pardes me jake tu piya pardesi bhaya
ho pardes me jake tu piya pardesi bhaya tu kahe pardesi bhaya
meri janam janam ki prit tu kaise bhul gaya tu kahe pardesi bhaya

jana tha humse dur to kahe prit bhadai o humse prit bhadai
hua dil ka ye shisha chur ye kaisi thokar lagai ye tune thokar lagai
haar ke tere pyar me ye dil maine jaan lutai
haar ke tere pyar me ye dil maine jaan lutai
mere pyar ki kadar na jani tu nikla harjai
jhute sapne dikha ke tu piya pardesi bhaya tu kahe pardesi bhaya
meri janam janam ki prit tu kaise bhul gaya tu kahe pardesi bhaya

dekha videsi rup to desi rang na bhaye ye desi rang na bhaye
ho gore badan ki dhup tere dil ko jalaye haye re haye dil ko jalaye
rat rat bhar gori sautan ke sang ras rachaye
rat rat bhar gori sautan ke sang ras rachaye
teri sawari teri yaad me jal jal ke mar jaye
mujhe jogan bana ke tu piya pardesi bhaya tu kahe pardesi bhaya
meri janam janam ki prit tu kaise bhul gaya tu kahe pardesi bhaya

meri lagan mere mit tujhe bhi tadpayegi ha tujhe tadpayegi
meri kashish meri prit tujhe vapas layegi tujhe vapas layegi
reet rasam ke laaj sharam ke sare bandhan todu
reet rasam ke laaj sharam ke sare bandhan todu
mai jatti punjab di baiya tham ke fir na chhod u
kahe daman chhuda ke tu piya pardesi bhaya tu kahe pardesi bhaya
pardes me jake tu piya pardesi bhaya tu kahe pardesi bhaya
tu kahe pardesi bhaya

Across lands you wandered, my love, a stranger you became,
Oh, across lands you wandered, my love, a stranger you became, why did you become a stranger?
The love of lifetimes, how could you forget, why did you become a stranger?

If parting was your path, why did you ignite love's flame, oh, you lit love's flame?
My heart, a mirror, shattered now, what blow did you impart, what blow did you impart?
Losing all to your love, this heart and soul I gave,
Losing all to your love, this heart and soul I gave.
My love's worth you never knew, a deceiver you proved to be.
False dreams you gave, my love, a stranger you became, why did you become a stranger?
The love of lifetimes, how could you forget, why did you become a stranger?

Foreign beauty you embraced, native hues displeasing, oh, native hues displeasing.
The fair-skinned dawn, it burns your heart, alas, your heart it burns, alas, alas!
Night after night, with fair-skinned rivals, you dance and revel,
Night after night, with fair-skinned rivals, you dance and revel.
Your dark-skinned one, in your memory, burns and wastes away.
A mendicant you made me, my love, a stranger you became, why did you become a stranger?
The love of lifetimes, how could you forget, why did you become a stranger?

My devotion, my beloved, will torment you too, yes, torment you too.
My longing, my love, will bring you back to me, bring you back to me.
The customs, the shame, the bonds, I'll break them all,
The customs, the shame, the bonds, I'll break them all.
A Punjabi maiden, I, your arm I'll hold, and never let go.
Why, fleeing my embrace, my love, a stranger you became, why did you become a stranger?
Across lands you wandered, my love, a stranger you became, why did you become a stranger?
Why did you become a stranger?