Aamai Bhashaili Re by Alamgir And Fariha Pervez

Lyrics and translation:

Aamaay bhaashaaili re
You have set me adrift

Aamaay ḍoobaaili re
You are causing me to drown

Okool dauriaar boojhi kool naai re
The river seems endless as if there were no shore

Chaahe aandhi aaye re
Chaahe megha chhaaye re
Hamen tu us paar leke jaana maajhi re

Even if a storm comes, or clouds cover the sky, please carry us to the other shore dear boatsman

Kool naai kinaar naai
No border, no shore

Naai ko dauriaar paari
The river has no limits

Shaabdhaane chaalaaiyo maajhi
Steer it most cautiously, boatman

Aamaar bhaanga tori re
This boat of mine with a broken rim

Okool dauriaar boojhi kool naai re
The river seems endless as if there were no shore

Chaahe aandhi aaye re
Chaahe megha chhaaye re
Hamen tu us paar leke jaana maajhi re

Even if a storm comes, or clouds cover the sky, please carry us to the other shore dear boatsman

Na main maangoon sona chaandi, mangoon tose preet

I don't seek gold or silver, only your love

Balma maeeka chod gaye, yahi jagat ki reet

My beloved has left me at my mother's home, and this seems to be the way of the world

Saiyaan bina, saiyaan bina, saiyaan bina
saiyaan bina ghar soona
saiyaan bina ghar soona

The home feels empty without my Beloved

Saawariya na aaye, saawariya
Yaad tihaari, yaad tihaari
Maika jalaaye jiyaara

Your constant thoughts burn my heart with longing

Saiyaan bina ghar soona
Na aaye, na aaye
Jiyaara jalaaye mora
Ho raaja chain jiya naaheen aaye
Chain jiya naaheen aaye

Your absence burns me with longing, and my heart is devoid of any peace.

Credits: Shohini Dasgupta, Biswa Prasun, Sebastian

Reflection

Silence is an ocean. Speech is a river. When the ocean is searching for you, don't walk into the river. Listen to the ocean ~Rumi~

The following song points to a strong musical bond that exists between three countries of the Indian sub-continent – India, Pakistan and Bangladesh through a song in the Bangla language.

‘Amai bhasaili re’ is a Bengali song of the Bhatiali genre, sung by sailors/ fishermen/ boatmen in West Bengal and Bangladesh. They are well known folk songs handed over from generation to generation and are very popular for their simple tune and soulful lyrics. Google search shows this particular song ‘Amai dubaili re, amai bhasaili re’ was a collection of the Bengali poet Jasimuddin and made popular by Abbasuddin Ahmed, the singer from Bangladesh.

This song has simple words but intense meanings. The sailor complains to the river waves that your ups and downs drown me at one time and keep me afloat at another. It seems the shore is distant, however the boat which is broken should not drown. The shore has to be reached. Similar situations in our life makes us boatmen cruising through the turbulent sea of life where our ultimate redemption lies in reaching the end of our life - the death - the shore.

Sailors all over the world sing while rowing to keep off the drudgery. However everywhere their songs reflect the perennial flow of the river, the ups and downs of the waves and how it blends with human life.

Aamai Bhashaili Re

Reflection

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