vade hain
arey ham dilli ke dade hain
dade kya pardade hain

We are Delhi's forebears,
More than fathers, forefathers.
To the wicked, a tangled snare,
To the good, a simple prayer.
We are Delhi's forebears,
More than fathers, forefathers.
To the wicked, a tangled snare,
To the good, a simple prayer.
We are Delhi's forebears.

On the city's wide boulevards,
We walk with chests held high,
The wealthy, the puffed-up, they burn,
Watching us pass them by.
Their goals are not our own,
Our paths diverge and gleam,
We are Delhi's forebears,
More than fathers, forefathers.
To the wicked, a tangled snare,
To the good, a simple prayer.
We are Delhi's forebears.

Upon Jama Masjid's steps we sit,
Sharing a steaming meal,
Recounting tales of Red Fort's past,
Each story we reveal.
We feel like heirs, unclaimed,
Of a kingdom grand and old,
We are Delhi's forebears,
More than fathers, forefathers.
To the wicked, a tangled snare,
To the good, a simple prayer.
We are Delhi's forebears.

For two short days the gora's reign,
Their rule, it came and went,
But still, the thieves, the profiteers,
Their threats remain, unbent.
How long will they keep the vows,
The promises they made?
We are Delhi's forebears,
More than fathers, forefathers.