baja berukhi hai ye sarkar ki
baja berukhi hai ye sarkar ki
ke mai chiz hu ek bazar ki
tawaif kaha kisi ke sath mohabbat karti hai
tawaif kaha kisi ke sath mohabbat karti hai
magar jab karti hai
magar jab karti hai to haye kayamat karti hai
tawaif kaha kisi ke sath mohabbat karti hai
magar jad karti hai to haye kayamat karti hai
tawaif kaha kisi ke sath mohabbat karti hai

gustakhi maf mere lab par aaya hai nam shrifo ka
gustakhi maf mere lab par aaya hai nam shrifo ka
kahte hai jisko log wafa wo to hai kam sarifo ka
tawaif kaha kisi ke sath sharafat karti hai
tawaif kaha kisi ke sath sharafat karti hai
magar jad karti hai to haye kayamat karti hai
tawaif kaha kisi ke sath mohabbat karti hai

kuch or nahi me kar sakti bas ruth ke me reh jaati hu
kuch or nahi me kar sakti bas ruth ke me reh jaati hu
jab log mujhe thukrat hai tab tut ke me reh jaati hu
tawaif kaha kisi se kabhi shikayat karti hai
tawaif kaha kisi se kabhi shikayat karti hai
magar jab karti hai to haye hayamat karti hai
tawaif kaha kisi ke sath mohabbat karti hai

mai laz sharam ke parde se fir bahar kabhi na aaungi
mai laz sharam ke parde se fir bahar kabhi na aaungi
bas ek ishara tum kar do
bas ek ishara tum kar do mai ghunghat me chup jaungi
tawaif kaha tawayaf se bagawat karti hai
tawaif kaha tawayaf se bagawat karti hai
magar jab karti hai
magar jab karti hai to haye kayamat karti hai
tawaif kaha kisi ke sath mohabbat karti hai

The state's indifference, a hollow decree,
The state's indifference, a hollow decree,
For I am a trinket, a market's decree.

A courtesan, they say, cannot truly love,
A courtesan, they say, cannot truly love,
Yet when she does, oh, the havoc she weaves,
A courtesan, they say, cannot truly love.

Forgive my lips, for a virtuous name has flown,
Forgive my lips, for a virtuous name has flown,
What they call loyalty, is for the high and known.
A courtesan, they say, cannot truly love,
Yet when she does, oh, the havoc she weaves,
A courtesan, they say, cannot truly love.

I can do no more, but seethe and retreat,
I can do no more, but seethe and retreat,
When they cast me aside, I shatter, incomplete.
A courtesan, does she ever complain?
A courtesan, does she ever complain?
Yet when she does, oh, the havoc she weaves,
A courtesan, they say, cannot truly love.

From modesty's veil, I shall never emerge,
From modesty's veil, I shall never emerge,
Just give the sign,
Just give the sign, and I'll vanish, submerged.
A courtesan, does she rebel against her kind?
A courtesan, does she rebel against her kind?
Yet when she does,
Yet when she does, oh, the havoc she weaves,
A courtesan, they say, cannot truly love.