[Intro — group chant, strong dholak entrance]
Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa
Laadi Lailaadi Biao Biaa
Burta Bajtai Daz Guaaraan
Sabia Mehlabi Estaraan Sammi Oshali Biao Biaa
Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa Laadi Lailaadi Guadi Biaa
Honun Sobe Shansa Gaanu Di Biaa
[Verse 1 — lead (soft, acoustic guitar + tambura)]
Lantern light on the riverbend
Mud-road glows where the children send
Footprints braided with old songs' thread
Smoke and mustard, evening spread
[Pre-Chorus — lead, call-and-response echoes]
(Lead) Hands meet in the warm dust sky
(Group whisper) Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa
(Lead) Eyes that keep the promises nigh
(Group chant) Laadi Lailaadi Biao Biaa
[Chorus — tight 2 lines, then phonetic hook repeated by the group]
(Lead) Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa — let the valley sway
(Lead) Laadi Lailaadi — we spin the night away
(Group) Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa
(Group) Laadi Lailaadi Biao Biaa
[Verse 2 — lead with flute, dholak rolls under]
By the tamarind, lanterns swing
Anklets answer the dholak ring
Old women hum of harvest moons
Boyhood oaths and lovers’ tunes
[Pre-Chorus 2 — lead, stronger response]
(Lead) Your laugh is a river I follow
(Group) Sabia Mehlabi Estaraan
(Lead) Our breath becomes the village hollow
(Group) Sammi Oshali Biao Biaa
[Chorus — repeat, fuller percussion]
(Lead) Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa — let the valley sway
(Lead) Laadi Lailaadi — we spin the night away
(Group) Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa
(Group) Laadi Lailaadi Guadi Biaa
[Instrumental Break — dholak / tambura / flute interplay]
(Short chant under instruments)
Burta Bajtai Daz Guaaraan
Honun Sobe Shansa Gaanu Di Biaa
[Bridge — soft, minor turn; whispered motifs]
(Lead whisper) Nights can fold like old letters
(Group faint) Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa
(Lead) When the lantern nearly falters,
(Lead low) we trace our names in dust and braids
(Group) Sammi Oshali — echoing, small
[Build — crescendo into final chorus]
(Lead) Rise — a thousand lamps awake
(Group) Sabia Mehlabi Estaraan
(Lead) Every footstep makes the earth break
(Group) Honun Sobe Shansa Gaanu Di Biaa
[Final Chorus — full band, big call-and-response]
(Lead) Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa — let the valley sway
(Lead) Laadi Lailaadi — we spin the night away
(Group) Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa (x2)
(Group) Laadi Lailaadi Biao Biaa (x2)
[Outro — decrescendo, flute and whispered chant]
Tum Pe Baanadi Biao Biaa
Laadi Lailaadi Biao Biaa
Burta Bajtai Daz Guaaraan
Sabia Mehlabi Estaraan Sammi Oshali Biao Biaa
(whisper) Honun Sobe Shansa Gaanu Di Biaa
[Production notes — arrangement suggestions]
- Lead vocal: warm, slightly nasal folk tone; chorus doubled with mixed village chorus
- Backing: call-and-response on all phonetic lines
- Primary instruments: dholak, tambura, bamboo flute, acoustic guitar under verses
- Chorus: full percussion, handclaps, layered harmony
- Break: short instrumental featuring the phonetic hook as a melody on flute
- Bridge: shift to minor, whisper motif on phonetic hook before final, joyful release
