ye daulat bhi le lo, ye shohrat bhi le lo
bhale chhin lo mujhse meri jawaani
magar mujhko lauta do bachpan ka sawan
wo kagaj ki kashti, wo barish ka pani
wo kagaj ki kashti, wo barish ka pani

mohalle ki sabse nishani purani
wo budhiya jise bache kahte the nani
wo nani ki baato mein pariyo ka dera
wo chehre ki jhuriya mein sadiyo ka phera
bhulaye nahi bhul sakta hain koi
bhulaye nahi bhul sakta hain koi
wo chhoti si raate wo lambi kahani
wo chhoti si raate wo lambi kahani

kadi dhup me apne ghar se nikalna
wo chidiya wo bulbul wo titli pakadna
wo gudiya ki shadi pe ladna jhagdna
wo jhulo se girna wo gir ke sambhalna
wo pipal ke chhalo ke pyare se tohfe
wo pipal ke chhalo ke pyare se tohfe
wo tuti huyi chudiyo ki nishani
wo kagaj ki kashti, wo barish ka pani
wo kagaj ki kashti, wo barish ka pani
wo kagaj ki kashti, wo barish ka pani

Take this wealth, and take this fame,
Even steal youth's fleeting flame.
But grant me back, a summer's grace,
Of childhood's rain, in time and space.
The paper boats, the rain's soft kiss,
The paper boats, the rain's soft kiss.

The ancient sign, the street's embrace,
Old woman, "Nani," time could not erase.
In Nani's tales, the fairylands reside,
In wrinkles etched, the centuries ride.
Forgotten, never to be lost,
Forgotten, never to be lost,
The short lived nights, the stories wide,
The short lived nights, the stories wide.

From sun-scorched home, the spirit free,
To chase the bird, the bloom, the bee.
The doll's wedding, a bitter fight,
From swings we'd fall, then rise to the light.
The rings of brass, a cherished prize,
The rings of brass, a cherished prize,
The shattered bangles, a love's sign,
The paper boats, the rain's soft kiss,
The paper boats, the rain's soft kiss,
The paper boats, the rain's soft kiss.