gham hai kyun har khushi kam hai kyun yeh bata
har ghadi aankh bhi nam hai kyun yeh bata
tune kis jurm ki payi yeh saja ho
dard se dil ka sangam hai kyun yeh bata
tune kis jurm ki payi yeh saja ho

tujhpe jo sitam huwa dusaro ka pap tha
isame dosh hai tera kya jisape julm ho gaya
usako hi mile saja kis kitab me hai likha
tu kyun odhe sar par iljamo ki chadar
jab ke hai tu hi nirdosh yaha yeh bata
gham hai kyun har khushi kam hai kyun yeh bata
har ghadi aankh bhi nam hai kyun yeh bata

nari jo bhi ho sahe sar jhukaye chup rahe
yeh rawaj hai duniya ka tu yeh rit chhod de
tu yeh rasm tod de yeh ilaaj hai duniya ka
kyun aansu piti hai kyun dukh me jiti hai
kyun aankho me gham ka hai dhuaa yeh bata
gham hai kyun har khushi kam hai kyun yeh bata
har ghadi aankh bhi nam hai kyun yeh bata
tune kis jurm ki payi yeh saja ho

Tell me, why sorrow clings?
Why joy shrinks, its song undone?
Tell me, why tears well, always?
What crime birthed this punishment, won?
Tell me, why grief and heart are one?
What crime birthed this punishment, won?

The torment you bear, another's sin,
What fault is yours, when injustice fell?
Who decreed the victim pay within?
Why don the cloak of blame, a cruel spell?
You, innocent, stand, tell me then,
Why sorrow clings?
Why joy shrinks, its song undone?
Tell me, why tears well, always?

A woman must bear, head bowed, silent, still,
The world's harsh custom, break free from its hold.
Shatter the rite, this world's bitter pill.
Why drink the tears? Why live in sorrow's cold?
Why smokes of grief in your eyes unfold?
Tell me, why sorrow clings?
Why joy shrinks, its song undone?
Tell me, why tears well, always?
What crime birthed this punishment, won?