e bhaai, zara dekhke chalo, aage hi nahi pichhe bhi
daaye hi nahi baaye bhi, upar hi nahi niche bhi, e bhaai
e bhaai, zara dekhke chalo, aage hi nahi pichhe bhi
daaye hi nahi baaye bhi, upar hi nahi niche bhi, e bhaai
tu jaha aaya hai vo tera - ghar nahi, gaanv nahi
gali nahi, kucha nahi, rasta nahi, basti nahi
duniya hai aur pyaare, duniya yah ek circus hai
aur is circus me - bade ko bhi, chote ko bhi
khare ko bhi, khote ko bhi, mote ko bhi, patale ko bhi
niche se upar ko, upar se niche ko aana-jaana padta hai

aur ring mastar ke kode par - koda jo bhukh hai
koda jo paisa hai, koda jo qismat hai
tarah-tarah naach kar dikhana yaha padta hai
baar-baar rona aur gaana yaha padta hai
hiro se, hiro se jokar ban jaana padta hai, e bhaai
e bhaai, zara dekhke chalo, aage hi nahi pichhe bhi
daaye hi nahi baaye bhi, upar hi nahi niche bhi, e bhaai

girne se darta hai kyo, marne se darta hai kyo
thokar tu jab na khayega
paas kisi gam ko na jab tak bulayega
zindagi hai chiz kya nahi jaan paayega
rota hua aaya hai, rota chala jaayega, e bhaai
e bhaai, zara dekhke chalo, aage hi nahi pichhe bhi
daaye hi nahi baaye bhi, upar hi nahi niche bhi, e bhaai

e bhaai, zara dekhke chalo, aage hi nahi pichhe bhi
daaye hi nahi baaye bhi, upar hi nahi niche bhi, e bhaai
kya hai karishma, kaisa khilavaad hai
jaanavar aadami se zyada vafadaar hai
khaata hai koda bhi, rahta hai bhukha bhi
phir bhi vo maalik par karta nahi vaar hai
aur insaan yah - maal jis ka khaata hai
pyaar jis se paata hai, git jis ke gaata hai
usi ke hi sine me bhokata kataar hai
maal jis ka khaata hai
pyaar jis se paata hai, git jis ke gaata hai
usi ke hi sine me bhokata kataar hai, e bhaai
e bhaai, zara dekhke chalo, aage hi nahi pichhe bhi
daaye hi nahi baaye bhi, upar hi nahi niche bhi, e bhaai

haan baabu, yah circus hai show teen ghante ka
pahla ghanta bachpan hai, dusra javani hai, tisra budhapa hai
aur uske baad - maa nahi, baap nahi
beta nahi, beti nahi, tu nahi
mai nahi, ye nahi, vo nahi kuchh bhi nahi rahta hai
rahta hai jo kuchh vo - kaali-kaali kursiya hai
kaali-kaali taambu hai, kaali-kaali ghera hai
bina chidiya ka basera hai, na tera hai, na mera hai

Brother, walk with care, both forward and behind,
Not just the right, but left, above, beneath, mind.
Brother, walk with care, both forward and behind,
Not just the right, but left, above, beneath, find.
This place you've come to, is no home, no village,
No lane, no alley, no path, nor any pillage.
It’s the world, my dear, a circus in its prime,
Where, in this ring, both great and small must climb.
The worthy and the false, the fat, the lean,
Ascend and descend, a ceaseless, shifting scene.

The ringmaster's whip, the hunger's stinging lash,
The whip of money, fate's cruel, hurried dash.
Here, you must dance, in myriad forms displayed,
Weep and then sing, in shadows and in shade.
From hero's height, a clown, you must become, brother,
Brother, walk with care, both forward and behind,
Not just the right, but left, above, beneath, mind.

Why fear the fall? Why cling to fear of death?
Until you stumble, draw your weary breath,
And welcome sorrow, when it knocks to stay,
What life truly is, you'll never truly say.
You came here weeping, weeping you will go, brother,
Brother, walk with care, both forward and behind,
Not just the right, but left, above, beneath, find.

Brother, walk with care, both forward and behind,
Not just the right, but left, above, beneath, mind.
What sorcery, this game, this twisted art?
The beast, more loyal than the human heart.
It takes the whip, and still, its hunger stays,
Yet never turns against its master's ways.
And man, who feasts on all that is his right,
Who sings his praises, bathed in golden light,
Drives the dagger, deep within the heart.
Feasting on all that is his right,
Singing his praises, bathed in golden light,
Drives the dagger, deep within the heart, brother,
Brother, walk with care, both forward and behind,
Not just the right, but left, above, beneath, find.

Yes, friend, this circus, a three-hour display,
First hour, childhood, second, youth's bright day,
The third, old age, when shadows start to creep.
And after that, no mother, father, deep.
No son, no daughter, neither you nor I,
Nothing remains, but echoes in the sky.
Only empty chairs, in hollow rows,
Empty tents, the circle where the show goes.
A nest without a bird, no yours, no mine, alas.