BoliyanTappe and mahia · ਟੱਪੇ ਤੇ ਮਾਹੀਆ
A tappa is the shortest Punjabi folk song: one small picture and one feeling. In the mahia form the first short line is often only there for the rhyme, and the next two lines carry the meaning. Two groups sing them back and forth.
4 traditional and 4 new verses on this page. Each has the Punjabi text, the same words in Roman letters and the meaning.
- ਰਵਾਇਤੀ · Traditional
The white rooster
ਚਿੱਟਾ ਕੁੱਕੜ ਬਨੇਰੇ ਤੇ, ਕਾਸ਼ਨੀ ਦੁਪੱਟੇ ਵਾਲੀਏ, ਮੁੰਡਾ ਸਦਕੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਤੇ।
Chitta kukkad banere te, kaashni dupatte vaaliye, munda sadke tere te.
A white rooster on the rooftop wall. O girl with the lilac dupatta, this boy would give anything for you.
- ਰਵਾਇਤੀ · Traditional
Two pomegranate leaves
ਦੋ ਪੱਤਰ ਅਨਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ, ਸਾਡਾ ਦੁੱਖ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ, ਰੋਂਦੇ ਪੱਥਰ ਪਹਾੜਾਂ ਦੇ।
Do pattar anaaraan de, saada dukh sun ke, ronde patthar pahaadaan de.
Two leaves of the pomegranate tree. Hearing of our sorrow, even the stones of the mountains weep.
- ਰਵਾਇਤੀ · Traditional
The ring
ਸੜਕੇ ਤੇ ਰੋੜੀ ਏ, ਨਾਲੇ ਮੇਰਾ ਛੱਲਾ ਲੈ ਗਿਆ, ਨਾਲੇ ਉਂਗਲ ਮਰੋੜੀ ਏ।
Sadke te rodi ae, naale mera chhalla lai gaya, naale ungal marodi ae.
There is gravel on the road. He took away my ring, and twisted my finger while he did it.
- ਰਵਾਇਤੀ · Traditional
Come to the garden
ਬਾਗੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਇਆ ਕਰੋ, ਜਦੋਂ ਅਸੀਂ ਸੌਂ ਜਾਈਏ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੱਖੀਆਂ ਉਡਾਇਆ ਕਰੋ।
Baage vich aaya karo, jadon aseen saun jaaiye, tusin makkhiyan udaaya karo.
Do come to the garden. And when we fall asleep, you may keep the flies away. A teasing tappa, sung to make the other side laugh.
- ਨਵੀਂ · New, written for this site
The brother comes home
ਕੋਠੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਕਾਂ ਬੋਲੇ, ਪਰਦੇਸੋਂ ਵੀਰ ਆ ਗਿਆ, ਮੇਰੇ ਦਿਲ ਦੇ ਚਾਅ ਬੋਲੇ।
Kothe utte kaan bole, pardeson veer aa gaya, mere dil de chaa bole.
A crow is calling on the roof. My brother has come home from abroad, and the joy of my heart is singing. (A crow calling on the roof is an old sign that a guest is coming.)
- ਨਵੀਂ · New, written for this site
A mother's blessing
ਗੁੜ ਦੀ ਰੋੜੀ ਏ, ਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਅਸੀਸ ਬਿਨਾਂ, ਹਰ ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ੀ ਥੋੜ੍ਹੀ ਏ।
Gud di rodi ae, maan di asees binaan, har khushi thodhi ae.
A lump of jaggery. Without a mother's blessing, every happiness is too small.
- ਨਵੀਂ · New, written for this site
The daughter who studied
ਅੰਬਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੂਰ ਪਿਆ, ਧੀ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਲਿਖ ਘਰ ਆਈ, ਬਾਪੂ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਨੂਰ ਪਿਆ।
Ambaan nu boor pya, dhee padh likh ghar aayi, bapu de mukh noor pya.
The mango trees are in blossom. The daughter has come home with her education, and her father's face is glowing.
- ਨਵੀਂ · New, written for this site
Guests are coming
ਦੀਵਾ ਬਨੇਰੇ ਤੇ, ਸੱਜਣਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਉਣਾ ਏ, ਅੱਜ ਰੌਣਕ ਵਿਹੜੇ ਤੇ।
Deeva banere te, sajjnaan ne aauna ae, ajj raunak vehde te.
A lamp on the rooftop wall. Dear ones are coming today, and the courtyard is full of life.
Traditional verses are old folk verses with no known author, given as commonly sung; your village may sing them a little differently. New verses were written for this site in the old patterns.
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