he shyam kahu kaise, hain moh yahaa aise
jaise chandan se, lipate ho naag
tere bhi dwar aake, bhajan tere ga ke
chhute man ka nahi anuraag
ha shyam kahu kaise

chahu bhulana main bisrana
har sapna badnam, har sapna badnam
ho laakh mitaya mit nahi paya
laakh mitaya mit nahi paya
fir bhi kisi ka naam
he shyam he shyam, he shyam kahu kaise

hain jag sara ye banjara, pal do pal ka dham
pal do pal ka dham
o do pal me bhi maya mamta
o do pal me bhi maya mamta
leti hain anchal tham
he shyam he shyam
tere bhi dwar aake, bhajan tere ga ke

How can I speak of you, Shyam, when desire binds so,
As sandalwood embraces the serpent's coil?
Before your gates I arrive, singing your praise,
Yet the heart's devotion refuses to unbind.
How can I speak of you?

I yearn to forget, to cast off,
Each dream defiled, each dream defiled.
Though I erase a thousand times, it will not fade,
Though I erase a thousand times, it will not fade,
Still the name of another lingers.
O Shyam, O Shyam, how can I speak of you?

The world, a transient traveler, a fleeting stay,
A fleeting stay.
And even in those fleeting moments, illusion and attachment,
And even in those fleeting moments, illusion and attachment,
Grasp tightly at the hem of my garment.
O Shyam, O Shyam.
Before your gates I arrive, singing your praise.