Born in Almora, Uttar Pradesh, India, Ananda was the son of Amala and Uday Shankar, popular dancers. He was also the nephew of renowned sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar. Ananda did not learn sitar from his uncle but studied instead with Dr. Lalmani Misra in Varanasi.
In the late 1960s Shankar travelled to Los Angeles, where he played with many contemporary musicians including Jimi Hendrix. There he was signed to Reprise Records and released his first studio album, the self-titled Ananda Shankar in 1970, featuring original Indian classical material alongside sitar-based cover versions of popular hits such as The Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and The Doors' "Light My Fire". This album has become an enduring cult classic.
Returning to India in the early 1970s Shankar continued to experiment musically and in 1975 released his most critically acclaimed album, Ananda Shankar and His Music, a jazz-funk mix of Eastern sitar, tabla and mridangam, Western rock guitar, drums and Moog synthesizers. Out of print for many years, Ananda Shankar and His Music was re-released on CD in 2005.
After working in India during the late 1970s and 1980s, Shankar's profile in the West began to rise again in the mid-1990s as his music found its way into club DJ sets, particularly in London. His music was brought to a wider audience with the release of Blue Note Records' popular 1996 rare groove compilation album, Blue Juice Vol. 1., featuring the two standout tracks from Ananda Shankar and His Music, "Dancing Drums" and "Streets of Calcutta".
In the late 1990s Shankar worked and toured in the United Kingdom with London DJ State of Bengal and others, a collaboration that would result in the Walking On album, featuring Shankar's trademark sitar soundscapes mixed with breakbeat and hip hop. Walking On was released in 2000 after Shankar's sudden death from heart failure the year before.
In 2005, his song "Raghupati" was featured in the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
Snow Flower
Ananda Shankar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eoneusae gireojin geurimjareul ttaraseo
Ttanggomi jin odeum sogeul geudaewa geotgo itneyo
Soneul majujapgo geu eonjekkajirado
Hamkke itneun geolmaneuro nunmuri naneungeolyo
Parami chagawojineun mankeum
Gyeouleun kagggawo (oneyo) oneude
Jigum olhae-e cheotneunggoteul barabomyeo
Hamkke itneun
I sungane nae modeun geol tangshingge jugo shipeo
Ireon gasume geudael anayo.
Yakhagiman han naega anieyo.
Ireohke gudael saranghaneunde
Keujeo nae mami ireolppuningeojyo
Geudae gyeoramyeon tto eottyeon irirado
Halsuisseul-geotman gata geureon gibuni teuneyo
Eoneuri jinago ddo eonjeggajirado
Urisarang yeongwonhagil gidohago isseoyo.
Parami naui changeul heundeulgo eoduun pammajeo
Kkaeumyeon geudae apeun gieokmajeodo
Naega da jiwojulgeyo
Hwanhan geu misoro keutobshi naerineun
Saehayan nunkkotdeurro uri keoddeon i georiga
Eoneu sae byeonhan geotdo moreuneun chae
Hwanhan bicheuro muldeurokayo.
Nugunga wihae na saragatnayo.
Mueoshieunl da haejugo shipeun ireonge saranginjul baewosseoyo.
Hokshi geudaeitneun got eodinji aratdamyeon
Gyeoulpampyeori dwae gudareul bichosseul tende
Utton naldo nunmure chochotdon seulpeun bamedo
Eonjena geu eonjena gyeote isseulkeyo.
Jigum orhae-e chotneunkocheul parabomyeo
Hamkke itneun i sungane
Nae modeun geol tangshinkke jugoshipeo
Iroen gasume geudat anayo uljimarayo.
Nareul parabwayo.
Geucheo gudaeui gyeoteso hamkke itgo
Shipeun mambbunirago tashin kudael nohchi aneulkkeyo.
Ggeutobshi naerimyeo uril kamssaon gori gadeukhan
Nunkkot sokeseo geudaewa nae gasume chogeumsshik
Jakun chuokeul keurineyo
Yeongwonhi naegyeote geudae (meomulleo) isseoyo
The Korean song "Snow Flower" by Ananda Shankar begins with the singer following the footsteps of their lover that are etched in the snow. The snowflake patterns remain in the singer's mind, and they keep walking with their lover, holding hands. Even if they are together, tears roll down their eyes because of the affection they hold for each other. In the second verse, the singer realizes that they can't get over the love they have for their companion, and it keeps growing stronger each day. The singer wants to stay with their lover forever, and they are willing to wait for as long as it takes. The song's chorus and verses repeat how the snow symbolizes their love, which will continue to grow and live beyond the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Eoneusae gireojin geurimjareul ttaraseo
Following the faint traces that were left behind
Ttanggomi jin odeum sogeul geudaewa geotgo itneyo
Walking in step with your steps that are imprinted in the snow
Soneul majujapgo geu eonjekkajirado
Even if we hold hands tightly, no matter how long it has been
Hamkke itneun geolmaneuro nunmuri naneungeolyo
We shed tears only because we're together
Parami chagawojineun mankeum
Sometimes, as I search for my half
Gyeouleun kagggawo (oneyo) oneude
As the winter gets deeper
Jogumsshik i geori geuwiro geudaereul bonaeyahaetdeon gejeori oneyo
This place is where I used to come to catch a glimpse of you
Jigum olhae-e cheotneunggoteul barabomyeo
Looking at the first snow falling right now
Hamkke itneun
Together
I sungane nae modeun geol tangshingge jugo shipeo
In this moment, I want to give you everything I have
Ireon gasume geudael anayo.
This heart remembers you.
Yakhagiman han naega anieyo.
Only I know about the pain.
Ireohke gudael saranghaneunde
Loving you like this
Keujeo nae mami ireolppuningeojyo
My heart feels like it's going to burst
Geudae gyeoramyeon tto eottyeon irirado
No matter what else is out there, when it comes to you
Halsuisseul-geotman-gata geureon gibuni teuneyo
It feels like I can only breathe
Eoneuri jinago ddo eonjeggajirado
Even if today passes and time goes by
Urisarang yeongwonhagil gidohago isseoyo.
Our love will wait forever.
Parami naui changeul heundeulgo eoduun pammajeo
With a faint breath, I loosen the reins of my heart in the dark night
Kkaeumyeon geudae apeun gieokmajeodo
When it fades away, even painful memories of you
Naega da jiwojulgeyo
I'll erase them all
Hwanhan geu misoro keutobshi naerineun
Under the dazzling smile that blooms fully
Saehayan nunkkotdeurro uri keoddeon i georiga
This path that we walked on with the fresh cherry blossoms
Eoneu sae byeonhan geotdo moreuneun chae
Even knowing a few different things every day
Hwanhan bicheuro muldeurokayo.
It feels like I'm getting moistened with a bright light.
Nugunga wihae na saragatnayo.
Am I living for someone else?
Mueoshieunl da haejugo shipeun ireonge saranginjul baewosseoyo.
I wish I could give everything to this love that wants to do everything
Hokshi geudaeitneun got eodinji aratdamyeon
If only I could know where you are
Gyeoulpampyeori dwae gudareul bichosseul tende
I'll light a lamp and wait for you in the winter night
Utton naldo nunmure chochotdon seulpeun bamedo
In a lonely night where tears fall like rain
Eonjena geu eonjena gyeote isseulkeyo.
Will you always, always be by my side?
Jigum orhae-e chotneunkocheul parabomyeo
Looking at the passing moment right now
Hamkke itneun i sungane
In this moment when we are together
Nae modeun geol tangshinkke jugoshipeo
I want to give you everything I have
Iroen gasume geudat anayo uljimarayo.
This heart remembers you, and it cries.
Nareul parabwayo.
Please look at me.
Geucheo gudaeui gyeoteso hamkke itgo
I'll stay by your side, holding onto your memories
Shipeun mambbunirago tashin kudael nohchi aneulkkeyo.
I won't let go of you, who I miss so much.
Ggeutobshi naerimyeo uril kamssaon gori gadeukhan
The road that should've ended is full of flowers that thanked us
Nunkkot sokeseo geudaewa nae gasume chogeumsshik
As I stand in front of you with the flowers, my heart feels full
Jakun chuokeul keurineyo
I'll keep this moment in my heart.
Yeongwonhi naegyeote geudae (meomulleo) isseoyo
You will always be with me (without stopping).
Writer(s): PAUL LEWINSON, AMANDA SHANKER
Contributed by Alaina M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@truthaboveall9
I listened to a beautiful sitar melody about 36 years ago, it burned into my mind, but I have not noted the artist of the track. Over the years, I've often thought of the tune, but I've searched in vain and never found it (search sites, Youtube, Midomi, Shazam). The last time was today and now finally Google music recognition helped me. What a great timeless music and what a great feeling after 36 years...
@devlinroy1
Similar story. I heard it first in a black & white commercial of National Textile Corporation several decades ago. I searched and searched in vain. Finally heard it again in a 4-5 second clip in Welcome to India documentary by BBC. Now, thanks to Shazam, I got the full song.
@nishitadas3147
Listening after 40 years, still feeling beautiful.
@alok666sharma
:) You don’t look old at all pretty lady
@janosstrbik5064
it's so kind, so lively,
one of the most beautiful music pieces all over the world
in the 70's and 80's hungarian Petofi radio was played this song in early morning - it was every time great to start the day with these melodies...
@nagyattila3144
:-) én is még a magyar rádióból emlékszem rá!!És úgy 35 év távlatából tegnap este kerestem rá.
@andreahadnagy2699
Amazing!😄
When I was child , I heard so many times, and now, with Youtube, I can listen again. I'm so happy!😂
@nagyattila3144
Úgy látom a kommentekből,hogy egy csomó magyar szívében megragadt ez a zene.Én tegnap este kerestem rá,több mint 30 év után.Imádom!!
@ankitpatel5093
Anand Shankar musical pieces and fusion music was most soothing and unique. Nobody will ever come close to him. A 'gem' of India.
@nasarhassankhan8867
my dad was very deeply into music. this tune was used by him as fill up on so many of his cassettes that its become an integral part of my childhood memories. superb composition.