kari kari raina sari sau andhere kyu layi, kyu layi
roshani ke paao me ye bediya si kyu aayi, kyu aayi
ujiyare kaise, angare jaise
chhao chhaili, dhup maili kyu hain ri
kari kari raina sari sau andhere kyu layi, kyu layi
roshani ke paao me ye bediya si kyu aayi, kyu aayi
ujiyare kaise, angare jaise
chhao chhaili, dhup maili kyu hain ri

titaliyo ke pankho par rakh diye gaye patthar
ae khuda tu gum hai kaha
reshami libaso ko chirate hai kuch khanjar
ae khuda tu gum hai kaha
kya reet chal padi hai, kya aag jal padi hai
kyu chikhta hai surmayi dhua
kya reet chal padi hai, kya aag jal padi hai
kyu chikhta hai surmayi dhua

kari kari raina sari sau andhere kyu layi, kyu layi
roshani ke paao me ye bediya si kyu aayi, kyu aayi
ujiyare kaise, angare jaise
chhao chhaili, dhup maili kyu hain ri

pankhudi ki beti hai, kankado pe leti hai
barishe hai tezab ki
na ye uth ke chalti hai, na chita me jalti hai
lash hai ye kis khwab ki
raato me pal rahi hai, sadko pe chal rahi hai
kyu baal khole dehshate yaha
rato me pal rahi hai, sadko pe chal rahi hai
kyu baal khole dehshate yaha

kari kari raina sari sau andhere kyu layi, kyu layi
roshani ke paao me ye bediya si kyu aayi, kyu aayi
ujiyare kaise, angare jaise
chhao chhaili, dhup maili kyu hain ri

Black, black night, a hundred shadows descend, why?
Why have these fetters bound the feet of light, why?
How can the bright be embers alight?
Shadows defiled, the sun's face stained, oh, why?
Black, black night, a hundred shadows descend, why?
Why have these fetters bound the feet of light, why?
How can the bright be embers alight?
Shadows defiled, the sun's face stained, oh, why?

Upon the butterflies' wings, stones are placed,
O God, where have you gone?
Silken robes now pierced, by daggers traced,
O God, where have you gone?
What custom now unfurls, what fire now burns?
Why screams the smoky haze?
What custom now unfurls, what fire now burns?
Why screams the smoky haze?

Black, black night, a hundred shadows descend, why?
Why have these fetters bound the feet of light, why?
How can the bright be embers alight?
Shadows defiled, the sun's face stained, oh, why?

A petal's daughter, on pebbles she lies,
And rains of acid fall,
She neither walks, nor in pyres she dies,
A corpse of a dream, enthrall.
In nights she thrives, on streets she strides,
Why, hair unbound, does terror loom?
In nights she thrives, on streets she strides,
Why, hair unbound, does terror loom?

Black, black night, a hundred shadows descend, why?
Why have these fetters bound the feet of light, why?
How can the bright be embers alight?
Shadows defiled, the sun's face stained, oh, why?