Lyrics and English Translation of Shiv Kumar Batalavi’s 'Maye Ni Maye Mere Geetan De Nainan Vich'

Recently I heard, 'Maye ni maye mere geetan de nainan vich, birhan di radak pawe' which was written by the great Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi. This song has been sung by countless singers, including one of my favorites Jagjit Singh, Surinder Kaur, Hasraj Hans, but Nusrat Saheeb's (Nusrat Fateh Ali) interpretation is outstanding. It's divine, because I believe he sang it from the depths of his soul. To be honest, I was moved to tears by this song.

It's about a daughter's mental state after her love died on her wedding day. She wakes up in the middle of the night and hugs her mother, sharing her grief, suffering, and agony.

She informs her mother that she is troubled by his separation, that she weeps often, and that she cannot sleep. She requests her mother to ask these mourning songs of separation to stop torturing her at night so that she could sleep in peace.

She always sings sad grieving songs outside in the moonlight on nights to console her heart. Even after sobbing and mourning, she finds no solace. She recalls the period when she was preparing for her wedding.

Lyrics and English Translation of 'Maye Ni Maye Mere Geetan De Nainan Vich'

Maye ni maye mere geetan de nainan vich, birhan di radak pawe..

Adhi adhi raati uth, raun moye mitra nu. Maye sanu neend na pawe..

Mother! O Mother, the eyes of my (mourning) songs sore with pangs of separation.

They (songs) wake up in the middle of the night and weep for my dead love. O Mother, I cannot sleep..

Bhey bhey shugandhiyach, banna phechan ni main, tawi sadi peed na sahe

Kose kose saha wi main, kara je takor maye, sago sanu khawn nu pawe..

Upon them I lay strips of moonlight, soaked in perfume, but the pain does not recede.

I foment them with warm sighs, yet they turn on me ferociously..

Apye ni main balni, main hale aap mata jogi, mat kada isnu dawey

Aakh suni mayeji nu, roye bhool chith ke ni. Jaag kite sun na lawe..

I am still young, and need guidance myself, who can teach me? (not to tease me)

O Mother, tell it to weep with clench his lips, so that the people may not hear it crying

Akh su ni kha laye, tuk hijjran da pakkiya lekhan de nee puthre tave

Ask him to eat the bite of separation baked by destiny on a flipped girdle (metaphorically, separation is equated with an improperly baked loaf of bread).

Chatt lai tarel looni gaman de gulab ton ni kalje nu hausla rahve

Kehriyan saperiyan ton manga kunj mel di main mel di koi kunj na dave..

Lick the salty liquid oozing out of roses of sufferings to give the heart the courage to bear the pain.

Which snake keeper has a skin that does not peel off the snake’s body? No one is giving me skin that stays with the body forever (metaphorically, a snake’s skin is equated with separation that is inevitable).

Kehra ehna damman diyan lobhiyan de daran utte wang khada jogiya rahve

peere ni peere pyar aisi titli hai jehdi sada sool te bahve..

Like an ascetic, who will beg at the door of greedy people to pay such a huge price?

O pain, Love is like a butterfly nailed to a cross forever.

Pyar oh mahal hai nee jihde ch pakherooan de bajh kujh hor na rahe

Pyar aisa aangna hai jihde ch ni vaslan da ratra na palangh dhave..

Love is a palace where no one but the souls lives.

Love is such a courtyard where the bed of nuptial night is never laid..

Akh maye adhi adhi raati moye mittran de uchi uchi na na lave

mate sade moyan pichhon jag eh shreekra nee geetan nu vi chandra kahve..

Tell him not to take the names of dead friends aloud in the middle of the night.

I am afraid that after I am dead, this vicious world would label my song as evil..

-K Himaanshu Shuklaa..