peetal ke ghar me teetal bahar acha ke bheetar
ja puch ke aao chital kya bole dai maa
kya bole dai maa
peetal ke ghar me tital bahar acha ke bheetar
ja puch ke aao chital kya bole dai maa
kya bole dai maa

bukha ho jab bhalu bukha ho jab bhalu
gud khaye ya aalu chuhiya ho jab choti
halwa de ya roti gay jo mange chara
gay jo mange chara aadha de ya sara murgi de jo anda
mai khau ya panda aaye na samjh ke andal
ye parshan hai bada padantal na puch ke aao bandar
kya bole dai maa kya bole dai maa

peetal ke ghar me tital bahar acha ke bheetar
ja puch ke aao chital kya bole dai maa
kya bole dai maa
nanhi maina pahne nanhi maina pahne
kitne bhari gahne kitni patli nathni
dale moti hathini kutta muh ko chate
kutta muh ko chate ya tango me kate
bakra bandhe sadi ya badhne de dadi
ye soch na picha chode kab tak bheja fode
ja puch ke aao ghode kya bole dai maa
kya bole dai maa

peetal ke ghar me tital bahar acha ke bheetar
ja puch ke aao chital kya bole dai maa
kya bole dai maa

In brass-walled home, a moth, outside, within,
Go ask the deer, what says the midwife then?
What says the midwife then?
In brass-walled home, a moth, outside, within,
Go ask the deer, what says the midwife then?
What says the midwife then?

When hungry bear is clawing, hungry bear,
Will it choose sweets or potatoes to share?
When mouse is small, and weak, and mild,
Does she get pudding, or bread, the child?
If cow does ask for forage, cow,
Will you give half, or the whole cow now?
If hen doth lay an egg, so bright,
Shall I eat it, this priestly rite?
This riddle, it evades the soul,
A tangled, weighty, aching toll.
Don't ask the monkey, lost in play,
What says the midwife, come what may?
What says the midwife then?

In brass-walled home, a moth, outside, within,
Go ask the deer, what says the midwife then?
What says the midwife then?
A tiny mynah, feathered friend,
Wears jewels that never end.
A slender nose ring, light and free,
A pearl of joy, for all to see.
The dog, it licks, with hungry tongue,
And bites the leg where shadows hung.
Balram, he binds the sari tight,
While others let the beard take flight.
This thought it never leaves my head,
Until the mind itself is dead.
Go ask the horse, in fields of green,
What says the midwife, yet unseen?
What says the midwife then?
In brass-walled home, a moth, outside, within,
Go ask the deer, what says the midwife then?
What says the midwife then?