solah baras jab thi mori umariya, mori umariya
sare sheher ki thi mujh pe najariya
mujh pe najariya, mujh pe najariya
solah baras jab thi mori umariya
sare sheher ki thi mujh pe najariya
huwa kamaal, huwa kamaal mai jawan ho gai
mai jawan ho gai, mai jawan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
saiyaa, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
saiyaa, banaras ka paan ho gai

chal jaye banduke jobanva pe more
naina ladau to mar jaye chore
chal jaye banduke jobanva pe more
naina ladau to mar jaye chore
huwa kamaal, huwa kamaal
meri jawani tufaan ho gai
mai jawan ho gai, mai jawan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
saiyaa, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
saiyaa, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai

har koi samjhe mujhe apni laila
koi balam mora, koi hai chhaila
har koi samjhe mujhe apni laila
koi balam mora, koi hai chhaila
huwa kamaal huwa kamaal
mai sabka dil, sabki jaan ho gai
mai jawan ho gai, mai jawan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah, banaras ka paan ho gai
allah

When sixteen summers graced my brow, my brow,
The city's gaze, it followed how,
It followed how, it followed how,
When sixteen summers graced my brow,
The city's gaze, it followed how.
And lo! A wonder, a marvel spun,
I bloomed to life, my race begun,
My race begun, my race begun,
Allah, I became Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
My love, Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
My love, Banaras' betel.

If bullets fired at my youthful grace,
My eyes would slay with a single trace,
If bullets fired at my youthful grace,
My eyes would slay with a single trace.
And lo! A wonder, a marvel found,
My youth became a tempest's sound,
I bloomed to life, my race begun,
My race begun, my race begun,
Allah, I became Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
My love, Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
My love, Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel.

Each saw in me their Laila's face,
Some called me love, some held my space,
Each saw in me their Laila's face,
Some called me love, some held my space.
And lo! A wonder, a marvel near,
I became their heart, their love so dear,
I bloomed to life, my race begun,
My race begun, my race begun,
Allah, I became Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
Allah, Banaras' betel,
Allah...