Born in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Khan had his first public performance at age of 16, at his father's chelum. He became the head of the family qawwali party in 1971. He was signed by Oriental Star Agencies, Birmingham, England, in the early 1980s. Khan went on to release movie scores and albums in Europe, India, Japan, Pakistan, and the U.S.A. He engaged in collaborations and experiments with Western artists, becoming a well-known world music artist. He toured extensively, performing in over 40 countries.
Nothing Without You
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sajna tere bina
Dil kamla dub dub jaave
Sajna tere bina
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
Khuda, dushman kise nu vi hijar da rog na laave
Zamana marda thaane, judai jaan pai khave
Sanu ik pal chain na aave Sajna tere bina
Beqadre naal preetan laake aiyhon kuj hi hona
Soonjian raavan thakde raina, kalea beh ke roovan
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
Beparvai aadat teri ve aasan rakhian
Suthre bhag na jaage mere, sohn na dendian aakhiyan
Sanu ik pal chain na aave Sajna tere bina
Than ve pyasa, man ve pyasa tenu kol bulavan
Toon aavain te jaan na deevan javain te mar j
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
Dil kamla dub dub jaave
Sajna tere bina
The lyrics of "Nothing Without You" express the intense longing and yearning of the singer for their loved one. The first few lines vividly illustrate the pain of separation - "Sanu ik pal chain na aave, Sajna tere bina / Dil kamla dub dub jaave, Sajna tere bina" - "I cannot find a moment's rest, oh beloved, without you / My heart beats erratically, oh beloved, without you". This sense of restlessness and anxiety is further heightened by the repetition of the phrase "Sajna tere bina" (oh beloved, without you) throughout the song.
The next lines, "Khuda, dushman kise nu vi hijar da rog na laave / Zamana marda thaane, judai jaan pai khave" mean "May God never inflict the pain of separation on anyone / The world suffers in agony, and even death can result from separation". The singer expresses the belief that the pain of being separated from one's beloved is such that it can take a toll on one's physical and emotional well-being.
The rest of the song continues to mourn the absence of the loved one - "Beqadre naal preetan laake aiyhon kuj hi hona / Soonjian raavan thakde raina, kalea beh ke roovan" (I don't care what happens as long as I have your love / I wander aimlessly through the night, crying uncontrollably) - and highlights how the singer's life has been consumed by their love for the other person, as seen in the lines "Than ve pyasa, man ve pyasa tenu kol bulavan / Toon aavain te jaan na deevan javain te mar j" (My body and my soul are thirsty for you, I call out for you / If you come, I will not leave, even if I die).
Overall, "Nothing Without You" is a passionate and heartfelt ode to the all-consuming power of love, and a testament to the profound effect that separation from one's beloved can have on a person.
Line by Line Meaning
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
I cannot find a moment's peace without you
Sajna tere bina
My beloved, without you
Dil kamla dub dub jaave
My heart is restless and beats erratically
Khuda, dushman kise nu vi hijar da rog na laave
God, do not afflict anyone with the pain of separation, not even my enemies
Zamana marda thaane, judai jaan pai khave
The world suffers in agony, dying due to separation
Beqadre naal preetan laake aiyhon kuj hi hona
Without regard for consequence, I loved you and accepted whatever came my way
Soonjian raavan thakde raina, kalea beh ke roovan
I wander aimlessly through the night, crying myself to sleep
Beparvai aadat teri ve aasan rakhian
I tolerate your careless behavior with ease
Suthre bhag na jaage mere, sohn na dendian aakhiyan
I cannot seem to sleep nor close my weary eyes
Than ve pyasa, man ve pyasa tenu kol bulavan
My body and soul thirst for you, longing for your presence
Toon aavain te jaan na deevan javain te mar j
I cannot live without you, if you leave me, I'll die
Dil kamla dub dub jaave
My heart is restless and beats erratically
Sajna tere bina
My beloved, without you
Contributed by Callie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LowlierThanThow
I was really lucky to have seen NFAK perform live twice in the UK when my Pakistani parents took me to his concerts.
I knew nothing about Qavali music but I was converted at that moment.
I first heard this particular song as a young adult, 19 years old and became completely hooked. I played this to my wife after we first got married but then I lost it.
Nearly twenty years later I have found this song again. I can't believe it!
If you want to see the original version of this song I found it on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ri7gp4wWMoM
@nishtek
Translation 👇
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
I cannot find a moments peace
My beloved, without you
Sada kalian ji nahin lagna
sajna tere bina
Sada = Ours (formal for my)
Kalian = Alone
Ji = although this means mind or soul, “ji nahin jagda” is an impossible phrase to translate. It’s more than saying “bored” it’s more of “my soul cannot find contentment” or “my soul/mind cannot become fixed (i.e. not wander)”
Nahin = Not (nahiyon = will not [future tense])
Lagna = to become fixated or attached (future tense)
Alone, my mind will not be able to find peace
My beloved, without you
Source : Reddit
@Lilfairtrade
SUBLIME!
All credit and thanks to https://lovedtobehated.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-sanu-ik-pal-chain-na-aave-lyrics/ for both translations below.
Album: Mustt Mustt (Real World) Year: 1991
Recording with Ustad Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan and modern instrumentation
(music by Michael Brook)
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
I cannot find a moments peace
My beloved, without you
Sada kalian ji nahin lagna
sajna tere bina
Sada = Ours (formal for my)
Kalian = Alone
Ji = although this means mind or soul, “ji nahin jagda” is an impossible phrase to translate. It’s more than saying “bored” it’s more of “my soul cannot find contentment” or “my soul/mind cannot become fixed (i.e. not wander)”
Nahin = Not (nahiyon = will not [future tense])
Lagna = to become fixated or attached (future tense)
Alone, my mind will not be able to find peace
My beloved, without you
Album: Live in New York (Real World) Year: 1997
Recording with Hum Nawah and traditional instrumentation
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
I cannot find a moments peace
My beloved, without you
Sada kalian ji nahiyon lagna
Sajna tere bina
Alone, my mind will not be able to find peace
My beloved, without you
Kise da yaar na pardes jaave
Vichorda na kise de pash aave
Kise = Anyone
Yaar = Friend
Pardes = Foreign
Vichorda = Separation
Pash = Present
Nobody’s beloved should leave to foreign lands,
Nobody should be presented with [the dilemma] separation.
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
I cannot find a moments peace
My beloved, without you
Rog, vijog, te sog hazaran, Sajna tere naa de.
Ohna pane roz qayamat, vichrde yaar jina de
Rog = Illness
Vijog = Separation
Sog = Lamentation
Hazaran = Thousands
Naa = Name
Ohna = They
Pane = whether
Roz = Daily
Qayamat = Doomsday
Sickness, separation, and lamentation a thousand times over, your name is written on each and every one.
Each and every day feels like doomsday for those who have become separated beloved
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
I cannot find a moments peace
My beloved, without you
Hokay, harde, hijar de aathroo, de gaya yaar sugathaan, Murd na aaye dil de mehram, beeth gaya barsaatan
Hokay = Sobs
Harday = Wailing
Hijar = Separation
Athroo = Tears
Sugaath = Gift
Murd = Return
Mehram = Beloved
Beeth = Passed
Barsaat = Showers, rain, monsoon
Sobs, wails, and tears of separation, these are the gifts my beloved has given me.
The beloved of my heart has not returned, so many monsoons have passed.
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
I cannot find a moments peace
My beloved, without you
Album: Swan Song (Real World) Year: 1998
Recording with Hum Nawah and modern instrumentation
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
I cannot find a moments peace
My beloved, without you
Kise da yaar na pardes jaave
Vichorda na kise de pash aave
Nobody’s beloved should leave to foreign lands,
Nobody should be presented with [the dilemma] separation.
Raathen main jagaavan deva, hanjooan de thel da
Hai Rabba sajna nu chethhi kyon ni mel da
Raathen = At night
Jagaavan = To light
Deva = Lantern
Hanjoo = Tears
Thel = Oil
Rabba = God
Chethi = Rapidly
Kyon = Why
Mel = Meet
At night, I light the lantern with tears in place of oil,
Oh Lord, why don’t you hurry and reunite me with my beloved?
CREDIT: https://lovedtobehated.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan-sanu-ik-pal-chain-na-aave-lyrics/
@DeOrsini
Nothing Without You
Song by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Romam Alphabet Transliteration:
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
Dil kamla dub dub jaave
Sajna tere bina
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
Khuda, dushman kise nu vi hijar da rog na laave
Zamana marda thaane, judai jaan pai khave
Sanu ik pal chain na aave Sajna tere bina
Beqadre naal preetan laake aiyhon kuj hi hona
Soonjian raavan thakde raina, kalea beh ke roovan
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
Beparvai aadat teri ve aasan rakhian
Suthre bhag na jaage mere, sohn na dendian aakhiyan
Sanu ik pal chain na aave Sajna tere bina
Than ve pyasa, man ve pyasa tenu kol bulavan
Toon aavain te jaan na deevan javain te mar j
Sanu ik pal chain na aave
Sajna tere bina
Dil kamla dub dub jaave
Sajna tere bina
@marioc130
My daughter asked me wich one was my favorite song on the whole world... Though I am Latin and never meet this wonderful artist, the answer was easy... THIS ONE!!!
@Adeelon1
I loved your comment because I feel the same.
Do you know what it means?
@m.n.sharif5306
Well said brother.. I'm guessing you know the translation, with you mentioning your daughter.. I feel the same love for the Latino Hispanic culture.. Strength in unity..
@zulfiqarawan2660
Saanu aik paal chaain na aavay.
Not a single moment of relaxation
Sajna tere bina
Without you O my companion
Sadda Kahlayaan Jee Nai Lagna
Being alone Our heart won't be at peace
Sajna Tere Bina
Without you companion
@nidhwaan
🖤 NFAKism ❤️
@1hanita
one of my most favorite too <3
@ajayraj5985
There is some magic in this version
@ZubinX
I think the rhythm matches our heartbeat…. I feel ecstasy when I hear this fusion version with Michael Brook. Mind blowing!
@RobertoAHenderson
The amazing voice I first heard on the soundtrack of " Bend it like Beckham ". And now I can't stop enjoying his gift to us. Thank you, God, Allah for this gift to the world.
@khawarahmed1776
No matter how hard people try to copy him , but He Khan Sahab is one and only King of music and Singing, no one can take his place he was he is and always will be the epitome of greatness. Legend