Pehle Lalkare Naal (Translation)

Pehle lalkare naal main dar gayi
The first time he shouted, I got scared.
Dooje lalkare ve andar vad gayi
The second time he did, I stepped right inside.
Teeje lalkare naal nau mera laike
By the third shout, he called out my name…
Siddha aan ke daraan de vich vajjeya
…and came crashing straight through the doors.

Ni pattu firdai
He’s roaming like a love-crazed fool—
Firdai sharab naal rajjeya
—completely drowned in alcohol.
Ni pattu firdai
Yes, totally soaked in it.

Oh, pehla kam vailiyan ne vair khattne
Our first job? Picking fights and claiming rivalry.
Ni dooja kam botalan de datt pattne
Second? Cracking open bottles, stirring chaos.
Haye, teeja kam laini aapaan mull di ladayi
Third? Taking on battles of pride—head-on.
Koi aan ke maayi da laal takkre
Let someone with a lion’s heart dare to face me.

Ni tere dar ‘te…
Now I’m here, shouting at your doorstep—
Dar ‘te bulaunda munda bakre
—the boy’s calling you out like it’s a sacred fight.
Ni tere dar ‘te…
Yes, standing right at your door.

Charkhi tarinjhna ‘ch dehno hatt gayi
I’ve stopped sitting with the women at the spinning wheel.
Haar te shingar laa ke behno hatt gayi
No more dressing up with jewellery and makeup.
(repeats)
Saara-saara din saadi gali vich gede
Now you wander my street all day long,
Bina kam ton fire aivein launda
…loafing around without any purpose.

Ni dubb jaane da
He’s that love-drunk fool—
Chum ke rumaal fadaunda
—kissing his handkerchief and handing it to me like it means something.
Ni dubb jaane da
Hopeless, completely drowned in love.

Oh, tereyan dukhan ‘ch jaavaan vaili banda
Your heartbreak turned me into this street-wandering rebel.
Chaanni ‘chon dekh lai sareer chhan da
Look through the sieve, this body’s been strained and hollowed.
(repeats)
Sulfa, sharab, ‘feem rajj gayi haddan ‘ch
Opium, alcohol, and smoke have seeped into my bones.
Rog dodeyan da bhaida aapaan la leya
I’ve embraced the sickness of heartbreak, made it my curse.

Ni saale nasheyan ne
These cursed intoxicants—
Kundan sareer saara kha leya
—they’ve been eating away my precious body.
Ni saale nasheyan ne
Yes, these damn habits.

Khulle kes bannhan, sir rakh patt ‘te
I tie my loose hair with your head resting in my lap.
Maari ve gandasi kihne teri latt ‘te?
Tell me—who dared to hack your leg with an axe?
(repeats)
Sappan diyan siriyan ‘te khede Chamkila
Chamkila plays atop the heads of snakes—
Kha ke diggeya moye ‘te gede
—and crashes like he’s dead after biting the poison.

Ni jai vaddi da
This mad, daring fool—
Chandri maut nu chhede
—he’s playing with death like it’s just another game.
Ni jai vaddi da
Yeah, this wild guy.

Haye, hor koi tainu je viah ke lai gaya
If someone else marries you…
Jatt da jyona jagg ‘te na reh gaya
…there’s no life left in this Jatt.
(repeats)
Chal mere naal chaar lai laiye laavaan
Come with me—let’s take the four sacred rounds around the fire,
Jitti pyaar di haare na baaji
—because I never lose in the game of love.

Ni chitt karde, karde munde da raaji
Come on, say yes—make this guy’s heart content.
Ni pattu firdai (Haye, karde munda da chitt raaji)
This fool is still roaming (just say yes, make him yours).
Ni pattu firdai (Haye, karde munda da chitt raaji)
He’s still roaming…
Ajj karde
Make it happen—today.