som mangal budh veer sukar shani itvaar
saat dino me hasna chahiye
kam se kam sath sau bar acha dada ha to bacho

zindagi kya hai ek latifa hai
zindagi kya hai ek latifa hai jeene ka bas yahi tarika hai
zindagi kya hai ek latifa hai jeene ka bas yahi tarika hai
to lo to lo to lo ek latifa suno

ek behra ek andha ek langda aur bhikari
jangal me ja rahe the chalte chalte bahre ne kha
dosto rukh jao jara mujhe
choro ke aane ki aawaj sunayi de rahi hai
are doste rukh jao jara mujhe
choro ke aane ki aawaj sunayi de rahi hai
to andhe ne kaha mujhe to
mujhe to chor dhikhayi de rahe hai
to langda bola chalo chalo baag chalte hai
to bhikari bola chalo chalo nahi to mai lut jaunga

zindagi kya hai ek latifa hai jeene ka bas yahi tarika hai
dug dugi baaje dham dham
dham nach bandriya ham cham cham
zindagi kya hai ek latifa hai zindagi kya hai ek latifa hai
jeene ka bas yahi tarika hai to lo to lo to lo ek latifa suno

ek miyaa bibi aathvi manjil pe rehte the
miya daftar jane ke liye ghar se nikala
niche sadak pe aake use yaad aaya are
mera batua to upar rah gaya begum ari begum
mera batua niche fekiye begum ne kaha kya kaha huzur
jara jor se boliye huzur mujhe sunayi nahi diya
miya ke gale me doorbin latki thi use door ki shuji
usne fauran durbin aankho pe
lagayi aur apni begum ka nurani chehra
apne chehre ke pas laker kaha
begum mera batua niche fekh dijiye

zindagi kya hai ek latifa hai
jeene ka bas yahi tarika hai zindagi kya hai ek latifa hai
jeene ka bas yahi tarika hai to lo to lo to lo ek latifa suno

ek aadmi halwayi ki dukan pe gaya usne rupiya faika aur kaha
oye mundiya ek taji aur mitti
lassi bana dukandhar ne kaha abi lo badsah
laasi pite hi us aadmi ko gussa aa gaya usne dukandhar se kaha
tum basi aur khati lassi pila kar garahko ko luthte ho
dukandhar ne kaha huzur gustakhi maf
paise lena mera kaam hai dena mera kam nahi
us aadmi ne kha kaha hai dukan ka malik
huzur vo pas wali dukan me lasi pine gaya hai
zindagi kya hai ek latifa hai jeene ka bas yahi tarika hai

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, brave Wednesday,
Friday, Saturday, the week's full dance.
Seven days to laugh, it is decreed,
Seven hundred times, at least, to prance.
Oh, dear ones, what is life, you see?
A jest, a riddle, a fleeting show.
This is the way, the only key,
To live and let your spirit grow.

So listen, listen, a tale I spin,
A deaf man, blind, and lame, and poor,
Through forest paths, they ventured in.
"Halt!" cried the deaf man, at the door
Of unseen danger, whispers near,
"I hear the thieves, their footsteps fall!"
"I see them!" cried the blind, in fear,
"Approaching, lest they take us all!"

The lame one urged, "Let's flee the fray,
To gardens green, where troubles cease!"
The beggar wailed, "I'll be their prey,
If we do not find our release!"

What is life, you ask again?
A jest, a riddle, a fleeting show.
This is the way, to ease life's pain,
To live and let your spirit grow.

Dug dugi beats, drum and thrum,
The monkey dances, hip and hum.
What is life, you ask again?
A jest, a riddle, a fleeting show.
This is the way, to ease life's pain,
To live and let your spirit grow.

So listen, listen, a tale I tell,
A husband, wife, on eighth floor high,
He left for work, beneath the spell
Of hurried steps, beneath the sky.
He paused, recalled his purse, forgot,
"Beloved, throw it, from above!"
She cried, "My lord, I hear you not!
Speak louder, speak with all your love!"

He wore a scope, to see afar,
He aimed it true, at her dear face,
"My love, my life, my guiding star,
Please throw the purse, with gentle grace!"

What is life, you ask again?
A jest, a riddle, a fleeting show.
This is the way, to ease life's pain,
To live and let your spirit grow.

So listen, listen, a tale unfolds,
A man approached the sweet shop's door,
He tossed a coin, as the story holds,
"A fresh, sweet drink, and nothing more!"
The vendor bowed, "At once, my king!"
He drank, then fury filled his breast,
"You cheat the folk, the sour drink you bring!"
The vendor said, "Forgive, I jest."

"My task is taking, nothing more."
The man then roared, "Where is the head?"
"He's in the shop, across the door,
To drink himself, the drink you spread!"
What is life, you ask again?
A jest, a riddle, a fleeting show.
This is the way, to ease life's pain,
To live and let your spirit grow.