Gham hai ya khushi hai tu...
Gham hai ya khushi hai tu, Meri Zindagi hai tu...
Afaton ke daur mein... chain ki ghadi hai tu, Meri Zindagi hai tu...
Meri raat ka chirag... meri nind bhi hai tu, Meri Zindagi hai tu...
Main fiza ki shaam hun... rut bahar ki hai tu, Meri Zindagi hai tu...
Doston ke darmayan... waj-he dosti hai tu, Meri Zindagi hai tu...
Meri saari umr-a mein... ek hi kami hai tu, Meri Zindagi hai tu...
Main to wo nahi raha... han magar wohi hai tu, Meri Zindagi hai tu... Nase rishtayar mein... kitna ajnabi hai tu, Meri Zindagi hai tu...
Gham hai ya khushi hai tu, Meri Zindagi hai tu...
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Overall Meaning:
The lyrics of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's "Gham Hai Ya Khushi" express the complexity of emotions that the singer is experiencing, as they grapple with the dualities of life. The singer acknowledges that "Gham hai ya khushi hai tu" - whether they are facing sorrow or joy, it is all contained within the one entity that is the subject's life. Throughout the song, the singer reveals just how all-consuming this entity is, with lines like "Meri raat ka chirag, meri nind bhi hai tu" (My night's lamp, my sleep is you) and "Doston ke darmayan, waj-he dosti hai tu" (Between my friends, you are the essence of friendship).
The lyrics also touch on the idea of how one's life is incomplete without this entity that embodies both joy and sorrow. The singer notes, "Meri saari umr-a mein, ek hi kami hai tu" (Throughout my life, there is only one lack, and that is you). The final line of the song, "Nase rishtayar mein, kitna ajnabi hai tu" (Even in relatives and acquaintances, you are a stranger), further reinforces the idea that this entity, which contains both the good and the bad, is utterly unique and necessary to the singer's existence.
Overall, "Gham Hai Ya Khushi" represents a thoughtful exploration of the fundamental elements of human experience, as well as a recognition of the centrality of emotional complexity to a life well-lived.
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