sapan jhare phul se, mit chubhe shul se
lut gaye singaar sabhi, baag ke babul se
aur ham khade-khade, bahaar dekhte rahe
kaarvaa guzar gayaa, gubaar dekhte rahe

nind bhi khuli na thi ki haay dhup dhal gai
paanv jab talak uthe ke zindagi phisal gai
paat-paat jhar gae ke shaakh-shaakh jal gai
chaah to niakl saki na par umar nikal gai
par umar nikal gai
git ashq ban gae, sapan ho dafan gae
saath ke sabhi deeye, dhuaan pahan-pahan gae
aur ham jhuke-jhuke, mod par ruke-ruke
umr ke chadhaav kaa utaar dekhte rahe

kyaa shabaab thaa ke phul phul pyaar kar uthaa
kyaa kamaal thaa ke dekh ke aainaa sihar uthaa
is taraf zami aur aasmaa udhar uthaa
thamkar jigar uthaa ke jo milaa nazaar uthaa
ke jo milaa nazaar uthaa
ek din magar yahaan aisi kuchh havaa chali
lut gai kali kali ke ghut gai gali gali
aur ham lute-lute, vakt se pite-pite
saaz ki sharaab kaa kumaar dekhte rahe
kaarvaa guzar gayaa, gubaar dekhte rahe

haath the mile ke zulf chaand ki sanvaar dun
hoth the khule ke har bahaar ko pukaar dun
dard thaa diya gayaa ke har dukhi ko pyaar dun
aur saans yun ke svarg bhumi par utaar dun
bhumi par utaar dun
ho sakaa na kuchh magar, shaam ban gai sahar
vo uthi lahar ke dhah gae kile bikhar bikhar
aur ham dare dare nir nain me bhare
odh kar kafan pade mazaar dekhte rahe

maang bhar chali ke ek jab nai nai kiran
dhol ke dhunak uthi dhumak uthe charan charan
shor mach gayaa ke lo chali dulhan chali dulhan
gaanv sab umad padaa, bahak uthe nayan nayan
bahak uthe nayan nayan
par tabhi zahar bhari gaaj ek vah giri
puchh gayaa sindur taar taar hui chunari
aur ham ajaan se, dur ke makaan se
paalki lie hue kahaar dekhte rahe
kaarvaa guzar gayaa, gubaar dekhte rahe
sapan jhare phul se, mit chubhe shul se
lut gaye singaar sabhi, baag ke babul se
aur ham khade-khade, bahaar dekhte rahe
kaarvaa guzar gayaa, gubaar dekhte rahe
kaarvaa guzar gayaa, gubaar dekhte rahe

Like dreams, the blossoms fell, friends, like thorns, did sting,
All finery was lost, by the acacia's sting.
And we, we stood and watched the spring unfold,
The caravan passed on, the dust we did behold.

Sleep had not broken, ah, the sun began to fade,
Before our feet could move, life slipped and was betrayed.
Leaf by leaf it shed, branch by branch was burned,
Desire could not escape, but our years had turned.
Our years had turned.
Songs became tears, dreams were laid to rest,
All the lamps beside us, donned a shroud of dust.
And we, bent down, at the turning, paused and swayed,
The rise and fall of life's long road surveyed.

What youth it was, that every flower did embrace,
What wonder bloomed, that mirrors trembled with its face.
This side, the earth, the sky on that side rose,
Clutching at our hearts, we gazed at what it shows.
At what it shows.
But one day, such a wind, did sweep across the land,
Every bud was plundered, every street did disband.
And we, robbed and broken, beaten by the time,
Watched the evening's wine, in a drunken climb.
The caravan passed on, the dust we did behold.

Hands were clasped, to braid the moon's bright hair,
Lips were open, to call to every spring, I swear.
Pain was given, to love each one in despair,
And breath, so pure, to bring heaven to this fair
Earth, to this fair.
But nothing could be done, the evening turned to dawn,
A wave arose, the fortresses were drawn,
And we, afraid, with tears within our eyes,
Wearing shrouds, lay still, and watched the tombs arise.

The parting of the hair, as a fresh, new ray took hold,
Drums beat, and feet danced in stories yet untold,
A clamor rose, the bride did start her way, bold!
The village rushed, and eyes swayed, as love took hold.
As love took hold.
But then a poisonous lightning, from the sky did descend,
The vermillion was erased, the veil, its threads did rend.
And we, ignorant, from the distant homes we knew,
Watched the palanquin, carried by the few.
The caravan passed on, the dust we did behold,
Like dreams, the blossoms fell, friends, like thorns, did sting,
All finery was lost, by the acacia's sting.
And we, we stood and watched the spring unfold,
The caravan passed on, the dust we did behold.
The caravan passed on, the dust we did behold.