Khalasi - Songs I love.
I bring to you a translation, meaning and a brief critical appreciation of this wonderful Gujarati song that is making waves.
I enjoy poetry and songs with meaning. These days, one rarely comes across a popular song with deeper meaning. However, I came across this Gujarati song called Khalasi that is breaking all sorts of records.
So in this post let me share what I take away from this song. Now, my Gujarati is nothing to write about, though I did find that the translations of the lyrics were not quite there. So, I have created a (supposedly) better translation. Of course, I may have made mistakes, so let me know if I made some mistakes, and I will update the translation and comments.
Khalasi
Singer: Aditya Gadhvi, Achint
Lyricist: Saumya Joshi
Music: Achint
Lyrics and Translation
Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo Gotilo
Tame Gotilo Gotilo Gotilo
Nathi Je Majhama
Khaali Vaavata Dhaja Maa
Evo Haad No Pravasi Gotilo
Find Him, you Find Him
You Find Him, Find Him
One Who Isn’t happy
with mere symbols of vanity
who is a voyager to the core, find him!
Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo Gotilo
Tame Gotilo Gotilo Gotilo
Nathi Je Majhama
Khaali Vaavata Dhaja Maa
Evo Haad No Pravasi Gotilo
Find Him, you Find Him
You Find Him, Find Him
One Who Isn’t happy
mere symbols of Vanity
such a hard-core seafarer, find him.
Ho Kaanthethi Ja Tu Ja Dariye
Dariye Thi Ja Tu Ja Taliye
Kanthethi Ja Tu Ja
Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo Oho
From the Shore go to the Shallows
From the shallows to the deep Sea
Go leave The Shore
Find Him, You, Find Him
Kaanthethi Ja Tu Ja Ja
Dariye Thi Ja Tu Ja Taliye
Kaanthethi Ja Tu Ja
Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo
Leave from the Shore
Go from the shallows to the deep sea
Leave this shore
Find Him, You Find Him
Ae Vehva Do Vehva Do Vehva Do Jyan Vahiye
Vehva Do Vehva Do Vehva Do
Revaado Revaado Revaado Jyan Chhaiye
Revaado Revaado Revaado
Go with the Flow, where it takes you
Keep going with the flow (current)
Stay where you want/must
Let us stay, (3)
Vehva Do Vehva Do Vehva Do Have
Revaado Revaado Revaado Have
Go with the flow (poetic)
Stay (3)
Nathi Je Majhama
Khaali Vaavata Dhaja Maa
Evo Haad No Pravasi Gotilo
One Who Isn’t happy
mere symbols of Vanity
such a hard-core seafarer, find him.
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne Kaidone
Enna Thaam Ne Thekaana Manne Daidone
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne Kaidone
Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo
Who is such a hard-core- sailor, tell me.
Get me his Name And Address
Who is such a hard-core- sailor, tell me.
Find Him, You Find Him.
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne Kaidone
Enna Thaam Ne Thekaana Manne Daidone
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne Kaidone
Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo
Who is such a hard-core- sailor, tell me.
Get me his Name And Address
Who is such a hard-core- sailor, tell me.
Find Him, You Find Him.
Khevaiya O Khevaiya
Hambo Re Hai Hai Haiya
Nikli Ja Laine Tu Taari Naiya
Hambo Re Hai Hai Hambo Re Hai
O Sailor Man
Yo-Ho Heave-Ho Yo-Ho
Take Your Boat And Go
Yo-Ho Heave-Ho Yo-Ho
Ae Khevaiya O Khevaiya
Hambo Re Hai Hai Haiya
Nikli Ja Laine Tu Taari Naiya
Hambo Re Hambo Re Hai Hai Haiya
O Sailor Man
Yo-Ho Heave-Ho Yo-Ho
Take Your Boat And Go
Yo-Ho! Heave-Ho Yo-Ho
Ae Vehva Do Vehva Do
Vehva Do Jyan Vahiye
Vehva Do Vehva Do Vehva Do
Go with the flow, Go with the flow,
Go where it takes you
Go with the flow (3)
Revaado Revaado Revaado Jyaan Chaiye
Revaado Revaado Revaado
Vehva Do Vehva Do Vehva Do Ahi
Revaado Revado Revado Ahi
Let Us Stay, Stay Where We Are
Let Us Stay Let Us Stay Let Us Stay
Let Us Flow, Let Us Flow, Let Us Flow
Let Us Stay, Stay Where We Are
Nathi Je Majhama
Khaali Vaavata Dhaja Maa
Evo Haad No Pravasi Gotilo
One Who Isn’t happy
mere symbols of Vanity
who is a voyager to the core, find him.
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne Kaidone
Enna Thaam Ne Thekaana Manne Daidone
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne Kaidone
Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo
Who is such a hard-core- sailor, tell me.
Get me his Name And Address
such a hard-core seafarer, find him.
Find Him You Find Him.
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne Kaidone
Enna Thaam Ne Thekaana Manne Daidone
Are Jadelu Na Shodhe
Ane Shodhelu Na Gote
Evo Khaarvo Khalasi Gotilo
Who is such a hard-core- sailor, tell me.
Get me his Name And Address
One Who Won’t Seek the normalBut look for something not yet found
Such A hardened sailor, find him.
Arey Kinaara Toh Sthir Ane Salamat Hoy
Pan Maanas Enna Maate Nathi Sarjano
Arey Kharvo Khalasi Toh Ee Kehve
Ke Je Fanidhar Naag Jeva Dariya Ni Hame Utre
Anne Utarvu Pade Karan Ke
The shore-life is steady and safe
But we are not meant for this.
A true hard-boiled sailor is one
would take to the sea like a hooded snake.
And he would feel compelled because
Kinare Toh Khaali Pade Nani Nani Pagli Ne
Nana Eva Sapna Ni Ret Vaali Dhagali Ne
The shore is meant for baby feet
who dream of castles made of sand
Tofano Tarap Maare
Halesao Haanfi Jaaye
Toy Jeni Himmat
Ane Haam Nahi Haanfe
But When the storm rages
The Paddlers tire out
But their courage
and will does not tire/remains strong.
Evo Kharvo Khalasi
Evo Haadno Pravasi
Evo Kharvo Khalasi
Evo Haadno Pravasi Gotilo
Such is a true sailor
Such is voyager to the core
Such is a true sailor
Such a hard-core seafarer, find him.
Gotilo Gotilo
Gotilo Gotilo
Gotilo Gotilo
Gotilo Gotilo
Find Him Find Him
Find Him Find Him
Find Him Find Him
Find Him Find Him
Potana Je Dariyama
Potanij Dubkithi
Jaatnu Amulu Moti Lo
In the sea of your mind/soul
take a deep dive
And find that priceless pearl /spirit
Nathi Je Majhama
Khaali Vaavata Dhaja Maa
Evo Haad No Pravasi Gotilo
One Who Isn’t happy
mere symbols of Vanity
such a hard-core seafarer, find him.
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne
O Khevaiya
Evo Kaun Che Pravasi Mane
Hai Hai Haiya
Who is my Sailor Man
O Sailor Man
Who is my seafarer
Heave-Ho Yo-Ho
Evo Kon Che Khalasi Mane
Laija Naiya
Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo
Who is my Sailor Man
Take Your Boat And Go
Find Him you Find Him Find Him
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne
O Khevaiya
Evo Kaun Che Pravasi Mane
Hai Hai Haiya
Who is my Sailor Man
O Sailor Man
Who is my seafarer
Heave-Ho Yo-Ho
Evo Kon Che Khalasi Mane
Laija Naiya
Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo
Who is my Sailor Man
Take Your Boat And Go
Find Him O Find Him Find Him
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne
O Khevaiya
Evo Kaun Che Pravasi Mane
Hai Hai Haiya
Who is my Sailor Man
O Sailor Man
Who is my seafarer
Heave-Ho Yo-Ho
Evo Kon Che Khalasi Mane
Laija Naiya
Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo
Who is my Sailor Man
Take Your Boat And Go
Find Him You Find Him Find Him
Evo Kaun Chhe Khalasi Manne
O Khevaiya
Evo Kaun Che Pravasi Mane
Hai Hai Haiya
Who is my Sailor Man
O Sailor Man
Who is my seafarer
Heave-Ho Yo-Ho
Ho Nathi Je Majhama
Khaali Vaavata Dhaja Maa
Evo Haad No Pravasi Gotilo
One Who Isn’t happy
mere symbols of Vanity
such a hard-core seafarer, find him.
Hey Gotilo Tame Gotilo Gotilo
Find Him, You Find Him
Critical Appreciation
Wonderful rhythmic lyrics with a philosophical base and a folk-song base embellished with peppy music are what make this song work for me.
I am biased toward songs about seas, sailing and its philosophical connection to life. I tend to evaluate them a bit more critically. India’s deep sea-faring roots were curtailed in the last few centuries, but even today, folk songs will fondly sing the lore of the seas, of sailors, their travels and learnings. Such songs always evoke some deep connection we cannot often identify.
This song, Khalasi, is about a sailor with special qualities. It seeks a sailor who will discard the comforts and heed the call of the wild oceans. It looks for a hard-boiled sailor; seafaring is in his bones, and he is meant to follow the currents where they take him. This sailor is searching for the new, looking for things people have not yet found. To such a sailor, the steady and safe coastal life is not exciting. To him, the seashore is for baby feet to walk on, a place where dreams are small (made of sand). Such a sailor longs for the sea. He takes to the sea like the hooded snake takes to water - silently but confidently, as if the oceans are his home. He is at home in the ocean. When the storms rage, the sailor may get tired, but his courage never tires.
The very voices that were seeking this sailor suddenly reveal that we can find this sailor if we dive deep into our souls. The voices take the form of some divine wisdom of the sea, the voices of the sirens of the sea. This sailor is, in fact, the explorer spirit of the true traveller.
The song suddenly is no longer about the sea or the sailor. It is a sudden reproach to us, jaded by vanity, our fake symbols of prosperity, ignoring the true spirit that resides in us.
The sirens of the sea then start asking, “Who is MY sailor, man?”, “Who is MY seafarer?”. This little change, possibly to fit the meter, gives the song an edge. The sirens call forth, awakening the spirit of that sailor attached to small dreams of sand castles, living a cosy life on the shore.
As we try to understand this, the music swells, we feel our hearts beating faster, and the truth dawns upon us. We, dear readers, we are that sailor.
Notes
You may refer to the following translations that have helped me:
Wow, never knew this song held such a deep meaning! Wonderful lyrics and amazing translation :)
This is so lovely, thank you.