ek pal ka jina phir to hai jaana
There's only a moment to life, and then we must depart.

tohfa kya leke jaaye dil yeh bata na
What gift can we take as we go? Heart, tell us this!

ek pal ka jina phir to hai jaana
There's only a moment to life, and then we must depart;

tohfa kya leke jaaye dil yeh bata na
What gift can we take as we go? Heart, tell us this!

khaali haath aaye the ham khaali haath jaayeinge
We came empty-handed; empty-handed we shall go;

bas pyaar ke do mithe bol jhilmilaayeinge
only a few sweet words of love will (continue to) shimmer.

to hans hai kyonki duniya ko hai hansaana
So laugh, because one has to laugh at this world!

ae mere dil tu gaaye ja...
Oh, my heart, keep singing...

aankhon mein dilbar ka sapna bhi hai
In our eyes there's also a dream of the beloved.

haan koi sapna bhi hai
Yes, there's some dream

duniya mein mera koi apna bhi hai
that in this world someone exists who belongs to us,

haan koi apna bhi hai
yes, someone of our own.

ek chehara khaas hai jo dil ke paas hai
There's a special face that the heart cherishes;

honthon pe pyaas hai milne ki aas hai
the lips thirst in hope of a meeting.

dilbaron ka magar kahaan koi thikaana
But where is the abode of the beloved ones?

ae mere dil tu gaaye ja...
Oh, my heart, keep singing...

o jivan khushiyon ka ek jhonka sa hai
Oh, life is like a fleeting breeze of joys;

haan koi jhonka sa hai
yes, it's like some gust of wind.

aur yeh jhonka ek dhoka sa hai
And this breeze is like a betrayal;

haan koi dhoka sa hai
yes, it's like some deception.

yeh kaisi hai khushi jal jalke jo bujhi
For what sort of happiness is this, which, flaring up, is extinguished?

bujh bujhke jo jali milke bhi na mili
Which, flaring up, is extinguished, which having been found is not even [bad word] possessed?

doston par kisi haal mein na ghabaraana
No matter what your condition, never be alarmed amongst friends.

ae mere dil tu gaaye ja...
Oh, my heart, keep singing...

ek pal ka jina phir to hai jaana
There's only a moment to life, and then one must depart.

tohfa kya leke jaaye dil yeh bata na
What gift can we take as we go? Heart, tell us this!

khaali haath aaye the ham khaali haath jaayeinge
We came empty-handed; empty-handed we shall go;

bas pyaar ke do mithe bol jhilmilaayeinge
only a few sweet words of love will (continue to) shimmer.

to hans hai kyonki duniya ko hai hansaana
So laugh, because one has to laugh at this world!

ae mere dil tu gaaye ja...
Oh, my heart, keep singing...