ho rama pani bharne jau to nijar lag jae
ho rama pani bharne jau to nijar lag jae
nijar lag jae ho kamar balkhae
nijar lag jae ho kamar balkhae
rama pani bharne jau to nijar lag jae

ye pyara mukhda mora chand sa gora gora
honth hai phool jaise nain hai jaise bhavra
umaria mori bali dupatta mora kora
laaj se mar mar jau taanke baniya ka chora
ho kaise ho kaise chunariya sambhalu gagar giri jae kamar balkhae
ho daiya pani bharne jau nazar lag jae
ho rama pani bharne jau to nijar lag jae

kal jo panghat pe gayi sang thi dadi meri
mai zara aage bad gayi dadi thoda peeche rah gayi
kisi ne kankar mara dadi ka gussa jaga
haay gagar bhi tuti daant bhi gir gae nakli
fir to ghunghat gira ke dadi sharmae ho nizar lag jae
ho rama pani bharne jau to nijar lag jae
ho rama pani bharne jau to nijar lag jae

To fetch water, I venture forth, lest the gaze consume,
To fetch water, I venture forth, lest the gaze consume,
The gaze descends, as my waist does sway,
The gaze descends, as my waist does sway,
To fetch water, I venture forth, lest the gaze consume.

My beloved face, a moon, fair and bright,
My lips, like blooms, my eyes, like the dark bee's flight,
My youth, a tender sprout, my shawl, pure white,
Shame nearly slays me, for the merchant's son's sight.
Oh, how, oh how, to keep my veil in place, lest the pitcher fall, my waist does sway,
Oh dear, to fetch water, I venture forth, lest the gaze consume,
Oh Rama, to fetch water, I venture forth, lest the gaze consume.

Yesterday, at the well, with my grandmother I went,
I stepped ahead, my grandmother, a step behind she bent,
A stone was thrown, my grandmother's anger spent,
Alas, the pitcher broke, her false teeth also went,
Then, with her veil drawn low, my old grandmother blushed, oh, lest the gaze consume,
Oh Rama, to fetch water, I venture forth, lest the gaze consume,
Oh Rama, to fetch water, I venture forth, lest the gaze consume.