kaahe janam hame dihlu ae maayi dar dar thokar khaye ke
kaahe janam hame dihlu ae maayi dar dar thokar khaye ke
kaahe janamte na dihlu zahariya ho
kaahe janamte na dihlu zahariya ho, jogi na banti aayi ke
kaahe janam hame dihlu ae maayi dar dar thokar khaye ke

naw maah kokhiya me mohe sutavlu
angiya me mora kayi jatan banavlu
naw maah kokhiya me mohe sutavlu
angiya me mora kayi jatan banavlu
bahute darad sahi, bahute darad sahi
godiya me pawlu ho laad lagavlu
kaahe khushi ke maayi sabka bulavlu
jhoomi jhoomi sohar gaave ke
kaahe janam hame dihlu ae maayi dar dar thokar khaye ke

rahan garibi na padhavlu likhavlu
mehnat majduri bachepan se sikhavlu
rahan garibi na padhavlu likhavlu
mehnat majduri bachepan se sikhavlu
chot hamka laagal aansu, chot hamka laagal aansu
jhar jhar bahavlu maai, sine se lagavlu
mamta ka chin lihlu sar se achalva ho
bhej dihlu dur kamaaye ke
kaahe janam hame dihlu ae maayi dar dar thokar khaye ke

bachpan budhapa janani haaye re jawani
ek din thahral naahi dekhi pareshaani
bachpan budhapa janani haaye re jawani
ek din thahral naahi dekhi pareshaani
bada-chhota unch-nich, bada-chhota unch-nich
jaat-paat tor-mor jag me yahi kajhod
sabka pata iha sab ha musafir, ek din ha sabka jaaike
kaahe janamte na dihlu zahariya ho
kaahe janamte na dihlu zahariya ho, jogi na banti aayi ke
kaahe janam hame dihlu ae maayi dar dar thokar khaye ke

Why did you birth me, Mother, to wander and stumble?
Why did you birth me, Mother, to wander and stumble?
Why did you not grant me poison, oh?
Why did you not grant me poison, oh, to wander like a yogi?
Why did you birth me, Mother, to wander and stumble?

Nine months you cradled me in your womb,
In your arms, you gave me so much care.
Nine months you cradled me in your womb,
In your arms, you gave me so much care.
So much pain I bore, so much pain I bore,
In your lap, you found me and loved me.
Why, Mother, did you call everyone in joy?
To sing lullabies, dancing and swaying?
Why did you birth me, Mother, to wander and stumble?

Living in poverty, you taught me no books, no script,
Labor and toil, you taught me from childhood.
Living in poverty, you taught me no books, no script,
Labor and toil, you taught me from childhood.
When pain struck me, tears, when pain struck me, tears,
Flowed like a river, Mother, you held me to your chest.
You took away the shade of your love, took away your love,
And sent me far away to earn my keep.
Why did you birth me, Mother, to wander and stumble?

Childhood, old age, womanhood, alas, youth,
Not a single day lingers, seeing this suffering.
Childhood, old age, womanhood, alas, youth,
Not a single day lingers, seeing this suffering.
High and low, big and small, high and low, big and small,
Caste and creed, yours and mine, in this world's turmoil.
Know this, everyone here is a traveler, one day all must depart.
Why did you not grant me poison, oh?
Why did you not grant me poison, oh, to wander like a yogi?
Why did you birth me, Mother, to wander and stumble?