thahar jara o janewale
thahar jara o janewale, babu mistar gore kale
kab se baithe aas lagaye
ham matwale palishwale, ham matwale palishwale
thahar jara o janewale, babu mistar gore kale
kab se baithe aas lagaye
ham matwale palishwale, ham matwale palishwale
thahar jara o janewale

yeh kali palish ek aana, yeh brawn palish ek aana
jute kaa malish ek aana, har mal milega ek aana
na blaism na pakhaudi hai, na pagadi hai na chori
chhoti si dukan lagaye, ham matwale palishwale
ham matwale palishwale, ham matwale palishwale
thahar jara o janewale, babu mistar gore kale
kab se baithe aas lagaye
ham matwale palishwale, ham matwale palishwale
thahar jara o janewale

mehnat kaa phal mitha mitha, han bhai han re
bhag kisika rutha jhutha, na bhai na re
mehnat ki ek rukhi roti, han bhai han re
aur mufat ki dudh malayi, na bhai na re
lalach jo phokat ki khaye, lalach jo haram ki khaye
ham matwale palishwale, ham matwale palishwale
thahar jara o janewale, babu mistar gore kale
kab se baithe aas lagaye
ham matwale palishwale, ham matwale palishwale
thahar jara o janewale

pandit ji mantar padate hain, woh ganga ji nahalate hain
ham pet ka mantar padate hai, jute ka muh chamakate hai
pandit ko panch chavanni hai, hamko toh ek ikanni hai
phir bhed bhav yeh kaisa hai, jab sab ka pyara paisa hai
unch nich kuchh samajh na paye
ham matwale palishwale, ham matwale palishwale
thahar jara o janewale, babu mistar gore kale
kab se baithe aas lagaye
ham matwale palishwale, ham matwale palishwale
thahar jara o janewale

Pause, traveler, a moment stay,
pause, oh stranger, white and gray.
We've waited long, our hopes alight,
we polishers, with hearts so bright.
Pause, oh traveler, a moment stay,
pause, oh stranger, white and gray.
We've waited long, our hopes alight,
we polishers, with hearts so bright.
Pause, oh traveler, a moment stay.

Black shine, a penny's price,
brown gleam, a penny's nice.
Massage for your shoes, a penny's grace,
all our wares, a penny's place.
No blessings, nor deceit we hold,
no turbans, nor stories told.
A humble stall, our work we ply,
we polishers, beneath the sky.
We polishers, with hearts so bright.
Pause, oh stranger, white and gray.
We've waited long, our hopes alight,
we polishers, with hearts so bright.
Pause, oh traveler, a moment stay.

Sweet is the fruit of labor's hand,
yes, friend, yes, in this land.
Fortune's smile, a fickle lie,
no friend, no, beneath the sky.
A simple bread, our work's reward,
yes, friend, yes, at the Lord's board.
And free cream, a treacherous call,
no friend, no, lest you fall.
Greed that steals what is not due,
greed that feeds on what is new.
We polishers, with hearts so bright.
Pause, oh stranger, white and gray.
We've waited long, our hopes alight,
we polishers, with hearts so bright.
Pause, oh traveler, a moment stay.

The priest recites his sacred word,
in Ganges' flow, his soul is stirred.
We chant the mantra of the gut,
to shoes, new light we put.
The priest, a nickel's fee he claims,
we, just a single penny's flames.
Then why this gulf, this bitter sting,
when money's love, all hearts doth swing?
We understand not high nor low,
we polishers, as all do know.
We polishers, with hearts so bright.
Pause, oh stranger, white and gray.
We've waited long, our hopes alight,
we polishers, with hearts so bright.
Pause, oh traveler, a moment stay.