I recently rediscovered the timeless songs of Hemant Kumar while watching Neo Noir Bollywood classics like Kohraa, Bees Saal Baad, Solva Saal, Baat Ek Raat Ki.
Starting this Post with a new remix of the eternal midnight song – Ye Nayan Dare Dare from the film – Kohraa (1964).
Do not overlook my misery, by blandishing your eyes and weaving tales,
Ke taab-e-hijran nadaram ay jaan,
Na leho kahe lagaye chatiyan.
My patience has over-brimmed, O sweetheart! why do you not take me to your bosom.
Shaban-e-hijran daraz chun zulf,
Wa roz-e-waslat cho umer kotah.
Long like curls in the night of separation short like life on the day of our union.
Sakhi piya ko jo main na dekhun,
To kaise kaTun andheri ratiyan.
My dear, how will I pass the dark dungeon night without your face before.
Yakayak az dil do chashm-e-jadu,
Basad farebam baburd taskin.
Suddenly, using a thousand tricks the enchanting eyes robbed me of my tranquil mind.
Kisay pari hai jo ja sunave,
Piyare pi ko hamari batiyan,
Who would care to go and report this matter to my darling.
Cho shama sozan cho zaraa hairan,
Hamesha giryan be ishq an meh.
Tossed and bewildered, like a flickering candle, I roam about in the fire of love.
Na nind naina na ang chaina,
Na aap aaven na bhejen patiyan,
Sleepless eyes, restless body, neither comes she, nor any message.
Bahaq-e-roz-e-visaal-e-dilbar,
Ke daad mara gharib Khusro.
In honour of the day I meet my beloved who has lured me so long, O Khusro!
Sapet man ke varaye rakhun,
Jo jaye pauN piya ke khatiyan.
I shall keep my heart suppressed if ever I get a chance to get to her trick.
Poet :- Amir Khusro
Singer :- Onlineem
This poem written by Amir Khusro is Macaronic using Persian and Brij Bhasha. In the first verse, the first line is in Persian, the second in Brij Bhasha, the third in Persian again, and the fourth in Brij Bhasha.
Here’s another soulful rendition by Chaya Ganguli from the Muzaffar Ali album Husn-e-Jana
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds * that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As ev’ry fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way
But now it’s just another show
You leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away
I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all
I first heard the cover of this song by Neil Diamond and then the original. This one still stands the test of time after being written in 1967. Also found on the soundtrack of Love Actually.
One of Simon & Garfunkel’s dreamy poetic experiment.
What a dream I had
Pressed in organdy
Clothed in crinoline of smoky Burgundy
Softer than the rain.
I wandered empty streets
Down past the shop displays
I heard cathedral bells
Tripping down the alley ways
As I walked on
And when you ran to me
Your cheeks flushed with the night
We walked on frosted fields of juniper and lamplight
I held your hand
And when I awoke and felt you warm and near
I kissed your honey hair with my grateful tears
Oh I love you, girl
Oh, I love you
Simon & Garfunkel ‘s lesser known song but shines because of Garfunkel’s pristine vocals and Simon’s poetic writing. Hope they found their Emily’s .
Don Mclean plays some cool fingerpicking on this song from his 1970 debut album , Tapestry.
And I love you so
The people ask me how
How I’ve lived till now
I tell them I don’t know
I guess they understand
How lonely life has been
But life began again
The day you took my hand
And yes I know how lonely life can be
The shadows follow me
And the night won’t set me free
But I don’t let the evening get me down
Now that you’re around me
And you love me too
Your thoughts are just for me
You set my spirit free
I’m happy that you do
The book of life is brief
And once a page is read
All but love is dead
That is my belief
And yes I know how loveless life can be
The shadows follow me
And the night won’t set me free
But I don’t let the evening bring me down
Now that you’re around me
And I love you so
The people ask me how
How I’ve lived till now
I tell them I don’t know
Don Mclean is best known for the cryptic – American Pie & Vincent. Here is one of his ballads played to some nifty picking. Folk singers are great with the guitar ! Gotta learn it someday.
By the way , did you know the the song “Killing me Softly with his Song” was actually written about him.
Nayyara Noor is a Ghazal singer more identified with tragic or sad Ghazals. She has sung some classic poetry on the soundtrack of the evergreen TV series “Dhoop Kinare”.
Raat Youn Dil Mein Teri
raat yuuN dil meN terii khoyii hu’ii yaad aayii
jaise viiraane meN chupke se bahaar aa jaaye
jaise sehraaoN meN hauley se chale baad-e-nasiim
jaise biimaar ko be-vajh qaraar aa jaaye
Last night your faded memory came to me
As in the wilderness spring comes quietly
As, slowly, in the desert, moves the breeze
As, to a sick man, without cause, comes peace
Poet : Faiz Ahmad Faiz Music : Arshad Mehmood Soundtrack : Dhoop Kinare Translation : Vikram Seth
An instant classic and perhaps Faiz’s best known Sher. It was used by Shammi Kapoor to woo Rajshree during his Yahoo days in one of his hits – Janwar.
dast-afshaaN chalo, mast-o-raqsaaN chalo
Khaak-bar-sar chalo, Khuun-baa-damaaN chalo
raah taktaa hai sab shah’r-e-janaaN chalo
aaj baazaar meN paa-bajaulaaN chalo
dast-e-afshaaN : swinging hands mast-o-raqsaaN : dancing in trance Khaak-bar-sar : kicking the dust khuun-baa-damaaN : blood on sleeves shah’r-e-janaaN : city of the beloved
haakim-e-shah’r : ruler of the city majmaa-e-aam : the crowd of common people tiir-e-ilzaam : arrow of accusation sang-e-dushnam : the stones on road subh-e-nashaad : the sad morning roz-e-nakaam : the unsucessful day
in kaa damsaaz apne sivaa kaun hai
shah’r-e-jaanaN meN ab baa-safaa kaun hai
dast-e-qaatil ke shaayaaN rahaa kaun hai
damsaaz : friend baa-safaa : sincere dast-e-qaatil : hands of the murderer shaayaaN : worthy
rakht-e-dil baandh lo, dil figaaro chalo
phir hamiiN qatl ho aayeN yaaro chalo.
aaj baazaar meN paa-bajaulaaN chalo
rakht-e-dil : heart beats dil figaaro : broken hearted
Poet : Faiz Ahmad Faiz
Even if one doesn’t know Urdu, here is an example why it can still be a joy to listen.
Hansi Khanakti Hui
Hansi Khanakti Hui, Ya bujhi bujhi khushiyan
Hain dosti ki mehek se , Rachi hui ghadhiyan
Maza anokha sa hai, Aate jaate lamhon mein
Kitabein god mein phaili, Phir khoye baaton mein
Rafaqaton mein khazana, Jo humne paya hai
Na dil pe bojh hai koi, Na gham ka saya hai
Hume ye dhun hai ke khushbu ,Ko hum toh dekheinge
Yaqeen hai ke sitaroon, Ko badh ke chooleinge
Khula ye raaz bicharna, Bhi tha baharoon ko
Kisi ke hath nahin, Choo sake sitaroon ko
Kabhi dareecho mein shammay, Jo hum jalate hain
Toh geet lehje khayaloon, Mein gungunate hain
Poet : Hasan Akber Kamal Music : Arshad Mehmood Soundtrack : Dhoop Kinare
It took me forever to search the complete version of this song. The soundtrack doesn’t have the last two couplets. It wasn’t available on any of the search engines, underground music sites, torrents. Finally got this through email from another Fan.
Music & Lyrics 