bada shahr bada shahr, bada shahar bada shahr
kisi ke liye tu bais-e-tamaniyat
kisi ke liye tu saman-e-masarrat
aur kisi ke liye hai tu, sarasar qahr
bade shahar ki chah mein, jaane kitne tabah hue
kitne ruthe apnon se
kitne chhute ham-watanon se
lamha lamha ulajhte rahe
sachche jhute sapnon se
bade shahar ka khwab liye, har pal naya azab liye
bhagte rahe tamam umr, pesh-e-nazar sarab liye
la-hasili ka khwab liye
ghode ke aage ghas ho jaise
har sans nai aas ho jaise
jine ki umang mein
marte rahe, marte rahe
jannat panw ki chhod ke, thandak ganw ki chhod ke
ruh jalti rahi tamam umr, badan ki chita mein
zindagi azab liye
bade shahar ka khwab liye
jalte rahe, tapte rahe, bade banne ke firaq mein
shortcut lete rahe
raaton-raat, amir banne ki tak mein
hum chalte rahe, chalte rahe
bade shahar ki chah mein, jaane kaise kaise gunah kiye
yahan tak ki aankhen hamari pathra gain, panw hamare shal hue
insaniyat hum se chhin gai, hum darindon ke misl hue
khushiyon ki talash mein, hum jite-ji lash hue
is qadar behis-o-bad-hawas hue, hum khud se hi udas hue
bada shahr bada shahr, bada shahr bada shahr
be-imaniyon ki dagar, bad-unwaniyon ka nagar
sach hai teri chah mein, jaane kitne tabah hue
sara ganw apnon se khali ho gaya
matami faza mein, ab har taraf hasrat-o-yas hai
phir bhi bade shahar ki pyas hai ki kabhi bujhti nahin
ek khilqat hai ki kabhi rukti nahin!
ek hijrat hai ki kabhi rukti nahin!
zindagi kisi se haar jae, ye kabhi mumkin nahin
zindagi kisi se mat khae, ye bhi ab mumkin nahin
zindagi rukti nahin!!
zindagi jhukti nahin!!