asal ko chhod ke nakal ke piche aaj koi nandan chala
duniya ke bazar me bikane aaj koi insan chala
asal ko chhod ke nakal ke piche aaj koi nandan chala
duniya ke bazar me bikane aaj koi insan chala
are ho re ho re ho re ho bhaiya aaj koi insan chala
asal ko chhod ke nakal ke piche

kagaj ke phulo me pyare rangat hai lekin khusbu nahi hai
kagaj ke phulo me pyare kuch bhi na tujhko milega
kuch bhi na tujhko milega
inme khusi ka pahlu nahi hai
are ho re ho ho ho re ho re bhaiya
hari bhari es phulwari ko kyu karke biran chala
asal ko chhod ke nakal ke piche aaj koi nandan chala
duniya ke bazar me bikane aaj koi insan chala
are ho re ho re ho re ho bhaiya aaj koi insan chala
asal ko chhod ke nakal ke piche

are jhuthe dikhawe me aake thukrai tune asha kisi ki
are jhuthe dikhawe me aake
pardesh me khone wale
pardesh me khone wale
tujhko pukare puja kisi ki
are ho re ho re ho re ho bhaiya
bhul ke apne, begano me
kyu khone ki imaan chala
asal ko chhod ke nakal ke piche aaj koi nandan chala
duniya ke bazar me bikne aaj koi insan chala
are ho re ho re ho re ho bhaiya aaj koi insan chala
asal ko chhod ke nakal ke piche

julmi hai daulat ki nagari
banke ye apni karti burai
julmi hai daulat ki nagari
are nirdhan ke sine me dil hai
nirdhan ke sine dil hai
gairo ki bhi ye karte bhalayi
are ho re ho re ho re ho re bhaiya
manjil piche kyu aage ko banke tu anjaan chala
asal ko chhod ke nakal ke piche aaj koi nandan chala
duniya ke bazar me bikane aaj koi insan chala
are ho re ho re ho re ho bhaiya aaj koi insan chala
asal ko chhod ke nakal ke piche

Forsaking essence, chasing shadows, a fool now strides,
To the world's bazaar, to be bartered, a soul now glides.
Forsaking essence, chasing shadows, a fool now strides,
To the world's bazaar, to be bartered, a soul now glides.
Oh, ho, ho, ho, brother, a soul now glides,
Forsaking essence, chasing shadows.

Paper flowers gleam, with color, yet scent they lack,
Paper flowers, dear one, offer nothing to you,
Offer nothing to you,
In them, joy's essence takes no track.
Oh, ho, ho, ho, brother,
Why forsake this garden, vibrant and new?
Forsaking essence, chasing shadows, a fool now strides,
To the world's bazaar, to be bartered, a soul now glides.
Oh, ho, ho, ho, brother, a soul now glides,
Forsaking essence, chasing shadows.

In false display you've stumbled, spurning another's hope,
In false display you've stumbled,
Lost in foreign lands you roam,
Lost in foreign lands you roam,
Ignoring prayers that softly elope.
Oh, ho, ho, ho, brother,
Forgetful of your own, in strangers' guise, why lose your home?
Forsaking essence, chasing shadows, a fool now strides,
To the world's bazaar, to be bartered, a soul now glides.
Oh, ho, ho, ho, brother, a soul now glides,
Forsaking essence, chasing shadows.

The city of wealth, a tyrant's hold,
Turns against its own with a wicked design,
The city of wealth, a tyrant's hold,
Yet the poor man's heart still beats with desire,
Yet the poor man's heart still beats with desire,
Extending kindness to those other than thine.
Oh, ho, ho, ho, brother,
Why towards the front, when the destination you decline?
Forsaking essence, chasing shadows, a fool now strides,
To the world's bazaar, to be bartered, a soul now glides.
Oh, ho, ho, ho, brother, a soul now glides,
Forsaking essence, chasing shadows.