ek chai ki pyali ek ek ek chai ki pyali
chai bnane wali ek ek ek chai ki pyali

na lambi bas jaisi hona ho kismat ki wo heti
na thigni is kadar koke meri malum ho beti
na lambi ho lambi ho na itni feti ho
ke rail ka fatak bhi sharmaye
na itni dubli ho ke haddi pasli tak najar aaye
na dubli ho na dubli ho

kayi khubio wali
tirchi tirchi tirchi najro wali
gori gori gori gori ho ya kali
aye do jaha ke wali mil jaye to fir
ek ek ek chai ki pyali
ek ek ek chai ki pyali

na ho bimar itni doctor rozana ghar aaye
na itni tandrusht ho khate khate mujhko kha jaye
na ho bimar wo na ho bimar wo
na itni kali ho ke dil mera kadwa masala ho
na gori is kadar ho ke jamana chahne wala ho
na gori ho na gori ho

nazo ki wo pali
tirchi tirchi tirchi najro wali
gori gori gori gori ho ya kali
aye do jaha ke wali mil jaye to fir
ek ek ek chai ki pyali
ek chai banane wali
ek ek ek chai ki pyali

A teacup, a teacup, a teacup's desire,
For the maker of tea, fanning the fire.
Not a bamboo's reach, nor fate's cruel decree,
Nor so small, lest she's known as daughter to me.
Not tall, no, not tall, nor excessively stout,
That even a train gate might blush and look out.
Nor so frail, that her bones pierce the skin so fine,
Not frail, no, not frail, a delicate line.

Possessing such virtues, a treasure to keep,
With eyes that are slanted, secrets to peep.
Fair or dark, in her glory, her essence enshrined,
If the mistress of worlds, I at last could find...
A teacup, a teacup, a teacup's delight.
A teacup, a teacup, burning so bright.

Not so sick, that the doctor arrives every day,
Nor so robust, that she'd eat me away.
Not ill, no, not ill, a spirit so free,
Nor so dark that my heart tastes of bitter decree.
Nor so fair that the world craves her grace to see,
Not fair, no, not fair, her true self, to be.

Raised with care, a gem precious and rare,
With eyes that are slanted, beyond all compare.
Fair or dark, in her splendor, a vision so bold,
If the mistress of worlds, I at last could behold...
A teacup, a teacup, a teacup's deep plea.
The maker of tea, for eternity.
A teacup, a teacup, my soul's decree.