Khaaki banda/A Mere Mortal Made of Clay, Sufi song
“Khaki Banda” is a Sufi-Rock song written and composed byShuja Haider, incorporating some of Bulleh Shah’s phrases, sung by Ahmed Jahanzeb and Umair Jaswal.
A live version was recorded in Season 9, Episdoe 3 (2016) of "Coke Studio Pakistan." This production is absolutely one of the best live music shows highlighting musics of South Asia. I view many of the show's uploads on Youtube, and have purchased some of the CDs and DVDs.
While this song was composed with Sufi sensibilities, almost all of the lyrical themes can be appreciated by Christians, so I'm featuring it on this blog. See below for analysis of the religious themes.
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The basis of the Punjabi lyrics were written by Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri (1680–1757), also known as Baba Bulleh Shah. He was a 17th-century Punjabi philosopher and Sufi poet.
Shuja Haider, the music director of the song, added some additional lyrics.
https://discover.hubpages.com/literature/Khaki-Banda-a-soulful-Sufi-rock-song
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English subtitles are on the screen, and an English translation is below.
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Khaaki banda
Karda phire khudaayi
Lau la baitha dunya naal
Rabb ton kare judaai
A mere human made of clay
Goes around acting as if he’s as invincible as God
He’s lost himself completely to this ephemeral world
And does not ponder his relationship with his Lord
Na kar bandya meri meri
Na teri na meri
Chaar dinnaan da e mela
Dunya fer matti di dheri
O human, leave off this battle for worldly possessions
Nothing here can ever truly belong to us
The glittering spectacle of this world lasts but a few days
And then everything turns to dust
Padh padh kitaabaan ‘ilm diyaan
Naan rakkh liya ee qaazi
Makke Madeene ghum aaya te
Naan rakh liya ee haaji
You’ve filled your head with mere bookish knowledge
And smugly titled yourself a grand authority
You’ve done a round of Mecca and Medina
And smugly titled yourself a holy pilgrim
Satrangi re na-daani teri
Nautanki re man-maani teri
You are fooled by the bright spectacle of this world
Your proud willfulness is driven by nothing but conceit
Deen dharam di gallan baataan
kar kar ke wi samajh na aayi
Firqe wande ‘ilm na wanbya
Wich weeraan boyi ladaai
Your never-ending religious debates failed to create a deeper understanding
You spread people into conflicting camps, but failed to spread real knowledge
All you did was sow seeds of dissension among friends and brothers
Na kar bandiya heri pheri
Na teri na meri
Chaar dina da e mela
Dunya fer matti di dheri
O human, don’t get caught up in worldly matters
Nothing here can ever truly belong to us
The glittering spectacle of this world lasts but a few days
And then everything turns to dust
Khoti neeyat khote sikke
Na dewan saccha haani
Badlega tu badle ga sab
De nafs apne di tu qurbaani
False intentions, deceit, and duplicity
Can never win you sincere companions
All will change if you only change yourself
Slay your own base desires
Sat-rangi re na-daani teri
Man-rangi re na-daani teri
Satrangi re na-daani teri
Nautanki re man-maani teri
Ae zaat magar faani teri
Aa dil de raste te chal
You are fooled by the bright spectacle of this world
Your proud willfulness is driven by nothing but conceit
But your being is ephemeral
Come, follow the path of Love!
Chadhde sooraj dhalde
Bujhde deeve balde
Jinna da na jag te koi
Oh vi puttar palde vekhe
Loki kehnde daal ni galdi
Main te patthar galde vekhe
I’ve seen the sun that rises also set
I’ve seen flickering lamp blaze anew
The orphans who have no one left in this world
I’ve seen them also find the means to flourish
People say that success is beyond reach
But I have seen the impossible become possible
Satrangi re na-daani teri
Nautanki re man-maani teri
Satrangi re na-daani teri
Nautanki re man-maani teri
Ae zaat magar faani teri
Aa dil de raste te chal
You are fooled by the bright spectacle of this world
Your proud willfulness is driven by nothing but conceit
But your being is ephemeral
Come, follow the path of Love!
Sona chaandi heere moti kha lai tu
Ucche makaana kamre bhaven saja lai tu
Laazim nahi hai keh khushiyaan
saari ki saari kama lai tu
Raataan ‘ch kalliyaan ro ro
rabb apne nu mana lai tu
Dhokkhe-baazi vich guzaara
dekhe na sajjan bhaayi
Raaz tere raaz mere
jaane Khuda di khudaayi
You can gobble up pearls, diamonds, and all the riches of the world
You can construct grand mansions and adorn them beautifully
But true happiness is something difficult to buy
So spend your nights in solitary vigil, weeping for your Lord’s forgiveness
Those who live by dishonest means don’t hesitate to harm even their loved one
God in His infinite power is privy to all our secrets
Satrangi re na-daani teri
Nautanki re man-maani teri
Satrangi re na-daani teri
Nautanki re man-maani teri
Ae zaat magar faani teri
Aa dil de raste te chal
You are fooled by the bright spectacle of this world
Your proud willfulness is driven by nothing but conceit
But your being is ephemeral
Come, follow the path of Love!
Khaaki banda
Karda phire
A mere human made of clay
Goes around acting…
Khaaki banda
Khaaki banda
Karda phire…
A mere human made of clay
A mere human made of clay
Goes around acting…
Translated by Zahra Sabri
With special thanks to Asim Raza
Lyrics and translation from
https://www.lyricsmint.com/coke-studio/khaki-banda
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Coke Studio Pakistan has 700+ music videos online! If you want to learn about some of the very best musics being made in this part of the world, start browsing. :-) I have been on a ministry trip within Pakistan, and highly value my friendships made there, the creativity of Christians there, and the centuries of expert musicality in what is now Pakistan.
https://www.youtube.com/@cokestudio https://www.facebook.com/cokestudio
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Misbah Sheikh provides a detailed analysis of the lyrical themes in an excellent (2021) post at https://discover.hubpages.com/literature/Khaki-Banda-a-soulful-Sufi-rock-song
Here are a few excerpts from his lengthy analysis of the song lyrics:
The song describes how man lives in this world and how he should live. It says that a man is nothing more than a clay-sculpted person. He wants to rule the world but has lost sight of reality. He acts as if he is God.
A person sculpted out of clay. He's lost himself in this ephemeral world, acting as if he's as invincible as Lord, and he's not thinking about his Master...
The song reveals another nature of man. He does good deeds and then thinks of himself as he worth all praise. Here the writer of the song referred to Mecca and Madina (the holy pilgrimages of Muslims as the writer of this song was a Muslim so he is referring to the Islamic world here but it is a universal message to the whole of mankind. Going to churches, mosques, temples are not the deeds that make us good people. It requires much more effort and hard work.)
He says you've made pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina and declared yourself a holy pilgrim. You've been duped by the world's dazzling entertainment, and your arrogant tenacity is fueled solely by conceit.
Only going to Mecca and Medina is not what makes you a holy pilgrim. It needs more hard work than just traveling there. Here the lyricist encourages us to do good deeds and asks us not to forget death.o is always loving and forgiving. Knowing all of our sins. He never fails to forgive and bless us. Because God is the source of all Love. He teaches Love, which is all we need. Sadly, Love is the only thing we have forgotten. I believe, Love is the answer to every question. Only love has the ability to soften even the hardest of hearts...
Finally, the lyricist claims that anyone could get pearls, diamonds, and all of the world's wealth. Man has the ability to build large mansions and can lavishly adorn them. True happiness, on the other hand, is more difficult to get. He encourages us to spend our nights solely in prayers, requesting God to forgive us. He says our Lord is merciful and listens to our prayers; He will forgive us as He loves us very much.
He then says that God, with His Infinite Power, is aware of all our secrets. He is aware of all of his and our secrets. He is the One Supreme Power, and nothing is hidden from Him. He claims that the world's glittering display has misled man. Man's arrogance stems solely from a sense of self-importance. The dazzling display of this world has misled him. He is just arrogant because of his ego.
In concluding words, the song tells us that we (the human) are only here for a brief time. So, we should put aside our disagreements and don't allow our egos to rule our life. He encourages us to come and walk on the path of love, for we are nothing more than clay sculptures, and one day we all have to return to our Creator.
Read more of his analysis of the lyrical themes at https://discover.hubpages.com/literature/Khaki-Banda-a-soulful-Sufi-rock-song
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0 notes
Beautiful words by BABA FAREED.
Vekh Fareeda Mitti khulli (Qabar),
Mitti Uttay Mitti Dulli (Laash),
Miti Hassay Miti Rovey (insan),
Antt Miti da Miti Hovey (Jism),
Na kar Bandiya Meri Meri Na aey teri na aey meri,
Chaar Dina da Mela Duniya, Firr Miti di ban gyi Dheri,
Na kar eithey hera pheri,
Miti naal na dhoka kar to,
Tu V miti, 0 V mitti..
Zaat paat di gal na kar tu,
Zaat v mitti paat v mitti,
Zaat sirf Khuda di uchhi,
Baqi sab kuch mitti, mitti..!
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