Shiv Kumar Batalvi's - "PaNCHi Ho JaavaaN - To Be A Bird" (Presentation - Desh Ratna)

PaNCHi Ho JaavaaN Jee chaahe paNCHi ho jaavaaN, UDda jaavaaN, gaaoNda jaavaaN, An-CHuh sikharaaN nu CHoo paavaaN, Is duniya deeyaaN raaHvaaN bhul ke Pher kade na vaapas aavaaN. Ja ashnaan karaaN vich jam-jam La DeekaaN peeyaaN Daan da paani. Maan-sarovar de bahi kaNDHe TuTa jiha ik geet maeN gaavaaN. Ja baeTHaaN vich khiReeyaaN roeeyaaN PhakaaN pauna itar-sajoeeyaaN. Him-TeesiyaaN moiyaaN moiyaaN YugaaN yugaaN toN kakar hoiyaaN Ghut kaleje maeN garmaavaaN. Jee chaahe paNCHi ho jaavaaN. Hoe aahlna vich shatootaaN, JaaN vich jaND, kareer, sarooTaaN, Aaon pure de seet faraaTe, Lachkaare iyuN laen DaaliyaaN JyuN koi Doli kheDe jaReeyaaN Vaal khalaari lae lae jhooTaaN. Ik din aesa jhakaR jhule UD puD jaavan sabhe teele Be-ghar be-dar maeN ho jaavaaN. Saari umar peeyaaN ras gham da Aese nashe vich jiNd haNDaavaaN, Jee chaahe paNCHi ho jaavaaN.

PaNCHi Ho JaavaaN - To Be A Bird I wish that I could be a bird That I could fly, that I could sing, That I could touch untouchable peaks, That I could forget the roads of the world, And never return. I would bath luxuriously Drinking long sips of water. By the shore of a great lake, I would sing a halting song. I would go into a flowering wilderness Gulp the perfume laden winds. I would warm in a tight embrace, The peaks of mountains, Deadened by centuries of freezing cold. I wish that I could be a bird. My nest would be among the mulberry trees, On in the caper, the mesquite or the cypress. When the cold east wind blew The jewelled branches would bend As if playing, swaying With their hair flying in the wind. One day there would be a storm And all the twigs would all scatter. Nestless, homeless, I would become, For the rest of my life I would drink the nectar of sorrow And live my life in its intoxication. I wish that I could be a bird.