Based on a poem by Shiv Kumar Batalvi, this song is about a woman who yearns for a child of her own. Her husband is away for long periods. She makes a clay doll that she treats as her child, singing it this lullaby. She sings that her child doesn't cry nor walk nor ask her for anything. She also realizes her jealousy toward other women who she sees happily playing with their children.

Mitti da main bawa banani aan, 
ve jhagga paani aan, 
ve utte deni aan khesi,
So ja mitti diaa baawiaa, 
ve tera pio pardesi


Mitti da bawa nahion bolda, 
nahion chaalda ,
 naan hi denda e hungaara,
Na ro mitti deaa baawiaa, 
ve tera pio vanjaara


Kade taan main launi aan tahliaan, 
ve pattaan vaaleean, 
ve mera patla maahi,
Kade launi aan shahtoot, 
ve tainu samajh na aave

Mere jehiaan lakhkh goriaan,
ve tanee doriaan,
haye godee baal hindole,
Hass hass dendiaan loreeaan,
haae mere ladan sapole


I craft a little clay doll,
make it wear a little shirt,
cover it with a blanket...
Go to sleep my little clay doll,
your dad is abroad...

My little clay doll does not speak,
does not walk,
does not call to me..
Don't cry my little clay doll,
your dad is a wanderer...

I planted sheesham trees,
they grew lovely leaves,
aah my scrawny beloved...
I planted trees of mulberry,
why don't you respond...

The other women of the town,
as pretty as me,
have kids in their lap..
Sing them lullabies,
and my soul is a snake's playground.



Renditions:
  • By Ustad Shujaat Khan: [1]
  • By Chitra Singh: [movie version 1], [ with translation 2]
  • By Jagjit Singh (my favorite version, although it's derivative of the above): [2]
Other source credits for translations/context: