bol ri kathputli dori kaun sang bandhi
sach batla tu nache kiske liye
bol ri kathputli dori kaun sang bandhi
sach batla tu nache kiske liye
bawari kathputli dori piya sang bandhi
mai nachu apne piya ke liye

jaha jidhar sajan le jaye
sang chalu mai chhaya si
wo hai mere jadugar
main jadugar ki maya si
jaan boojhkar ched kar mujhe
puchhe ye sansaar
bol ri kathputli dori kaun sang bandhi
sach batla tu nache kiske liye
bawari kathputli dori piya sang bandhi
mai nachu apne piya ke liye

piya na hote mai na hoti
jeewan raag sunata kaun
pyar thirakta kiski dhun par
dil ka saaj bajata kaun
o o o dur dur jis chaman se gujre
gati jaye bahar
bol ri kathputli dori kaun sang bandhi
sach batla tu nache kiske liye
bawari kathputli dori piya sang bandhi
mai nachu apne piya ke liye

Speak, my puppet, to whose thread are you bound?
Tell the truth, for whom do you dance?
Speak, my puppet, to whose thread are you bound?
Tell the truth, for whom do you dance?
A mad puppet, my thread to my Beloved is tied.
I dance only for my Beloved.

Wherever my Beloved leads,
I follow like a shadow.
He is my magician,
I am the magician's illusion.
Knowing, they tease and ask,
this whole world wonders,
Speak, my puppet, to whose thread are you bound?
Tell the truth, for whom do you dance?
A mad puppet, my thread to my Beloved is tied.
I dance only for my Beloved.

Were He not, I would not be.
Who would sing the song of life?
Upon whose tune would love sway?
Who would play the heart's instrument?
Oh, far away, through gardens He wanders,
singing, the spring flowers bloom.
Speak, my puppet, to whose thread are you bound?
Tell the truth, for whom do you dance?
A mad puppet, my thread to my Beloved is tied.
I dance only for my Beloved.