o khima ali khana ab ustadi
dikhaoge ya kawali shuru karoge
are khwali sunata hu suno
are chokre log aaj aisa jham ke bajao
ke meri joru ka tambu hadhar jaye
aur bahno aaj aisa gao
ke mere miya ka jhopda ud jaye

bajao re haye
badam lo la te katte
are badam lo la te katte sanduk me chhupa do
badam lo la te katte sanduk me chhupa do
badam lo la te katte sanduk me chhupa do
are badam lo la te katte
badam lo la te katte
sanduk me sanduk bole to peti
suitkesh, sanduk me chhupa do
sanduk me chhupa do
aji chhilko chhilako, aji ha ghasko ghasako
aji chhilko chhilako, aji ha ghasko ghasako
badam lo la te katte sanduk me chhupa do
badam lo la te katte sanduk me chhupa do

humko wo ghumate katte cycle pe bitha ko
humko wo ghumate katte cycle pe bitha ko
cycle pe cycle pe cycle pe bitha ko
cycle pe bitha ko
panchar jo hua
panchar jo hua maar diya paidal hi chalako
panchar jo hua maar diya paidal hi chalako
badam lo la te katte sanduk me chhupa do
badam lo la te katte sanduk me chhupa do

ae milte hi najar jab pahle pahal tune
sharma ko nazar jhuka di re
are zalim sharma ko nazar jhuka di re
zalim ne nazar jhuka ko
meri to kamar jhuka di re
are aisa ehsaan mere pe jatati re
tune badam diya, maine tujhe aam diya
pedu diya kaddu diya jaam diya
amma ko jhuth bola baba ko jhuth bola
allah allah jhuth bola
khasam se jhhth bola
par tujhko lakho halaalo ki haram kamayi diya
aur tu mereko tana de rayi
do badam khila ke bol rahi
are badam lo la te katte sanduk me chhupa do
aji chhilko chhilako, aji ha ghasko ghasako

humko wo ghumate katte cycle pe bitha ko
humko wo ghumate katte cycle pe bitha ko
panchar jo hua maar diya paidal hi chalako
panchar jo hua maar diya paidal hi chalako

main acchi bhali amma ke aangan me thi
kyu tujhse najar ladayi re
tere jaise bhondu ke palle padi
kya meri shamat aayi re
sona mitti na prakh saki
khuli ankhiya dhokha khayi re
main jani asli hai
tu magar nakli hai
allah tera munh kala
family pe ningwala
bola tha hum hai do
honge humare do
ye sab to kahne ko
yaha to ek hi beti hai
beta kaha jo sahara deta
kismat ko apne aaj main roti baith ko

are pagli main tere ko hansaya to
family planing wale royenge na
tu janti hai tu kaun hai
kya hu
chikni mitti ka lota hai tu
kacche baambu ka sota hai tu
pure tuntun ki amma hai tu
mota ghus hai nikhma hai tu
jitni bahar hai ander hai tu
mue bedum ka bandar hai tu
do baata na sunta meri
bada dil ka re chota hai tu
aa pandrah saal se
mere tu do laga rahi
aisi jamal ghota hai tu
lota

Hark, Kima Ali Khan, master of the art,
Will you now reveal your craft, or sing the Qawwali's start?
I sing now a Khawali, listen closely, heed my call,
Youths, strike the rhythms, let your passion enthrall,
Make my wife's tent tremble, with the music's sway,
And sisters, sing so fiercely, my husband's hut will fly away.

Play on, O play!
Bring forth the almonds, let the rhythm ignite,
Bring forth the almonds, hide them in the chest, from sight.
Bring forth the almonds, let the rhythm ignite,
Bring forth the almonds!
The chest, that is the belly, the suitcase, the hold,
Hide them in the chest, stories to unfold.
Peel and grind, peel and grind, with the rhythmic tide,
Bring forth the almonds, in the chest, let them reside.

He spins us, on the cycle, a whirling dance,
On the cycle, on the cycle, in a breathless trance,
On the cycle, in a breathless trance.
The puncture struck, the journey incomplete,
He left us walking, on blistered feet.
Bring forth the almonds, in the chest, the secrets keep.

The first glance, when our eyes did meet,
You shyly lowered your gaze, a sweet defeat.
Oh, cruel one, you lowered your gaze so low,
And mine, in shame, began to flow.
You showed me such kindness, you did impart,
You gave me almonds, I gave you my heart.
I gave you a fruit, a pumpkin, a drink so sweet,
Lies to my mother, lies to my father, deceit.
Lies to Allah, lies on my every vow,
And yet, I gave you wealth, more than you allow.
And now you mock me, with words so sharp and keen,
Two almonds offered, a bitter, hurtful scene.
Bring forth the almonds, in the chest, the secrets hide,
Peel and grind, peel and grind, with the rhythmic tide,
He spins us, on the cycle, in a whirling dance,
The puncture struck, he left us walking, in a breathless trance.

I was content, in my mother's sunlit yard,
Why did my eyes with yours become ensnared?
In the hands of a fool, my fate now lies,
Has my destiny brought a sorrowful surprise?
Could not discern gold from the common dust,
My open eyes betrayed my trust.
I am real, in the world I see,
And you are false, as you can be.
May Allah darken your face with shame,
A curse upon your lineage, your name.
You spoke of two, a family entwined,
But here, a single daughter we find.
A son to comfort, a comfort yet unseen,
In this, my fate, I weep, to intervene.

Oh, foolish one, if I had caused you to laugh,
Family planning would have met their wrath.
Do you know who you are, this truth you must see?
You are a smooth clay pot, for all to agree.
A stick of raw bamboo, brittle and thin,
You are the mother of all, a chaotic din.
A coarse, idle, good-for-nothing soul,
What is inside, is what you make whole.
A lifeless monkey, devoid of a tail,
You don't listen to my words, you always fail.
A heart so small, though your form is wide,
For fifteen years, you've been by my side,
A beauty of all, you are a lotus of a find.
A pot, that is all you are, of this I'm confined.