Song lyrics

Faryad

📜 Lyrics

Bewilderment—does the morning hear the pleas that fill all space? Yet neither idol on the earth nor God in heaven hears. The nightingale's lament makes every garden tremble with its song, But neither rose nor bud nor the morning breeze will hear. Our ears ring with the echoes of our own voices alone, What does it matter if someone listens—what will they hear? This too is a strange enchantment, O tumult of existence: The words of the pain-afflicted, the afflicted themselves won't hear. The hearts of kings are stone—why speak of kings at all? It's not even that a beggar's plight the beggar will hear. The world is such that mortal ears are deaf to supplication; It should have been that when a servant speaks, God hears. Those who do listen turn the tale of sorrow thus: As if Yazid heard the tragedy of Karbala. O God of the Throne on high and of idols on the ground, Let there be one among you to hear my story. The plea of the ragged wayfarer, worn and weary, Perhaps one day the lord in silken robes might hear. We are neither Nadir nor Yazid, neither Hajjaj nor Shimr, May Allah and Jaush's prayer be heard.

💡 Meaning & story

Composed by Mohammad Farooq Written by Josh Malihabadi 1898 – 1982 Section-wise Detailed Explanation Verse 1: How strange that the morning's sigh makes the entire sky listen Yet on earth no idol hears, nor does God in heaven listen • Word Meanings: Morning's sigh (the cool morning breeze or cry), sky (atmosphere), idol (heartless person or ruler), heaven (the sky). • Explanation: The poet expresses wonder that his cry is so powerful that the morning breeze and the entire atmosphere tremble with it, yet those who should listen—the powerful ones on earth (idols) and the Lord of heaven—send no reply. This points to complete indifference. Verse 2: The nightingale's lament makes the entire garden quiver Yet neither flower nor bud nor the morning breeze listens • Word Meanings: Nightingale (bulbul), bud (unopened flower), morning breeze (the wind of dawn). • Explanation: The nightingale's cry makes the whole garden tremble, yet the flowers, buds, and breezes—the true dwellers of the garden—remain lost in themselves. None are willing to ease its suffering. Verse 3: Our own voices echo so loudly in our ears What use if someone listens when all speak at once • Word Meanings: Voices (sounds). • Explanation: This verse reflects today's selfish age. Every person is so entangled in their own ego, their own voices, and their own problems that they cannot even hear another's pain. Verse 4: What a strange enchantment this is, O chaos of life The suffering soul does not hear even another suffering soul • Word Meanings: Enchantment (magic), chaos of life (the turmoil of existence), suffering soul (one who understands pain). • Explanation: In this rush of life, what a tragedy it is that those who themselves are wounded cannot hear the voice of another wounded soul. A magical silence seems to have fallen upon all. Verse 5: The hearts of kings are stone—why speak of kings at all It is not even that one beggar hears another beggar's plight • Word Meanings: Stone (hard), beggar (the poor/destitute). • Explanation: The hearts of kings and the rich are made of stone; there is no use appealing to them. But the real sorrow is that now even one poor person is unwilling to listen to another's condition. Human compassion has vanished. Verse 6: Such is the world—the human ear has become indifferent It should have been that the servant speaks and God listens • Word Meanings: Human ear (the ear of mankind), indifferent (heedless). • Explanation: Circumstances are so grave that people have closed their ears. The law of nature was that the servant should cry out and the Lord should hear, but here even those intermediate connections have broken. Verse 7: Those who do listen hear tales of sorrow in such a way As if Yazid once heard of the tragedy of Karbala • Word Meanings: Tales of sorrow (stories of suffering), tragedy of Karbala (the great calamity of Karbala). • Explanation: Even if someone happens to listen, it leaves no impression on their heart. They listen with such callousness as Yazid once heard of the atrocities of Karbala—showing cruelty or indifference rather than compassion. Verse 8: Yes, O God of the highest throne and idols of the earth If any among you exists, let them hear my story • Word Meanings: Highest throne (the high heavens), idols of the earth (the powerful ones on earth/the beloved), story (my tale). • Explanation: In despair, the poet calls upon both heavenly and earthly powers, asking if there is even one among you who could hear the troubles of my heart. Verse 9: The plea of the blanket-clad wayfaring poor Perhaps one day the silk-robed beloved might hear • Word Meanings: Blanket-clad (those wrapped in rough blankets/the poor), wayfaring (sitting by the roadside), silk-robed beloved (the richly dressed beloved or the wealthy). • Explanation: The plea of these beggars and the destitute might perhaps one day reach those who wear silk and dwell in palaces, who are unaware of the poor's condition. Verse 10: We are neither Nadir nor Yazid, neither Hajjaj nor Shimr Let God and Josh hear our prayer • Word Meanings: Nadir, Yazid, Hajjaj, Shimr (tyrants of history). • Explanation: In the closing couplet, Josh says we are not oppressors or tyrants; we are the wronged and the supplicant. Now either God must hear us, or Josh himself, hearing his own voice, finds solace in it.