Song lyrics

The price of dying

📜 Lyrics

The manner of dying is one thing, and the manner of living another Whatever I wish to understand, my pride still blocks the way I gave my steps no movement, having thought it through beforehand Let no blame fall somewhere else—let not the wind be culprit too Ever since I set forth bearing knowledge of my solitude I feel this sensation growing—that I am becoming separate Whenever the longing to meet myself awakens in my heart My own pride rises up and blocks the very path before me This world calls him my victor's sun, the one it celebrates Yet my shadow grows longer still, obscuring what I am The destination of completion is my path of annihilation itself Why do you show me here another path of permanence and stay? Imprisoned in the circles of reason, I have come to rest here Show me now, O love, some other way, some passage through My parched lips have no one now to tend to their great thirst Let me drink from your own eyes one more draught of wine I do not pursue the tempest, thinking as I do and holding back Perhaps the very wind of time itself might shift and change One fresh calamity has ended—but what of that, what does it matter? Still another wall of sorrow stands before me, and yet another What is this destination that my fist will never open to receive? When yet another dark affliction looms before my very face

💡 Meaning & story

Reimagine & composed by Mohammad Farooq A Comprehensive Interpretation and Understanding of the Ghazal This ghazal is a beautiful narrative of human psychology, self-discovery, and spiritual journey. In it, the "Ego" (Self) is portrayed as an obstacle that prevents man from reaching truth. First Section: Ego and Social Struggle • The manner of dying is different, the manner of living is different... The poet speaks of a new way, departing from conventional ways of life and death. He says he wishes to understand reality, but his own "ego" stands before him like a veil. • With some thought, we did not give movement to our steps... Here there is mention of the world's unreliability. The poet has stopped—not because he is exhausted, but from fear that this merciless age might again make him the target of some new accusation or blame. Second Section: Self-Discovery and Individuality • Since I set out with the knowledge of Unity... This verse describes the journey of individuality and monotheism. When a person chooses the path of truth (Unity), he keenly feels how separate and alone he has become from the material world and ordinary people. • Whenever the desire to meet oneself awakens... When man tries to look within himself, his "ego" once again becomes a wall in his path. This is the greatest obstacle in meeting oneself with oneself. • This world calls what it calls the sun of my victory... A deep irony about worldly accomplishments. The poet says that what the world considers my "conquest" is actually lengthening the shadow of my ego and pride, which distances me from my true self. Third Section: Annihilation, Permanence, and the Journey of Love • The destination of completion is my path of annihilation... Here the color of Sufism is dominant. For the poet, human perfection lies in erasing oneself (becoming annihilated). He is weary of those who teach him the futile lessons of worldly permanence or living forever. • Confined within the circles of reason, I have remained... Intellect keeps man entangled in the circles of logic. The poet is exhausted and now appeals to "love" to show him a path where there is no prison of reason. • There is no one now to soothe my parched lips... The intensity of thirst (longing) is so great that ordinary means can no longer satisfy it; now he needs some spiritual grace (the wine of love). Fourth Section: Courage and Ultimate Truth • He does not pursue the storm with calculation... The poet is not a coward; rather, he understands the delicacy of circumstances. He knows that sometimes silence is the best response, because the world's wind can change direction at any moment. • One fresh calamity has ended—what of it... Life is a name for continuous trial. When one sorrow ends, another stands before us (the wall of grief). This verse teaches man the lesson of steadfastness. • What kind of destination is this that the fist does not open... The ghazal's refrain (final verse) ends in tremendous wonder. Man is near the destination but his hands remain closed (perhaps because of worldly love or fear), and before him awaits a great unknown terror (black calamity).