yaha mai ajnabi hu, yaha mai ajnabi hu
mai jo hu bas wahi hu, mai jo hu bas wahi hu
yaha mai ajnabi hu, yaha mai ajnabi hu

kaha sham-o-shehar yeh kaha din-rat mere
bahut rusva huye hain, yaha jasbat mere
nai tahrib hai yeh, naya hai yeh jamana
magar me aadami hu wahi sadiyo purana
mai kya janu yeh baate, jara insaf karna
meri gustakhiyo ko khudara maaf karna
yaha mai ajnabi hu, yaha mai ajnabi hu

teri baaho me dekhu sanam gairo ki baahe
mai laaunga kaha se bhala aisi nigaahe
yeh koyi raks hoga, koyi dastur hoga
mujhe dastur aisa kaha manjur hoga
bhala kaise yeh mera lahu ho jaye pani
mai kaise bhul jaau mai hu hindustani
yaha mai ajnabi hu, yaha mai ajnabi hu

mujhe bhi hai shikayat, tujhe bhi toh gila hai
yahi shikawe hamari mohabbat ka sila hai
kabhi magarib se mashrik mila hai jo milega
jahan ka phul hai jo wahi pe wo khilega
tere unche mahal me nahi mera gujara
mujhe yad aa raha hai woh chhota sa shikara
yaha mai ajnabi hu, yaha mai ajnabi hu
mai jo hu bas wahi hu, mai jo hu bas wahi hu
yaha mai ajnabi hu, yaha mai ajnabi hu

Here, a stranger I, a stranger am I,
What I am, that alone am I,
Here, a stranger I, a stranger am I.

Where dawn and dusk, where day and night of mine,
My emotions, in this place, did decline.
A new culture, a new era's reign,
Yet I, the man, of old, through time remain.
What do I know of these, of this strange space?
Oh, grant me justice, show me gentle grace.
Forgive my trespasses, I implore and pray,
Here, a stranger I, a stranger am I.

In your embrace, I see another's hold,
Where shall I find such vision to behold?
This dance, a ritual, I surmise,
How can such custom meet my heart's disguise?
How can my blood turn into water's flow?
How can I forget the land I know?
Here, a stranger I, a stranger am I.

I too have complaint, and you, a grievance bear,
These very laments, our love's reward we share.
When West meets East, a fusion shall arise,
The flower of the earth, where it belongs, it lies.
Your lofty palace cannot be my home,
A little shikara, I yearn to roam.
Here, a stranger I, a stranger am I,
What I am, that alone am I,
Here, a stranger I, a stranger am I.