maana ke musht-e-khak se
maana ke musht-e-khak se badh kar nahi hu mai
maana ke musht-e-khak se badh kar nahi hu mai
maana ke musht-e-khak se badh kar nahi hu mai
lekin hawa ke rehmo-karam par nahi hu mai
maana ke musht-e-khak se badh kar nahi hu mai
maana ke musht-e-khak se

insaan hu dhadkte huye dil par haath rakh
insaan hu dhadkte huye dil par haath rakh
yu doob kar na dekh
yu doob kar na dekh samandar nahi hu mai
yu doob kar na dekh samandar nahi hu mai
lekin hawa ke rehmo-karam par nahi hu mai
maana ke musht-e-khak se badh kar nahi hu mai
maana ke musht-e-khak se

chehre pe mal raha hu siyaahi naseeb ki
chehre pe mal raha hu siyaahi naseeb ki
aai na haath me hai sikandar nahi hu mai
aai na haath me hai sikandar nahi hu mai
aai na haath me hai sikandar nahi hu mai
lekin hawa ke rehmo-karam par nahi hu mai
maana ke musht-e-khak se badh kar nahi hu mai
maana ke musht-e-khak se

ghalib tere zameen me likhi to hai ghazal
ghalib tere zameen me likhi to hai ghazal
tere kad-e-sukhan ke
tere kad-e-sukhan ke baraabar nahi hu mai
tere kad-e-sukhan ke baraabar nahi hu mai
lekin hawa ke rehmo-karam par nahi hu mai
maana ke musht-e-khak se badh kar nahi hu mai
maana ke musht-e-khak se

Though I am but dust, I concede,
Though I am but dust, I concede,
No grander am I, by far,
Though I am but dust, I concede,
No grander am I.
Yet, I am not at the wind's command.
Though I am but dust, I concede,
No grander am I.

Human, with a beating heart,
Place your hand upon my chest,
Human, with a beating heart,
Do not drown within my gaze,
Do not drown within my gaze,
For I am not the sea.
Yet, I am not at the wind's command.
Though I am but dust, I concede,
No grander am I.

Upon my face, I smear
The ink of destiny's decree,
Upon my face, I smear
The ink of fate's design.
I have not seized the world,
I am no Alexander.
Yet, I am not at the wind's command.
Though I am but dust, I concede,
No grander am I.

Ghalib, in your realm,
A ghazal I have penned, yes,
Ghalib, in your realm,
Though I stand not equal,
Though I stand not equal,
To your poetic height,
Yet, I am not at the wind's command.
Though I am but dust, I concede,
No grander am I.