jivan been madhur na baje
jhuthe padh gaye taar
bigade kath se kaam bane
kya megh baje na malhar
bigade kath se kaam bane
kya megh baje na malhar
pancham chhedo madhyam
bole kharaj bane gandhar
pancham chhedo madhyam
bole kharaj bane gandhar
been ke jhuthe padh gaye taar
jivan been madhur na baje
jhuthe padh gaye taar
been ke jhuthe padh gaye taar

in taaro ko kholo in tarbho ko phenko phenko
uttam taar nayi tarbhe ho tab ho naya shringar
is tarbhe se jo sur bole gunj uthe sansar
been ke jhuthe padh gaye taar
jivan been madhur na baje jhuthe padh gaye taar
been ke jhuthe padh gaye taar

bajne ko hai gunj nagada
hona hai sabse chhutkara
bajne ko hai gunj nagada
hona hai sabse chhutkara
apna jo hai use samajh lo o
bhi nahin hamara
apna jo hai use samajh lo vo
bhi nahin hamara

Life's lute, it sings no honeyed song,
False strings, they only fail and throng.
From broken wood, can work be spun?
Does the cloud then summon the monsoon?
From broken wood, can work be spun?
Does the cloud then summon the monsoon?

Play the fifth, then the middle note,
The bass voice speaks, a somber quote.
Play the fifth, then the middle note,
The bass voice speaks, a somber quote.
The lute's false strings, a weary plight,
Life's lute, it sings no honeyed light.
False strings, they only fail and throng.

Unfurl these strings, then cast them far,
New, true strings, a guiding star.
From these new strings, the music flows,
And the whole world the music knows.
The lute's false strings, a weary plight,
Life's lute, it sings no honeyed light.
False strings, they only fail and throng.

The drum of echoes starts to beat,
From all attachments, a retreat.
The drum of echoes starts to beat,
From all attachments, a retreat.
What is ours, we must now see,
Even that belongs not to we.
What is ours, we must now see,
Even that belongs not to we.