Lyrics of Coke Studio Season 3 – Episode 1 ‘Reason’

Karavan – Yaadein [ Download Audio | Video ]

Karavan are pioneering rockers and in their stint here can be described as the classic rockers of Pakistan. Making their first appearance here, they sing ‘Yaadein’, a pop-rock number. The song is about memories and how they fade, and is played out by the original band along with Omran Shafique, Jaffer Ali Zaidi and Javed Iqbal from the house band. It’s mature rock music at its best: the slow tempo, melody, acoustic sound, along with its conciseness add to its appeal.

Koi naa kahay
Koi bhi na sunay
Dil ki baat yeh
Dil mein hee rahay
Yaadein naa rahain
Chaahoon aisa mein toh
Naa yaad ho mujh ko mera maazi

Na hee saamnay manzil raastay
Jo bhee saath thay, lootay waastay
Yaadein na rahain
Aisa bikhra mein bhee iss haal mein
Bojhal raatein meri
Yaadein naa rahain

Kaisi majboori hai
Kitna zaroori hai
Kay jivan ki taptee iss dhop mein ho
Jo saaya, saaya
Ho saaya, saaya

Kyun yeh dil kahay
Tooh phir aamplay
saanson mein rahay
Aakhon mein wasay
Aur na hon judaa

Zeb and Haniya – Bibi Sanam Jaanem [ Download Audio | Video ]

‘Bibi Sanam Janem’ is another one out of Zeb and Haniya’s quirky, off-beat repertoire. This season the duo brings yet another folk Dari love song, whose variants can be heard well off into Central Asia. While the song has been sung in the traditional Behravi raag, the syncopation has lent a groovy feel to it. Indeed, the house band is at its most experimental in this track in this episode, without compromising on the sweetness of the song.
The duo felt that they could reach out to a larger audience across Central Asia, since ‘Bibi Sanam Janem’ is popular – more importantly, since music allows such possibilities of connecting and relating.
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When Zeb and Haniya initially thought of doing ‘Bibi Sanam Janem’, they had a Bossa Nova groove in mind and it was from there that the whole musical composition was built on. Contrasted with ‘Paimona’, their Dari number last season, there are some differences and similarities. For instance, both ‘Paimona’ and ‘Bibi Sanam’ have rubab openings but while Paimona had stuck to its original rhythm format, in ‘Bibi Sanam’ they have experimented with it, and jazzed it up with instrumentation.

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Ba darwazae tajh quran jayee sanam janem
Your being borders on the divine, my love

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Ba darwazae tajh quran jayee sanam janem
Ba darwazae tajh quran jayee sanam janem
Your being borders on the divine, my love

Kassi harfe dile maa ra nadaanist
What I feel for you, no one is privy to it

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Bahaaie mahafele maa ra nadaanist
No one can fathom the depths or value this love

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Ba joz tofaan kassi dar shehr-e-ghurbat
The wild storms crashing down on strange, distant cities

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Nishaan-e mahafel-e maa ra nadaanist
Only they know the true worth of our love

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstan
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Ba darwazae tajh quran jayee sanam janem
Ba darwazae tajh quran jayee sanam janem
Your being borders on the divine, my love

Na mekhawahm ke be taabat bebinom
Not ever would I want you to be sad

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Dilam khwahad ke shadaab att bebinam,
All I ever need is that you be happy and content

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Nadeedam man ba bedaari rukhat ra
Even if all the flowers in the world wilt and wither away

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Magar hamchu pari khwaabat bebinom
That love I have for you in my heart will not fade

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Ba darwazae tajh quran jayee sanam janem
Ba darwazae tajh quran jayee sanam janem
Your being borders on the divine, my love

Dil-e-naazok tar az andisha darum
What my heart feels is far mellower than my thoughts

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan

Hawaie mottadel chun re sha darum
There will never be a moment when I won’t yearn for you

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem

Hama gul hai e aalaam barge e khoshkad
Bibi, believe me, your love is deeply rooted in my heart

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem

Tu dar baagh e kheialem reesha dary
Even if all the flowers in the world wither….

Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Ba darwazae tajh quran jayee sanam janem
Ba darwazae tajh quran jayee sanam janem
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Bibi sanam janem, anaar-e-sisstanem
Ba darwazae tajh quran jayee sanam janem
My love, you are like the sweet pomegranate of Sistan
And your being borders on the divine….

Arif Lohar & Meesha Shafi – Alif Allah [ Download Audio | Video ]

Kalam e Sultan Bahu

Again a Sufic track, some lyrics have been borrowed from Arif Lohar’s father Alam Lohar’s works while others are derived from folk stories and songs. The track’s central philosophy is the promotion of peace and love for mankind. The track is also a cross blending of people of this country and will long be remembered for its seamless merging of modernity and tradition. Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi compliment each others’ styles effortlessly, and the charged atmosphere with the infectiously positive energy permeating is hard to miss. Music wise, it is folksy yet funky: where Lohar clanks his trademark chimta, Meesha lends her powerful vocals and Gumby wows all with his thunderous drumming.

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The collaboration had actually come about on the request of Meesha Shafi. “I am a huge fan of Arif Lohar; I feel he is a rock star and has tremendous energy. [I thought] his voice and my voice would be very interesting to put together. [And the end piece] with the energy and visually has been interesting. I was glad that I was given this opportunity by Coke Studio. My image might become versatile — a lot of people don’t expect a girl who looks a certain way to sound a certain way. I speak my languages well, be it Urdu or Punjabi, and am very proud of it.”

According to Rohail Hyatt, the song worked to change the mindsets of some house band members too. “There were some members who did not like to play a desi tune. They felt it was too cheesy… but as we rehearsed, their perceptions changed. Desi can be cool too!”

Alif allah chambay di booti, tey meray murshid mann vich lai hoo
My master has planted the fragrant seed of love in my heart

Ho nafi uss baat da paani dey kay
Which flourished with modesty, piety and acceptance of his existence

Har ragaay harjai hoo
My God is present in every throbbing pulse

Ho joog joog jeevay mera murshid sohna
My spiritual guide is ever-present

Hatay jiss ay booti lai ho
The one who blew life into me

(chorus # 1)
Pir meraya jugni ji
I have the spirit of my guide

Ae way allah waliyan di jugni ji
The spirit of all the messengers who brought His message to this Earth

Ae way nabbi pak di jugni ji
The spirit of Holy Prophet

Ae way maula ali wali jugni ji
The spirit of Ali and his followers

Ae way meray pir di jugni ji
The spirit of my saint

Ae way saaray sabaz di jugni ji
The spirit of all his words

Dum gutkoon, dum gutkoon, dum gutkoon, dum gootkun… karay Saeein
Everytime I think of you God, my heart flutters

Parhay tay kalma nabi da Parhay saeein pir merya
So I recite the kalma whenever I think of God

(chrous #1 repeat)

Jugni taar khaeein vich thaal
O my creation, share whatever you have

Chad duniya dey janjaal
Remove yourself from worldly concerns

Kuch ni nibna bandiya naal
There is nothing that you can get from other human beings that you can take to the after-life
(repeat)

Rakhi saabat sidh amaal
Just keep you actions and intentions pure

(chorus # 1 repeat)

Jugni dig payee vich roi
So absorbed was the creation that she stumbled into a ditch

Othay ro ro kamli hoi
There she wailed relentlessly

Oddi vaath naye lainda koi
But there was no one who enquired about her
(repeat)

Tey kalmay binna nai mildi toi
Remember, there is no salvation for anyone without remembering your creator
(chorus #1 repeat)

Ho wanga charha lo kuriyon
Put on your bangles, girls

Meray daata dey darbaar dian
Those that you get at your Master’s shrines
(repeat)

Ho naa kar teeya khair piyari
Daughter, don’t be proud of your youth

Maan daindiya galaryaan
Your mother scoffs and scolds you

Din din talhi juwani jaandi
That with each passing day, your youth slips by

Joon sohna puthia lariyaan
Even gold when put in the furnance moulds itself, there is absolutely no permanence

Aurat marad, shehzaday sohney
Women, men are like so beautiful

O moti, O laa lariyaan
Like pearls, like the gems

Sir da sarfa kar naa jairey
Those who are not self-centered

Peen prem pya lariyan
They are the ones who truly love the humanity

O daatay day darbaan chaa akho
Whenever you visit the darbar of any saint

Pawan khair sawa lariyan
God fulfils all your wishes and showers you with his blessings

(arif plus meesha)
(chorus 2)

O wanga charha lo kuriyon meray daata tey darbar diyan
Put on your bangles, girls … Those that you get at your Master’s shrines

O wangha charha lo kuriyon meray daata tey darbar diyan
Put on your bangles, girls … Those that you get at your Master’s shrines
(chorus 2 repeat)

Dum gutkoon, dum gutkoon, dum gootkoon, gootkoon gootkon
(chorus 1 repeat)
Jugni ji
Jugni ji
Jugni ji…

Arieb Azhar – Monh Aai Baat Na Raindee Hai [ Download Audio | Video ]

Kalam e Bulleh Shah

The season opener for Coke Studio 2010, ‘Na Raindee Hai’ has been rendered by Arieb Azhar. Penned by twelfth century Punjabi mystic Baba Bulleh Shah, the kalam talks of man’s desire to speak of realities and how that desire is hard to be shackled. Meticulous enunciation, an unwavering voice, a distinct tone, Azhar brings it all into this performance and is well complemented by the house band. The music for the poetry recital has been kept loungish-ambient, so that the piece has a reflective quality to it.

For those unaware, poetry recitation actually led to the ghazal form of singing and is unheard in contemporary works being produced of late. ‘Na Raindee Hai’ is an attempt on Coke Studio’s part to revive an ancient Persian oratory form that has been forgotten.

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Arieb Azhar was the first artist to be contacted, the first whose rehearsals, recording, editing and mixing took place. It was all by sheer coincidence and it was deemed fitting that Azhar starts the season. The music for ‘Na Raindee Hai’ was composed after listening to the lyrics Azhar brought on Rohail Hyatt’s request to do a poetry recital, and has been kept lounge-esque to maintain a reflective quality.

Producer Rohail Hyatt explains: “Lounge music is supposed to be relaxing. Its beat has to be around the natural heartbeat. In fact, the beats and tempo (slow versus fast) are perceived by us on the basis of the natural beat. So lounge music is all about slowing it down, so that in a relaxed state one pays more attention. If the beat is any faster, then we become hyper as well, and that is not suited for a recitation.”

Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
What’s on the tongue must be said
What’s on the tongue must be said

Jhoott aakhaan kuch bachda ae
I speak untrue and something remains

Sach aakhaan baambar machda ae
I speak the truth and the fire is lit

Donhaan galaan toun ji jachda ae
I am afraid of both outcomes

Jach jach ke jibhaan kehndi ae
Apprehensively my tongue quivers

Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
What’s on the tongue must be said

(chorus) Aaaa, Oooo

Jiss paya bheit qalandar da
Who puts on the garb of the dervish

Raah khojya apne andar da
Burrows the way into his self

O waasi hai sukh mandar da
Will inherit the temple of peace

Jithay charhdi ae na laindi ae
Where there is no rise or fall

Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
What’s on the tongue must be said

(chorus) Na Raindee Ae

Ik laazim baat adab di ae
A point to be noted if I may

Saanu baat maloomi sab di ae
I know the secret of all

Har har vich soorat rabb di ae
Inside each is the face of the lord

Kitte zaahir kitte chhup behndi ae
Flowing apparent somewhere hidden

Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
What’s on the tongue must be said

(chorus) Ooooo

Ae tilkan baazi vehrha ae
The world is a slippery place

Thamm thamm ke ttur anhera ae
Tread carefully for ‘tis dark

Varh andar wekho kehrha ae
Go inside see who’s there

Kyun khalkat baahar ddhunddindi ae
Why do the people search outside

Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
What’s on the tongue must be said

(chorus) aaaaa, ooo

Bullah shou asaan toun vakh nahi
Bullah, the beloved is not separate from us

Bin shou te dujja kakh nahi
Besides the beloved there is naught

Parr vekhan vaali akh nahi
But the discerning eye is missing

Taain jaan judaiyaan sehndi ae
Therefore life endures separation

Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
Munh aayi baat na rehndi ae
What’s on the tongue must be said

Parh parh ilm kitaabaan da tu naam rakh leya qaazi
Learning through the rote of books you call yourself a scholar

Hath vich parh ke talvaaraan tu naam rakh leya ghaazi
Grasping the sword in your hand you call yourself a warrior

Makke Madinay ghoom aya tu naam rakh leya haaji
Having visited Mecca and Medina you call yourself a pilgrim

Bullah tu ki haasil kita je yaar na rakhya raazi!
Bullah, what have you accomplished if you have not remained true to your friend!

(Translation by Arieb Azhar)

Abida Parveen – Ramooz e Ishq [ Download Audio | Video ]

kalam by Hazrat Baidam Shah Warsi

Iconic Abida Parveen graces the Coke Studio platform this season. Parveen is well-known for her Sufi works and at Coke Studio she brings some never-before heard combination of Sufi kaafis and doahs. Unlike the rest of her repertoire, ‘Ramooz-e-Ishq’ is in Urdu (also popularly titled ‘Mein Hun Mashhoor’), and dwells on the love man has for his Creator. The piece has been composed in such a way so that the emphasis remains on the Sufi message. So even as the entire Eastern-Western house band plays music – violin, bass, drums, keyboard et al – the sounds being produced are very subtle during her renditions. The focus is entirely on the singing and giving Parveen space to express herself. The individual instruments, such as Gumby crashing on the cymbals, can be heard in between the pauses and one cannot help but appreciate the quality of each.

Ho, jee maula, maula, maula, maula, maula
Mera maula, maula
O my creator… my lord…

Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein
I am famous for my affair with Him

Khaasa dard-o-gham majaazi mein
(For that love) infinite sorrows and pain have been repressed

Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein (repeat)
I am famous for my affair with Him

Khaasa dard-o-gham majaazi mein
(For that love) infinite sorrows and pain have been repressed

Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein
I am famous for my affair with Him

Maula, maula…

Woh meh dey dey, jo pehlay Shibli aur Mansoor ko di thee
Give me the potion that you gave to Shibli and Mansoor

Toh baydam bhi, nisar-e-murshid-e-meh khana ho jaye
So that I (Baidam) am also intoxicated by this wine

Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein (repeat)
I am famous for my affair with Him

Mattab-e-ishq ka dastoor nirala dekha (repeat)
The tradition of loving God is unique indeed

Uss ko chutti na milli jis nay sabaq yaad kiya
He who loved God the most, could never be idle again

Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein
I am famous for my affair with Him

Khaasa dard-o-gham majaazi mein
(For that love) infinite sorrows and pain have been repressed

Maqani hoon, Maqani hoon, kay azad-e-makaan hoon
I am free, I am shelter-less

Jahan hoon khud saara jahan hoon
Wherever I am, I am the whole universe

Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein (repeat)
I am famous for my affair with Him

Maula, Maula, meri murshid maula
Murshid maula, maula, maula

Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein (repeat)
I am famous for my affair with Him

Woh apni laa-maqani mein rahain mast
And though God has no abode but his creation’s heart

Mujhay itna bata dey mein kahan hoon
All I want to know is that where do I reside?

Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein
I am famous for my affair with Him

Arz-o-sama kahan teri wussat ko paa sakay
The sky and earth, and everything in between, cannot contain your being

Arz-o-sama , Arz-o-sama
The sky and earth, the sky and earth…

Maula, maula, maula, meray maula, maula

Arz-o-sama kahan teri wussat ko paa sakay
The sky and earth, and everything in between, cannot contain your being

Mera hee dil hai jahan tu sama sakay
It is only my heart where you can reside

Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein
Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein
Khaasa dard-o-gham majaazi mein
Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein
Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein

Yahan hona naa hona hai,
Yahan hona naa hona hai,
Naa hona hai,
Yahan hona naa hona hai,
Yahan hona naa hona hai,
But where God lives, I am just a speckle there

Jissay hona ho kuch khaati darri jaana ho jae
For him who wants to have a presence, it’s only dust (ash) at his threshold, which can have alms

Mein hoon mashhoor ishq baazi mein
Khaasa dard-o-gham
Khaasa dard-o-gham majaazi mein
Mein hoon mashhoor

Maula ali ali ali, maula ali, aali,aali,
Yaari yaari yaari, Yaari yaari yaari
Yaari yaari yaari