ganga toh rey o ganga tohre
ganga toh rey ghat pe aaya ganga ram
ise pyasa rakh ya pani pila
hat na khaber teri kai mahino se
gangi ko hai ganga ram se gila
ganga toh rey o ganga tohry ghat pe aaya ganga ram

ram kasam roj teri yaad aayi ja rey ja oh har jayi
o dekh ke tujhko aisa laga ke jaise musibat ghar aayi
mai to jati apne gaam ram ram ganga ram
jhuthe pyar ka mujhko bhrosa na dila
ganga toh rey o ganga tohre ghat pe aaya ganga ram

ghadi ki tik tik band karo ji tune to chabi di hai
kab tak alarm bajega ho jab tak tu yu ruthi hai
chhoad ke jhuthe pej or dav chhu le meri maa ke paav
mere aagan ki bagiya me kaliya khila
ganga toh rey o ganga tohre ghat pe aaya ganga ram

ye aag kyu ugalti hai muh se mai banduk ki goli hu ha
aa tujhko mai dil me chubho lu kya mai itni bholi hu
ja rey chhoad mere hath kar ke mithi mithi baat
tu na jit sakega mere dil ka kila
ganga toh rey o ganga tohre ghat pe aaya ganga ram

tu kah de to chhoad du sab kuch kon hu mai kahne vali
tu kya samjhe pyar ko pagali ha gaav ki hu rahne vali
tu hai payal mai hu geet hum hai jiwan bhar ke mit
tab to radha ko jaise kanhiya mila ganga tohre

Oh, Ganga, oh, Ganga, on your shores he came, Ganga Ram,
Will you quench his thirst, or leave him parched, his soul aflame?
A whisper lost, a rumor old, of months that slipped away,
The Ganga laments Ganga Ram, her heart in disarray.
Oh, Ganga, oh, Ganga, on your shores he came, Ganga Ram.

Ram's oath I swear, your memory, a constant, piercing dart,
You, the deceiver, gone astray, tearing at my heart.
To glimpse your face, a sudden dread, a storm begins to brew,
I yearn to flee, to seek my home, farewell, and bid adieu.
This false affection, I despise, no solace can it lend,
Oh, Ganga, oh, Ganga, on your shores he came, Ganga Ram.

Stop the clock's relentless beat, for you have wound its spring,
How long must the alarm resound, while bitterness you bring?
Cast off your games, your tangled schemes, and touch my mother's feet,
Let blossoms bloom within my soul, my garden, bittersweet.
Oh, Ganga, oh, Ganga, on your shores he came, Ganga Ram.

Why does your mouth spew fire, a raging inferno's breath?
I am a burning ember, a dance with fiery death!
To pierce you deep within my heart, a fool I'd have to be?
Begone, sweet words, your promises, will never conquer me.
You will not seize the fortress, where my true feelings dwell,
Oh, Ganga, oh, Ganga, on your shores he came, Ganga Ram.

If you command, I'll leave behind, what power have I to say?
You cannot grasp the meaning of love, a simple village way.
You are the anklet, I the song, together, we are bound,
Then Radha found her Krishna's grace, on hallowed, sacred ground.
Oh, Ganga, oh, Ganga, on your shores he came, Ganga Ram.