jab se tune bansi bajai re
bairan nindiya churai mere o kanhayi
jab se tune bansi bajai re
bairan nindiya churai mere o kanhayi
natkhat kanha o harjai re kahe pakdi kalai mere o kanhai

vrindawan ki kunj gali me
vrindawan ki kunj gali me main jo badnam hui
sakhiya mohe marrengi tana
sakhiya mohe marrengi tana mohe na chedo are duhai
natkhat kanha o harjai re kahe pakdi kalai mere o kanhai

jamuna tath par aayi akeli
jamuna tath par aayi akeli kahe ko rah gheri
mere bharose nahi raho kanha
mere bharose nahi raho kanha
main to hun naar are parayi are o kanhai
natkhat kanha o harjai re kahe pakdi kalai mere o kanhai

prit ki tu to reet na jane
prit ki tu to reet na jane mujhko madhuban bulaye
tere rang me kyu rang jaun
tere rang me kyu rang jau ghar ghar me hogi are hasai
natkhat kanha o harjai re kahe pakdi kalai mere o kanhai
jab se tune bansi bajai re
bairan nindiya churai mere o kanhayi

Since your flute first called,
Sleep, a thief, has stolen all, my Kanhai.
Since your flute first called,
Sleep, a thief, has stolen all, my Kanhai.
Mischievous Kanha, rogue of heart,
Why clutch my wrist, my Kanhai?

In Vrindavan's hidden lanes,
In Vrindavan's hidden lanes, I am now shamed.
My friends will taunt and scorn,
My friends will taunt and scorn, leave me be, I plead!
Mischievous Kanha, rogue of heart,
Why clutch my wrist, my Kanhai?

By the Jamuna's lonely shore,
By the Jamuna's lonely shore, why block my way?
Do not depend on me, Kanha,
Do not depend on me, Kanha,
I am a stranger, far from you, oh Kanhai!
Mischievous Kanha, rogue of heart,
Why clutch my wrist, my Kanhai?

You know not the ways of love,
You know not the ways of love, yet call me to the grove.
Why should I be colored by your hue?
Why should I be colored by your hue?
Laughter will fill every house, oh!
Mischievous Kanha, rogue of heart,
Why clutch my wrist, my Kanhai?
Since your flute first called,
Sleep, a thief, has stolen all, my Kanhai.