Meri Aankhoon Ko Bakhshe Hain Aansu,
Dil Ko Daag-e-Alam De Gai Hain.
(Presented to my eyes are floods of tears,
And wounds of sorrow within my heart)
Iss Inayat Pe Qurbaan Jaoon Unke,
Pyaar Maanga Tha Gum De Gaye Hain.
(Which bounty should I state? I asked for love, but sorrows were gifted in return)
Daine Aaye Thay Humko Tassalli,
Woh Tassalli Humko Kya Daite.
(They claimed, they rushed to console me,
But look at such a consolation)
Tod Kar Kaaba-e-Dil Hamara,
Hasratoon Ke Zakhm De Gaye Hain.
(Shattering the Holy place within my heart,
Idols of desire were gifted to me in return)
Dil Tadapta Hai, Faryaad Karta Hai,
Aankh Darti Hai, Aansu Behte Hain.
(The heart trembles with every plead,
The eyes are scared stiff to weep)
Aisi Ulfat Se Woh Jaate Jaate Bhul Jane Ke Liye,
Mujh Ko Apni Kasam De Gaye Hain.
(Such was the love that as they left,
They made a promise to forget me in return)
Meri Aankhoon Ko Bakhshe Hain Aansu,
Dil Ko Daag-e-Alam De Gai Hain.
(Presented to my eyes are floods of tears,
And wounds of sorrow within my heart)
_______________________
Overall Meaning:
The lyrics of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's song Meri Ankhon Ko Bakhshe Hain Aansoo convey a sense of heartbreak and disappointment. The first couplet describes the tears in the singer's eyes and the wounds of sorrow in their heart. The second couplet speaks of the irony of the situation - the singer asked for love only to be given sorrow in return. The third and fourth couplets express the singer's disappointment with those who claimed to console them but only added to their pain. The fifth couplet uses the metaphor of a shattered holy place in the singer's heart to describe the idols of desire that were gifted to them. The sixth couplet speaks of the intense emotional turmoil the singer is experiencing, with the heart trembling and pleading and the eyes scared to weep. Finally, the last couplet describes the love that was promised to be forgotten as the person left.
The song speaks of the pain of unrequited love, the bitter disappointment when love is not returned or is taken away. The metaphor of the shattered holy place within the heart speaks of the deep emotional hurt that results from such experiences. The singer's heart trembles and pleads, but nothing can ease the pain.
Interestingly, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a master of qawwali, a musical form that originated in Sufi Islam and is characterized by call-and-response singing and devotional lyrics. The use of language in this song reflects the intense emotional impact that qawwali seeks to achieve. The repetitive use of the word "aansu" or tears, for example, creates a sense of overwhelming emotion.
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