kabhi aansoo kabhi khushi bechi
kabhi aansoo kabhi khushi bechi
hum garibon ne bekasi bechi
kabhi aansoo kabhi khushi bechi

chand saanse kharidne ke liye
chand saanse kharidne ke liye
roz thodi si zindagi bechi
roz thodi si zindagi bechi
kabhi aansoo kabhi khushi bechi

jab rulaane lage mujhe saaye
jab rulaane lage mujhe saaye
maine ukta ke roshni bechi
maine ukta ke roshni bechi
kabhi aansoo kabhi khushi bechi

ek hum the ke bik gaye khud hi
ek hum the ke bik gaye khud hi
warna duniya ne dosti bechi
warna duniya ne dosti bechi
kabhi aansoo kabhi khushi bechi
hum garibon ne bekasi bechi

We traded tears, we traded glee,
We, the wretched, sold our misery.
We traded tears, we traded glee.

To buy a breath, a fleeting grace,
To buy a breath, in time and space,
Each day, a sliver of our days,
We traded tears, we traded glee.

When shadows rose to make me weep,
When shadows rose from slumber deep,
I, weary, sold the light to keep,
We traded tears, we traded glee.

We were the ones who sold ourselves,
We were the ones upon the shelves,
The world, it sold its friendships' wealth,
We traded tears, we traded glee,
We, the wretched, sold our misery.