Vocabulary

tension, restlessness, anxious excitement (colloquial from English "tension")

came (feminine past tense of aauna, colloquial)

let us come, we come (subjunctive/hortative — expresses willingness, not just a…

stiff arrogance, rigidity in one's bearing. The performed, brittle version of s…

egos, stubbornness, attitude, arrogance (Hindi cognate: akad)

sky, heavens

to say, to call out, to utter (imperative of aakhna)

if I say, were I to say; subjunctive form of 'aakhna' (to say)

says, tells (masculine present habitual)

said, spoke, uttered · spoken words, something said; a dying instruction or par…

says, speaks, tells

to say, to call out, to challenge

final, last

said, told (past tense of aakhna)

self, own, ourselves

we, us (inclusive first person plural — warmer than 'assi,' implies togethernes…

by oneself, on one's own

through and through, completely pierced — from one side to the other

charges, allegations, accusations

hope, expectation

lovesick person, hopeless romantic, one who's lost in love

lover, admirer, one consumed by love (from Urdu/Arabic)

romantic love, the state of being in love, devotion · love, romance, the game o…

in the evening, by evening time

will come (feminine future)

to come, here sarcastic: 'as if they'd come'

coming and going, the flow of visitors

waterfall (Urdu, from Arabic); connects to the song's water theme at its most p…

grace, charm, a stylish gesture (Urdu)

in the dead of night, at midnight (reduplicated for emphasis)

heel (of the foot), used in giddha/bhangra to stomp rhythmically

heels (of feet). 'Addiyan chakk ke bhajjna' = running so fast your heels kick u…

a half-bottle (375ml) of liquor

fire. 'Agg launa' = to set fire to, to burn, to discard forcefully. · fire; her…

set fire to, torch (here: a flex about not caring about luxury property)

in front of, before, compared to

the next one

faults, flaws, bad habits

like this, in this way, saying things like that

like this, in this way, just like that

this much, so much, that big/great

you are (second person singular present tense) · this way, like this (colloquia…

glasses, spectacles (from Persian ainak = mirror/lens)

glasses, sunglasses

just like that, simply, without reason

luxury, the good life, living lavishly

this time, this year, this occasion

here, at this place

just like that, without reason, pointlessly (Hindi cognate: aise hi/yun hi)

today

these days, nowadays

the Timeless One, God. Central Sikh theological concept meaning 'beyond death/t…

ego, attitude, nakhre, showing stubbornness to test someone

eyes (plural)

arenas, wrestling pits (traditional Punjabi word for where pehlwans wrestle — n…

newspaper (from Arabic akhbar = news; the nukta on kh marks its Perso-Arabic or…

eyes (endearing diminutive plural)

letters, characters, written words (Hindi cognate: akshar)

to get fed up, to grow weary of — a visceral tiredness, not just boredom · Calo…

eye; here 'akkh lagna' = evil eye, nazar lagna · eye; 'akkh rakhna' = to keep a…

keeping an eye raised — a watchful, slightly possessive/protective gaze

keeping an eye on, watching, having her sights set on

eyes

eyes (plural)

eyes meeting, locking eyes (literally: making four eyes — two pairs meeting)

letters, written characters, words on a page

eyes (affectionate plural form of akkh; Hindi cognate: aankhein)

eyes (feminine plural, intimate/poetic form of akkhaan)

lettered, covered in script. From ਅੱਖਰ (letter/character). Direct reference to…

carelessly, without a care, thoughtlessly, carrying a sense of youthful indiffe…

youthful, adolescent, in the tender flush of youth

the stage of youthful innocence, adolescent immaturity (allarh = unripe/adolesc…

wild, untamed, youthful, reckless, unbroken. The refrain word of the entire son…

skies, heavens (plural oblique; Hindi cognate: aasman)

skies, heavens (oblique plural of ambar)

the skies, the heavens (oblique plural of ambar)

amen, the closing affirmation of a prayer (Islamic origin, used broadly)

mom, mother (affectionate, informal)

grain, food (here implying wholesome diet behind her beauty)

pride, honour, self-respect. A deep Punjabi concept of personal dignity that mo…

inside, within

every limb, every part of the body

English (the language)

grain, food, sustenance

limbs, body parts

prideful, honorable, from annakh, a Punjabi concept of honor and self-respect y…

undivided, unsplit, whole; referring to pre-Partition Punjab when the land was…

haters, opponents — people who are against us (English 'anti' with Punjabi plur…

one's own people and outsiders, friends and foes

the formal Sikh congregational prayer, an act of surrendering one's wishes to G…

area, neighbourhood (English word punjabified)

stubbornness, obstinacy; 'arhh karke' means in a fit of stubbornness or spite ·…

stubbornness, obstinacy, ego

stubbornness, holding one's ground, digging heels in

O stubborn/spirited girl (feminine vocative, affectionate teasing)

stubbornness, being difficult, refusing to budge

aroma, fragrance. Here inverted: the fragrance is gunpowder, not cologne. The s…

dig in, plant stubbornly, refuse to move. From arhna (to be obstinate).

gets stuck, fixates, latches on (feminine present of arhna)

real, true, actual

effect, impact, influence

stamp paper (official government-stamped paper used for legal documents, affida…

hardware, equipment, gear

sky, heavens

sky blue, the color of the sky (from asmaan — sky)

principles, values

'we' used for singular 'I' — adds bravado and weight to the self-reference, cla…

past, history

wild, rough, unruly, hard to handle

wild, untamed, headstrong, sharp, unfiltered. Describes someone who refuses to…

wild, untamed, reckless, spirited

Aujla (vocative form); Karan Aujla's surname, used as direct address — the four…

hardship, difficulty, financial distress

tough, difficult, hard to crack; here describing Dosanjh as a tough guy

to come, coming

God's cover, divine protection, shelter under God's wing

voice, sound

eternity, forever (from Arabic 'azal', time without beginning)

to test, to try out, to put to the test

king, emperor. Self-reference.

garden, orchard (with nukta on the ghagga, marking Persian origin)

gardens, orchards (plural oblique of baagh)

gardens (here: the garden of the heart — an inner landscape of emotion)

rebel, outlaw, one who defies authority

arms, embrace

arms (plural)

very, extremely, hella

a lot, very much (Malwai/Doabi Punjabi)

arm. 'Baahn farhna' = to hold someone's arm, to claim them publicly.

turban pin (salai), a small pin used to hold the turban folds in place · hawk,…

music system, speaker, instrument (here: a speaker or boombox)

game, gamble, the stakes. 'Soorme di baaji' = a warrior's gamble.

a lot, very much, so much (intensifier)

very much, deeply, intensely (reduplication for emphasis)

outfit, attire, uniform, the coordinated look of a crew or group

arm

arms (plural)

arms (both)

father (affectionate/respectful). Aujla lost his father young.

twelve, meaning plenty or a large number · flood (not 'twelve' here). ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੀ ਬ…

it has been a while, too long, overdue

every year, year after year (also the opening of a famous Punjabi folk rhyme)

topic, mention; "baat pauna" = to bring someone up in conversation

talks, conversations, things said about someone

casts spells, charms, enchants — from baat pauna (to cast a charm)

falcon, hawk -- a bird of Sikh martial tradition associated with Guru Gobind Si…

game, play, hand (as in cards)

God (colloquial, affectionate reference)

Baba Buddha Ji (1506-1631), revered Sikh figure who served six Gurus, first Gra…

baby, term of endearment (borrowed from English)

elders, grandfathers, old men of the village (oblique plural of baba)

to be saved, to stay safe, to protect yourself from

carefully, cautiously, staying safe from (from bachna = to be saved, to stay sa…

I escape, I dodge (first person subjunctive)

protected, saved, kept safe (from bachaana = to save/protect; here: she kept he…

to save, to rescue someone

almonds; here a metaphor for hard physical work. Cracking almonds by hand is la…

almond-colored, warm brown. A proud claim of South Asian skin tone.

changed, transformed (from badalna)

clouds

revenge, payback, settling scores (not 'changed') · changed, switched, swapped…

disgraced, infamous, reputation ruined (Urdu: bad + naam = bad + name)

a village in Sangrur district, Punjab; used here as the character's home village

king, emperor

outsiders, strangers, people who aren't your own

without

a trifle, something trivial and unimportant. French word from Italian 'bagatell…

gardens, orchards — here a metaphor for other people's love lives flourishing

white girls (baggi = white, feminine; here used as a noun for white women)

excuse, pretext

excuses, pretexts, made-up reasons

spring, the season of bloom, a time of flowering and renewal

interjection, colloquial address like 'brother' or 'man', dropped in for emotio…

respected brother, sir. The shift from casual 'oye' (L3) to respectful 'bai ji'…

bail, legal release from custody pending trial

a specific verse form in Punjabi kissa poetry, particularly associated with War…

sitting, seated (here: 'sochi baitha' = was sitting there thinking/planning)

sitting, chilling, relaxing

let's sit (first person plural subjunctive, inclusive/inviting)

literally 'goats,' but 'bakre bulauna' is a classic Punjabi idiom for making a…

the forgiver; a construction from Gurbani (bakhsh + -haar), often used as a div…

forgiven, pardoned

burning, blazing

vocative form of Baljeet (lyricist Veet Baljit's real name, used as a takhalus/…

Balkar, the lyricist of this song; a self-referential moment where the writer p…

bravo, hats off, well done — an exclamation of admiration and praise

an exclamation of joy, celebration, and triumph; like shouting 'yeah!' or 'let'…

my darling, my love (feminine vocative, common Punjabi term of endearment)

crystal-like, translucent, sparkling (from balor = crystal). A folk Punjabi wor…

made, created (here: recorded/filmed) · to make (someone yours), to claim, to a…

make for me (imperative)

built, made, created

to be made, to work out, to come together — 'gal banani' = things working out

makes, creates (feminine present tense, the girl is the subject making him spec…

closed, shut, finished (here: funds shut down, wallet emptied)

man, person, someone worthy of being called a man

man-eating, man-devouring. A gait so intimidating it swallows people up.

parapets, ledges (the walls/ledges on the roof of a traditional Punjabi haveli;…

parapet wall, rooftop ledge; the raised edge on top of a Punjabi house or garde…

sacred compositions, scripture (plural of Bani -- the hymns of the Guru Granth…

to become — here expressing the desire to transform into something for her

tied, strapped, secured

form, structure, appearance — how someone has been put together

father, affectionate, rural Punjabi form

father (respectful)

snow, ice (Persian-origin, with nukta on ਫ਼)

ice, snow

Indian milk sweet, silver-white in color. Here: her lips are sweet and pale lik…

many, plenty (of suitors)

a lot, very much, intensely (feminine)

many (feminine plural), here referring to many girls

acquitted, released, freed

dust cloud, the whirlwind of dust kicked up behind vehicles on Punjab's unpaved…

gunpowder; used metaphorically for someone explosive, dangerous, thrilling

banyan trees, large shade trees in Punjabi villages, community gathering spots

just, only, enough

to settle, to make a home, to stay (from basna/vasna = to dwell)

just, only (not 'bass' as in music)

bass (music), also a pun on 'bas' meaning 'only his word goes / his authority r…

bags, school supplies, belongings

Batala: a city in Gurdaspur district, Punjab. Here it carries a double meaning:…

to spend (time, life), here 'bitauni', to spend one's remaining life

sat down, made to sit (causative of baithna = to sit; here: forced someone to s…

plenty, enough, more than enough. Contentment.

plenty, enough, more than enough

plenty, a lot, abundant

sowing, planting seeds

statement, testimony, official account

hopeless one, someone who has given up hope

mother (affectionate Punjabi term, can also mean grandmother depending on regio…

grandmothers, elderly women of the family (plural of bebe)

restless, uneasy, unable to sit still

sown, planted (feminine past participle)

been/pungi — a snake charmer's gourd instrument, traditionally tucked at a jogi…

passed, slipped by (of time) · passes, slips by (of time)

stranger, unfamiliar, estranged · stranger, outsider, someone not from your peo…

strangers, outsiders, people who don't belong

stranger, outsider, someone unfamiliar — the opposite of apna (one's own)

queen, begum (from Mughal Persian begum -- the chief wife of a king)

sit (dialectal/soft form of baith = to sit)

argument, debate

immeasurable, beyond count (Urdu; be- = without, hisaab = count)

sitting, having sat

to sit down, to rest, to settle. 'Na behn deve' = won't let me rest, keeps me r…

flowing (Hindi; Punjabi equivalent would be vaggda). Here: melting, losing comp…

one without honor or dignity, someone with nothing to be proud of

beyond compare, unparalleled, matchless (from Urdu)

without light, without radiance (Urdu: be- = without + noor = light/divine radi…

carefree, unbothered, without concern (be- = without, parwaah = care)

restless, unable to be still, consumed with longing (Urdu)

jujube fruit — the small, sweet-sour fruit of the ber tree. 'Beriyan nu ber hon…

colorless, dull, without vibrancy

jujube trees — Punjab's humblest, hardiest fruit tree. Grows wild, doesn't need…

without reason, pointlessly (Urdu-origin: be + wajah = without cause)

steam -- here referring to steam treatment for tired or irritated eyes, a commo…

fortune, luck, fate (what's written on your forehead)

repayment, return serve, revenge. What you give back.

search, hunt; to look for something actively

searching, seeking, looking for

will, divine decree, what is meant to be; 'bhaane' implies acceptance of God's…

weight

elder brother's wife, sister-in-law (often the first family member to notice ro…

sister-in-law (vocative, calling out to her directly; ਭਾਬੀ is elder brother's w…

a historic town in Barnala district, Punjab, home to the Phoolka Sardars and th…

fear, reverence, awe

to run, dash, sprint

searching, looking for

bonfires, massive flames (the kind lit during Lohri or to clear farmland)

broke, ground down, smashed (here: heels worn from hard work)

to smash, to break, to shatter

broke, ground through, spent laboriously

let's break, let's smash (first person plural subjunctive of bhannna = to break)

will break, will shatter (first person future tense)

fills up, gets satisfied

brimming, full, overflowing

brother's wife, sister-in-law; specifically the elder brother's wife who often…

trust, faith in someone

even though, although; introduces a concession

whether, even if, no matter

secrets, hidden feelings

sheep, used to mock rivals as followers, not leaders · sheep, the meek, followe…

tight, squeezed, in a difficult spot financially

drenched, soaked, wet (with tears)

naive, innocent, oblivious

fake, phony, counterfeit

dawn, first light — 'bhor di takkni' = a glance at dawn, a piercing early-morni…

brothers (shortened from bhraavan), here: the Jatt's crew, his boys

hungry, starving (here: desperate for)

famine, starvation; compound of hunger + death

to forget; here: left behind

to make forget, to erase from memory (causative of bhull) · to forget, to let g…

even when trying to forget

illusion, mistaken impression, confusion

illusions, false sightings, mirages

to forget — here the world will forget its own existence and come to see them

forgotten (feminine plural -- she's forgotten them)

girl, young woman (affectionate address) · brother, young man (respectful addre…

grandmother, mother, elder woman of the household

worries, anxieties, fretting

went wrong, got spoiled, turned bad

opium from Bikaner, Rajasthan. A prestige commodity in old-school Jatt culture,…

term of endearment for a girl (literally: cat); playful and affectionate, like…

my queen, beautiful one (double vocative of endearment)

disease, ailment, illness

without, besides

a woman's name; a narrative character in the song

to seat, to make someone sit (causative of baithna)

placed, seated, set upon; from 'bithana,' to make someone or something sit

bloodbath (English word used directly). The jatt battles and rivalries running…

weight, burden, load

words, speech

words and silence — a compound meaning the full range of her communication. He'…

speaks, talks

spoke, said

a folk couplet sung at celebrations (especially during giddha); also the 'voice…

I keep saying, I keep telling (progressive form of bolna, to speak)

spoke, said (from ਬੋਲਣਾ)

even when spoken to, even when called and invited to speak

doors, gates (Punjabi native word for door)

raw sugar, powdered jaggery, traditional desi nutrition fuel

plant, sapling

plant, sapling

a suit with embroidered floral motifs. Traditional Punjabi women's outfit with…

bottle (vocative/poetic form)

hashish (slang for cannabis resin)

Bugatti, the French hypercar manufacturer. Represents the pinnacle of automotiv…

term of endearment for a guy, like handsome/buddy

door — a heavier, more traditional word than 'darwaaza.' Evokes a wooden door,…

extinguish, put out (a fire or flame)

riddles, puzzles

balloons, something light and inflated

fever; here the fever of love, infatuation that hit without warning

the fold of a shawl or blanket where someone nestles in; a warm, protective emb…

roars, bellows, howls. A lion's roar across the land. · howling, yelling, makin…

roaring, bellowing, howling (the enemies arrive making noise)

to call, to invite, to beckon

lips

lips

lips (oblique plural of bullh)

enjoying life freely, having fun with no care

Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle, an iconic symbol of Punjabi masculinity and ru…

lip · lips (with pairin-h; distinct from ਬੁੱਲ which would be Bulleh as in Bulle…

lips (affectionate/poetic plural form)

lips

to weave, to compose (as in weaving fabric, applied here to music)

evil eye, an envious or harmful gaze believed to bring bad luck; here flipped p…

bite to eat, snack, small meal

small morsels of food, bite-sized pieces. 'Burkiyaan pauni' (feeding morsels by…

black (the color — her dark hair blends seamlessly with blackness)

eagerness, deep desire, excited longing · wishes, desires, eagerness · eager jo…

traditional sheet or wrap worn by Punjabi men, here symbolizing village roots a…

chaadra (a men's shawl/wrap, formal Punjabi garment worn over the shoulder)

love, want (imperative of chaahna) · desire, eagerness, longing

longings, desires, enthusiasm, eagerness

I want, I desire (subjunctive)

scheme, move, ploy; also means walk/gait, but here refers to matchmaking strate…

forty (the number 40, here: 40 km/h, a cruising speed through the village)

shade, shadow, shelter (from ਛਾਂ — protection. Here: being under his care suits…

prints, stamps, mints

four walls, one's own enclosed space, home

remedy, solution, recourse

all four (his crew, four guys rolling together)

raising, twirling upward (here: twirling moustache as a masculine display of pr…

climbs, mounts, ascends

climbed, finished, downed (from chaarhna; 'bottle chaarhna' = to finish the bot…

chest. 'Chaati te jarriyan' = bore them on my chest = absorbed the blows meant…

shade, shelter, shadow, protective cover

chewing, gnawing, eating aggressively

chewed up, ground down

to drop off, to leave, to let go · to leave, to quit, to let go of

to leave, to abandon (here: to get rid of someone) · don't leave, don't abandon…

going around having left/dropped (habitual)

want/need (feminine form) · needed, required (feminine)

wants, desires, loves

peace, comfort, calm

chain, necklace — a small/delicate chain

picks up, lifts (here: answering the phone)

raise, lift, pick up (here: raise the stakes -- not 'look with interest')

to pick up, to lift

the trip, the ride, the journey to nanke; a fixed expression for the excitement…

lifts, bears, puts up with (here: tolerates her moods)

lifted, raised up

taken, lifted, carried (feminine past participle); here: taken (an oath)

lifted, raised, here referring to vehicle suspension lift

heady, intoxicating, hype-inducing (from chakkna: to lift — same root as chakkv…

heady, dizzying, intoxicating; from chakkna (to lift) — a song so powerful it l…

derogatory slang for cowards/weak people (also a slur for hijras/trans people).…

chukar partridge, a bird from classical Punjabi/Urdu poetry said to be so encha…

beauties, stunners — from chakkna (to pick up/lift); a chakkvi is a girl so att…

come on, fine, let's go

are running, are working, are functioning

cleverness, trickery, cunning

tricks, cunning moves, cleverness

I drive, I operate, I push/move

runs, carries weight, is in effect

runs, operates, holds authority

worked, went, moved forward

let's go, shall we go (first person plural subjunctive of chalna)

runs, operates, carries (here: how far a reputation carries)

let's go (inclusive first person)

a show-off, loudmouth, someone who brags or talks too much (Punjabi slang)

Amar Singh Chamkila — the legendary Punjabi folk singer known for raw, uncensor…

skin, hide, leather

moonlit nights, nights bright with moonlight (from ਚੰਨ, moon)

sandalwood; in Indian folklore, cobras are attracted to sandalwood trees and co…

O troublesome/naughty girl, an affectionate reproach (literally moon-like, but…

silver

wretched, cursed; a common Punjabi intensifier used affectionately, especially…

wretched, cursed (used affectionately — the same endearing curse as 'chandra' f…

good ones, those who did right by him

good ones, quality people

the lyricist of this song, born ChanveerNatt in Surrey, BC. 'Nattan' comes from…

moon: the classic Punjabi beauty comparison for a luminous face · moon; common…

my moon (vocative endearment); direct address form of 'chann,' used affectionat…

jingling, clinking (feminine continuous, referring to the bangles)

lights, brightness, radiance (from chaanan = light/roshni, not specifically moo…

sparks (from chingaari = spark; she is so affected by watching them that sparks…

jingling, clinking (onomatopoeia for the sound of bangles or jewelry)

stamped, pressed, imprinted

grazed, herded

discussion, buzz, talk, here: being talked about, making news

talk, buzz, gossip, word-on-the-street · buzz, discussion, talk of the town (fr…

climbs up and speaks — idiom for something that takes over completely and annou…

rise, ascent, upward climb (from charhna = to climb/rise; Hindi cognate: chadha…

dominance, hype, being on top — literally 'ascent' but used colloquially for st…

to raise, to pour; here: to down drinks one after another

youth in its prime, blooming youth, the peak age of beauty

eternal optimism, a perpetually rising spirit -- a central Sikh concept recited…

rises, moves forward, advances (from charhna = to climb/ascend)

climbed, rose, struck (here: the fever 'hit' or 'rose')

risen and still rising — describes eyes becoming heavy/glazed with love-intoxic…

risen, elevated, fired up; eyes that look intoxicated. People assume it's drugs…

climbed, came on, rose (past tense — fever 'rose' or 'hit') · boarded, climbed…

spinning wheel, an iconic fixture of traditional Punjabi village life

craving, itch, addiction-like pull toward something

roof, ceiling. 'Neeli chatt' = the blue tarpaulin roof of a poor household. Rem…

roofs, ceilings. The visible surface.

36: refers to the 36 qauman (clans) of Punjab, meaning 'every type, all comers'

all four watches of the day; around the clock, 24/7 (from the traditional Punja…

the upper room of a traditional Punjabi haveli — a private, intimate space hist…

want, desire

to want, to desire

to love, to desire, to want deeply (from chaahna = to love/want; Hindi cognate:…

wanting, desiring (from chaahna = to want/love)

want, desire (feminine second person)

from wanting, from desiring, the act of longing for someone

deep desire, longing, a joyful yearning -- the feeling when something resonates…

want, desire, love (present habitual)

wanting, desiring, longing for

showing off, fronting, acting tough with no substance; all swagger, no backup

wide, puffed up — acting big, flexing in someone's face

my one, my thing (intimate possessive)

hawk, kite (the bird of prey)

claimed, snatched, marked — from cheenna (to snatch/claim). Could also refer to…

Chinese people, international visitors showing up at their spots

blackbucks (ਚੀਨਾ), Punjab's state animal. Keeping a pair on your farm was old-s…

stubborn, obstinate, won't budge. Intensifies the idea of arrh.

irritates, provokes, burns up

a sharp pang, a piercing ache from the chest; love-pain

thing; colloquially 'someone of substance, a big deal'

to chirp, to sing happily (of birds, conveying the mood of a lively home)

teasing, flirting, provoking playfully

provoked, poked, teased. From chherhna (to provoke).

provoke, poke, mess with (imperative negative: don't provoke)

memory, remembrance; 'chete aauna' means to come to mind, to be remembered

quickly, easily, in a hurry

quickly, soon

shade, shelter, shadow (used as a metaphor for protection and comfort) · to sif…

to leave, to drop, to let go of · to leave, to clear (here: clearing the path o…

to leave, to abandon

released, let go, set loose (echoes the chorus 'chhadiyan' at 150, connecting s…

left, released, let loose (at speed)

tricksters, fraudsters, fakers

thirty-six, refers to the 36 qauman (clans) of Punjab, meaning 'everyone, all c…

to dominate, to spread everywhere, to take over (from 'chaa jaana' — 'oh chaa g…

quickly, in a hurry

sixth (feminine oblique form)

has erupted, has flared up, has broken out

peeled, skinned — slang for beat down, humiliated, publicly exposed

touch, the sensation of physical contact

touched (feminine past of chhuhna) — a deliberate, personal touch; here meaning…

knife, small blade; here the blade used to pierce the ear cartilage during the…

to get provoked, irritated, stung

sparrows, small birds

getting defined, getting sculpted, showing marks of hard work; from chihna (mar…

sneeze. In Punjabi superstition, a sneeze before leaving the house is a bad ome…

porcelain, fine china (here: porcelain-white cars)

time, duration

a long time, ages; 'chiraan ton' means 'from a long time ago,' 'for ages'

sparrows (small birds, a symbol of simple domestic happiness in Punjabi imagery)

heart, mind, attention. 'Lagga chitt' = my heart isn't settling/sticking.

in memory, in conscious recall -- a compound meaning 'in mind and memory' (chit…

white, fair (here: fair complexion)

slipper, chappal (used for punishment). 'Khaayengi chittar' = you'll eat the sl…

white

to splash water (idiom) -- the quick repeated splashing of water on the face or…

tearing apart, shredding, chewing aggressively. Reduplication for emphasis.

white (feminine form)

a hefty, strong, imposing young man — from chob (mace/staff), someone who carri…

young man, lad (Malwai dialect)

young lads, young guys (slightly rough connotation, like 'young bucks')

young men, lads. Folk/rural term for young guys full of raw energy.

rice (chaul/chol); during vidaayi, the bride throws rice backward over her head…

chickpeas (chole). A staple Punjabi comfort food.

leaking, dripping (of a roof)

the set of red and white bangles placed on a Punjabi bride's wrists by her mate…

the wedding ritual of the chooda (red and white bangles given to the bride by h…

bangles, 'choodian pavaunde' = making someone wear bangles, a Punjabi idiom mea…

bangles, glass or metal bracelets worn as adornment

bangles (traditional glass or metal bracelets)

suckles, nurses on, from choongna, to consume by sucking

choori, a traditional Punjabi comfort food made by crushing roti with ghee and…

choose (English loanword)

thief

leaving, abandoning

secret, theft, something hidden. 'Chori farhi gayi' = got caught red-handed

thefts; also implies affairs, cheating (double meaning)

top, peak, summit — also refers to the topknot/braid on the crown of the head

intersection, crossroads, town square

pricks, stings, stabs (the ground hurts her delicate feet)

got freed, got released, bailed out (causative of chhutna)

surroundings, all around, in every direction

picking at, pecking at, scavenging

gossip, talking behind someone's back, backbiting; one of the most despised soc…

raised, lifted, elevated

an intense urge, itch, burning desire

to kiss

kissing repeatedly, adoringly (reduplication for emphasis)

dupatta, head scarf; a long cloth draped over the head and shoulders, part of a…

silence, quiet

silence, quiet

silently, quietly, without a word

clip, gun, weapon · hair clip; a small hair accessory. Continues the memento pa…

crease, clothing crease; his composure never wrinkles

ten million, here used as 'off the charts, countless'

of, by (possessive/genitive marker, masculine)

move, trick, gambit (as in strategy or a card/board game)

pressure, suppression, force applied to keep someone down

bandit, dacoit, outlaw — used with pride here, self-identifying as a folk outlaw

gift, donation, offering

a thick wooden stick, a lathi; a symbol of rural Punjabi might and authority

flock, herd, group (reducing individuals to livestock)

alcohol, liquor

the Giver, the Benefactor — a name for God emphasizing His role as the one who…

sickle, a hand tool used for cutting crops during harvest

buried, pressed down, suppressed

waistband area, the spot at the waist where things are tucked (can mean gun hol…

to suppress, to bury, to push down; here: burying feelings inside the heart (NO…

waistband holsters, the area at the waist where guns are tucked (dabb = waistba…

hidden, suppressed, buried, as in underestimated or out of sight

box, container (the storage box the chaadra is kept in)

small boxes, caskets. Chandi diyan dabbiyan = silver heirloom caskets for stori…

a loud stomp, a threatening thud, the sound of authority landing

betrayal, treachery, backstabbing

heavy beats, powerful thumps of the dhol

to block, to obstruct, to stop someone's path

a bit, a speck, the slightest amount; 'dakka ni' = not even a bit

block, obstruct, stand in the way of · lock up, shove in, confine

courage, bravery, guts; inner fortitude, not physical toughness

breath, spirit, essence, life-force (NOT money or ten) · substance, weight, for…

teeth; 'dand hassde na' (teeth don't smile) is a vivid way of saying he doesn't…

traditional Punjabi push-ups done in the akhara (wrestling pit), a swooping pik…

stung, bitten (as by a snake); struck, smitten

teeth

sting, bite; the venomous strike of a snake or scorpion

fear

pain, ache (here: the ache of infatuation)

fears, is afraid of (third person)

afraid, scared (feminine present)

scared, frightened (feminine plural, doubled for emphasis — dariyaan-dariyaan =…

rank, standing, recognition, place

tailor, one who stitches clothes

fear, being scared

scared, afraid (here: too intimidated to name-drop)

alcohol, liquor. Alcohol is haram (forbidden) in Islam. That the sons of qazis…

door, gate (Persian origin)

doors, gates

tell, say

tell (not 'ten'). 'Dass ki karaan' = tell me what I should do. · tell, say, rev…

bite, sting (specifically a serpent's bite — retroflex ਡੱਸ, different from dent…

I'll tell, I'll explain (first person future)

should I tell, how do I describe (first person subjunctive)

trained, instructed, shown how

tell (feminine imperative, 'don't tell') · telling, informing (here: a heads-up…

told, explained (past tense of dassna)

cork, bottle cap, stopper

caps, corks, stoppers (of bottles)

bicep (singular of dauleyan)

biceps (plural oblique of daula)

era, period, reign

dand, traditional Punjabi/akhara push-ups, a wrestling exercise

to give away impulsively, to hand over without thinking (compound verb: de = gi…

sight, glimpse, vision. A Persian-origin word implying a quasi-spiritual or dev…

one and a half

sight, glimpse, a longed-for viewing (from Persian 'deedar'); carries more weig…

sights, glimpses, the act of seeing the beloved

a glimpse of the beloved's face, a sacred seeing (Persian origin)

a glimpse, the act of beholding someone's beauty, more reverent than just 'look…

a long, deep swig; drinking deeply · a long, uninterrupted draught. Bottoms-up…

handles, takes care of, deals with

oil lamp, a traditional clay lamp with a cotton wick

oil lamps, candles (small light sources)

crazy in love, head-over-heels (masculine)

madly in love, crazed with passion (Urdu-origin, from diwana = one maddened by…

crazy in love, head-over-heels (feminine)

look, see

watches, sees

camp, base, establishment. Where you've planted yourself.

delay, holdup

give, here 'reply to'

knocked down, brought down, struck down

thread — here part of the simile comparing how completely she has passed throug…

raids, charges, bold aggressive moves

cover, hide, conceal

pushes, by force

by force, pushed into. 'Dhakki aundai' = success comes to him forcefully, like…

a type of wild, ecstatic bhangra dance. More intense and uncontrolled than regu…

threat, intimidation

blessed, praise be to

to place, to set down

places, sets down; from 'dharni,' to place one's foot on the ground

fixed, placed, set (feminine plural past participle)

earth, ground, land

a strong beat, a heavy thump, a physical strike of rhythm. Here: the thumping b…

neck, specifically the back/side of the neck that bows when someone submits

daughter

carrying, bearing on one's shoulders, hauling a heavy load. 'Naam dheonda reha'…

brought down, demolished, flattened

weak, faint, loose, going slack from intensity

deception, betrayal, being tricked

the double-headed Punjabi drum. The heartbeat of bhangra and dhamaal.

neck: specifically the graceful turn of the neck, a classic Punjabi beauty image

dust

smoke ripper. Means causing instant chaos, dominating immediately upon arrival.

mist, fog, haze

sunlight, sunshine, the heat of the sun

sunshine, sunlight (plural/oblique form of dhup)

in the sun, in the sunlight

the divine source, the primordial court; in Gurbani, "dhur" refers to where God…

attention, focus, meditation

diaries

falling

car trunk/boot

car trunks/boots (from 'diggi')

appearance, look, the way someone looks

let (someone) show, let them prove it

to show, to display; here implies showing off or performing

shows, displays

showing, displaying, performing (feminine plural)

heart, the seat of feeling

of the heart; things of the heart, innermost feelings

heart-shmeart (echo compound). 'Dul' is a nonsense rhyme of 'dil' that dismisse…

from the heart (ablative of dil)

mind, brain, here the restless, always-working mind

at daybreak, by dawn (literally: as the day rises)

day and night, all the time

you appear, you're visible (2nd person present of dissna; Hindi cognate: dikhta…

is visible, appears, can be seen, she appears to him everywhere

visible, seen (feminine form); 'you appear / I see you'

will be visible, will appear, you'll see (future tense of dissna; Hindi cognate…

madly in love, love-crazed

crazy, obsessed, mad about (feminine form of diwaana)

wall

of (feminine plural possessive)

again, once more, a second time (from Urdu dobaara; Hindi cognate: dobaara/phir…

bridal palanquin; the procession in which the bride leaves her parents' home fo…

double-barrel shotgun — literally 'two-pipe.' A powerful, no-nonsense weapon. H…

second or third (as in: there's no other option, no backup)

double, twice as much

far, distant

far-off places, distant lands

distance, gap, separation

distances, separation (plural)

from a distance, from far away

thread, string. Here: the kala dhaga (black thread) hung on vehicles/homes as f…

threads, traditional thread bracelets worn on wrists

Diljit's surname and the name of his home village Dosanjh Kalan in Jalandhar, P…

the one from Dosanjh (Dosanjh Kalan, Diljit's home village in Jalandhar)

the one from Dosanjh (Dosanjh Kalan, Diljit's home village in Jalandhar distric…

the one from Dosanjh. Diljit referring to himself by his ancestral village Dosa…

both, the two of us

prayer, supplication (Islamic term for personal prayer to God)

around, surrounding

prayers, supplications (plural of dua, from Arabic)

prayers, blessings

again, a second time

Dubai (city in UAE)

to drown, sink, submerge; in romantic context, to surrender completely to love

drowned (feminine past) — the same word as L3 but in feminine form, asking if s…

drowned, sank — here metaphorical: being overwhelmed, going under emotionally

milk tea made by boiling milk directly with tea leaves (no water); has a warm,…

sorrow, suffering, pain

pairs and triples in card games, small hands and small stakes, used here to mea…

to spill, to overflow (here: his affection overflowed onto someone else) · to s…

spilling, overflowing (the light is so abundant it pours off her face)

double-barreled shotguns. du = two, naali = barrel.

world, everyone

worldliness, worldly affairs, practical social obligations (Urdu/Persian compou…

in the afternoon, in broad daylight (emphasizes brazenness)

far

from afar, from a distance

medicine, cure, treatment -- here used as a threat: the 'medicine' to fix peopl…

the covered threshold/entrance of a traditional Punjabi haveli. Where guests ar…

this

this/this is

this much, to this extent

favor, obligation, charity. 'Ehsaan ni karde' = we don't treat our love as a tr…

trust, faith in someone; from Persian/Urdu 'aitbaar'

that's why, for this reason

torn, ripped, failures (here: lagging behind, no luck in love)

distance, gap (Urdu-origin, with nukta on ਫ਼)

suits, looks good, flatters — a rhetorical question: this behavior doesn't look…

benefit, use, advantage

spread, known everywhere, reached all corners

verdict, decision, ruling

pods, bean or pea pods hanging from a plant

seizes, grips, takes hold of · take, hold, get

we'd hand it to you, we'd give it back

holds, grabs, catches

grabbed, gripped, holding

difference, gap. Paired with tark: logic creates difference.

request, special order (often used for song dedications)

zooming, roaring past at speed

crop, harvest, her beauty compared to a field coming alive · crop, harvest; her…

the Sikh greeting response, from 'Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh'…

quickly, in one go, just like that

army, military force (from Arabic fauj -- here used for his crew/entourage; Hin…

feelings (English loanword with Punjabi plural suffix -an)

again, once more

worry, concern, anxiety about what others think

crack, split, division, rift

faded, pale, dim (in comparison)

bland, tasteless, light

fill (English word used as code-switch)

roaming, going around

wandering around, roaming (feminine habitual)

roaming around, going about, implies she's casually carrying on · goes around,…

empty, hollow, blank — a shot that misses or has no effect

to flip through, to browse, to leaf through

having flipped through, rummaged through

burns, blows through (money). From fookna (to blow, as on a flame). Street slan…

blowing through, spending lavishly

show-off, pretender, someone who's all talk and no substance

braggarts, big talkers

fulfilled boasts, made good on claims

iron or wooden beams that hold up a traditional Punjabi roof. The hidden struct…

to tread, to walk through, to trample. Used for walking through difficult terra…

songs and tunes, humming and singing (reduplicative pair for 'all kinds of musi…

songs

a traditional thread necklace, a simple neck ornament made of black thread

girl (colloquial Majha Punjabi, derived from gaat meaning figure/physique)

singing (feminine present participle); 'gaaundi hundi ci' is the habitual past:…

sings (habitual/subjunctive form)

young man, handsome guy — a term of masculine pride in Punjabi culture. Here us…

young man, strapping lad, a dashing Punjabi man

uproar, chaos, commotion

car, vehicle

cars, vehicles (in this line); in the next line, the same word means pinned/fix…

outsider, stranger, someone not part of the inner circle

strangers, outsiders, not your own people

yard; a unit of fabric measurement still used in Punjabi cloth markets

thunders, roars, dominates

thundering, roaring, booming. Appears four times in this verse, building rhythm…

flower bracelets/bangles; wrist garlands made from jasmine or other fragrant fl…

talk, matter, topic -- here: 'teri gal' = the topic of you

at every word, on every matter (reduplicated for emphasis)

embraces, arms around each other's necks (from galvakkdi = embrace; Hindi cogna…

conversation, ability to talk, verbal charm

a large, round Punjab citrus fruit (Citrus pseudolimon), bigger and rougher tha…

narrow lane, village street

streets, alleys, narrow lanes of a neighborhood; here representing real-world e…

streets, lanes

matter, thing, feeling — NOT neck (that's ਗਲ, a different word). Here: 'this ma…

neck (NOT gall=talk or gall=cheek, those are different words)

turned down a request, refused, said no (gall = request/word + morhi = turned b…

to embrace, to pull close to one's chest/neck (gall = neck; naal laana = to hol…

cheeks (with pairin haha ੍ਹ under the ਲ). Different from ਗੱਲਾਂ (conversations)…

cheek (not to be confused with 'gall' meaning talk/conversation)

cheeks (not to be confused with gallaan ਗੱਲਾਂ = words/talk; the subscript h in…

lane, narrow street

from reason/cause (ablative of gall). 'Bina gallon' = without reason.

sorrows, griefs (oblique plural)

serious, grave

sorrow, grief, pain (from Urdu/Persian gham)

sadness, sorrow, grief

likely the maker or source of the katta (desi guns are often known by their man…

the gear/pulley is going to get stuck — metaphor for getting tangled in serious…

poverty, hardship, the state of having nothing

traditional brass Punjabi tumbler, a small drinking vessel common in village ho…

pride, arrogance; an inflated sense of self-worth

death, passing, the soul's departure; in Sikh/Hindu context means salvation or…