Boat Song
agam Lyrics
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Paadi kalikkuvanai aadimaar venam
Thudakkalam varuvenam thonikal aayiram aayiram venam
Kaayalil olam thullumbol!
Paathira poo venam, Aathira raavu venam (2)
Paadi kalikkuvanai aadimaar venam
Thudakkalam varuvenam thonikal aayiram aayiram venam
THITHI THAARA THITHI THEY THITHEY THAKA THEY THEY THOM(4)
Paathira poo venam, Aathira raavu venam (2)
Paadi kalikkuvanai aadimaar venam
Thudakkalam varuvenam thonikal aayiram aayiram venam
Kaayalil olam thullumbol!
THITHI THAARA THITHI THEY THITHEY THAKA THEY THEY THOM(4)
*guitar solo bit*
Puzhayorathu aake thengi vengum,
Thoo mekham, poo thaalam, thoo vaanam nenjin aaravam aayi
Kuttanadin olangal!
Puzhayoram neele neele chaayum
*Thaka thithey thaaro* ()
Mazha megham neele neele chaarum
*Thaka thithey thaaro* ()
Puzhayoram neele neele chaayum
*Thaka thithey thaaro* ()\
Mazha megham neele neele chaarum
*Thaka thithey thaaro* ()
Poo vili poo vili aaravam aayi
Kaayalil olam thullumbol!
THITHI THAARA THITHI THEY THITHEY THAKA THEY THEY THOM(4)
*guitar bit*
THITHI THAARA THITHI THEY THITHEY THAKA THEY THEY THOM(12)
The lyrics of Agam's Boat Song are a blend of mystical and metaphysical elements. The song starts with "Paathira poo venam, Aathira raavu venam" which translates to "We need flowers from the Paathirappoo tree and the breeze of Aathira (a person with a pure/holy soul)." Here, it could be interpreted that the singer is asking for purity and calmness around them. The next line "Paadi kalikkuvanai aadimaar venam" translates to "We need musicians to play musical instruments and sing." This line could indicate that the singer is looking for harmony and melody in their life. The line "Thudakkalam varuvenam thonikal aayiram aayiram venam," which means "We need boats and thousands of oars" could suggest the singer's need for a multitude of options and opportunities in their life. The verse ends with the phrase "Kaayalil olam thullumbol," which translates to "When the world revolves on its own axis in the sea," indicating that the singer may be asking for stability in a world that is ever-changing.
The chorus repeats the same lyrics, followed by the phrase "THITHI THAARA THITHI THEY THITHEY THAKA THEY THEY THOM." This phrase is known as Konnakol, a form of South Indian percussion music, which the song uses intermittently. It acts as a rhythm accompaniment to the song's melody. The Konnakol phrase could mean nothing and only serve as a musical accompaniment. However, some interpretations suggest that it could be a form of scatting, a way to display vocal dexterity.
The next verse starts with "Puzhayorathu aake thengi vengum," meaning "When the breeze meets the river and carries coconut palms and wooden boats," indicating a peaceful and serene time. The line "Thoo mekham, poo thaalam, thoo vaanam nenjin aaravam aayi" translates to "The smell of earth, rhythmic flowers, and the sound of air soothes the mind." These lines could imply a moment of contemplation and introspection. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus and the Konnakol phrase.
Overall, Agam's Boat Song lyrics may suggest the search for calmness, stability, melody, and serenity. The metaphysical interpretation of the song grants its listener the freedom to interpret it in their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Paathira poo venam, Aathira raavu venam (2)
We need a flower in darkness and a breeze in heat
Paadi kalikkuvanai aadimaar venam
We need the ancient storytellers to sing
Thudakkalam varuvenam thonikal aayiram aayiram venam
We need dreams to be delivered, we need a thousand and one searchlights
Kaayalil olam thullumbol!
When the world swirls in the sea
THITHI THAARA THITHI THEY THITHEY THAKA THEY THEY THOM(4)
A rhythmic syllable that means nothing
*guitar solo bit*
An instrumental solo on guitar
Puzhayorathu aake thengi vengum,
Coconut palms will sway at the river's bank
Thoo mekham, poo thaalam, thoo vaanam nenjin aaravam aayi
The fragrance of humidity, rhythm of flowers, and vacuum of the sky will become my heart's desire
Kuttanadin olangal!
The memories of childhood
Puzhayoram neele neele chaayum
The riverbank will be covered in a blue hue
*Thaka thithey thaaro* ()
The meaningless rhythmic syllable continues
Mazha megham neele neele chaarum
The monsoon clouds will merge with the blue hue
Poo vili poo vili aaravam aayi
The breeze will carry the scent of flowers
Kaayalil olam thullumbol!
When the world swirls in the sea
THITHI THAARA THITHI THEY THITHEY THAKA THEY THEY THOM(4)
The rhythmic syllable repeats
*guitar bit*
An instrumental solo on guitar
THITHI THAARA THITHI THEY THITHEY THAKA THEY THEY THOM(12)
The meaningless rhythmic syllable repeats 12 times
Contributed by Brayden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@quantrake
This is rather long but here is a translation.
Paathira poo venam, Aathira raavu venam (2)
Paadi kalikkuvanai aalukal venam
Thudakkalam varuvenam thonikal aayiram aayiram venam
Kaayalil olam thullumbol!
Paathira poo venam, Aathira raavu venam (2)
Paadi kalikkuvanai aalikal venam
Thudakkalam varuvenam thonikal aayiram aayiram venam
Kaayalil olam thullumbol!
This is a boat race song, the songs they sing during or on the occasion of the boat race festival (vallamkali in malayalam, Vallam or thoni is boat, kali is game).
The song anticipates the exitement around the boat race, it compares the night
before to the thiruvathira day when people are waking up through the night.
It goes ahead and hopes that the boat race should be preceeded by a night of excitement like that of thiruvathira.
The first line is the reference to an astrologically and culturally significant day where the moon aligns with the same side of the sky as the betelguese (thiruvathira in malayalam, Aardra in Hindi/Sanskrit ) star. Young maidens take a bath and adorn their hairs with "Paathira Poovu"or midnight flowers, they wake through the night observing a vow to the gods (Vratha in sanskrit, Vrath in Hin., Vratham in Mal.). Normally to pass time they will engage in singing and traditional dance called thirvathira
"Paathira poo venam, Aathira raavu venam" "is a desire or a prayer that there should be women adorning themselves with flowers at the night like thiruvathira"
"Paadi kalikkuvanai azhimar venam" There should be women to sing and dance through the night
"Thudakkalam varuvenam thonikal aayiram aayiram venam" And at dawn there should be the coming of thousands of boats (thoni)
"Kaayalil olam thullumbol!" when the waters of the backwaters dance merrily
(Backwaters are unique waterbodies seen in kerala, life around it is portrayed in many movies(Amen in Malayalam, Vinaithandi varuvaaya Tamil)
a smpler translation would be
Flowers should be worn at midnight, like the night of Aathira
There should be women to sing and dance (through the night )
The morning should come with thousands of boats
When the waves dance merrily in the backwater
THITHI THAARA THITHI THEY THITHEY THAKA THEY THEY THOM(4) (this are just rythmic syllables similar to 'bol' in tabla)
Paathira poo venam, Aathira raavu venam (2)
Paadi kalikkuvanai aalukal venam
Thudakkalam varuvenam thonikal aayiram aayiram venam
Kaayalil olam thullumbol!
THITHI THAARA THITHI THEY THITHEY THAKA THEY THEY THOM(4)
guitar solo bit
Puzhayorathu aake thingi vingum,
the banks would be thronged with people
Thoo mekham, poo thaanam, thoo vaanam nenjin aaravam aayi
Bright/white clouds, flower palettes, bright skies make the heart sing
Kuttanadin olangal!
The waves of (backwaters of) Kuttanad1
Puzhayoram neele neele chaayum
The banks would sway
Thaka thithey thaaro ()
Mazha megham neele neele chaarum
The rain ( clouds) would drizzle the length of the banks
Thaka thithey thaaro ()
Puzhayoram neele neele chaayum
The banks would sway
Thaka thithey thaaro ()
Poo vili poo vili aaravam aayi
The atmosphere will reverberate with flower calls (may mean whistles, cat calls) and celebrations, "poo vili" is also the call of
the children when the go out to collect flowers for making the flower patterns called athapoovu during onam
Kaayalil olam thullumbol!
When the waves dance in the backwaters
@hsivaramakrishnan
Everytime some one says Carnatic music is a religious art and has been built for preserving Bhakti - I feel insanely proud that we as Agam could create this music which fiercely questions that fiefdom of elitist purists, who work hard to keep the art stifled.
Never thought too highly about our own music and always thought we had a long way to go and learn. But if we are already making the elitists uncomfortable , we must be doing something right and that's a delightful moment for us at Agam.
@nityatamizhmani4492
I loove love love that about you guys! Rock on!!!!
@nairrohit83
Don't know about the larger argument but this is a classic one. I guess it sticks because it is good. Kudos.
@onkarkulkarni6126
There are people who feel uncomfortable with your music? Seriously? What is wrong with the idiots?
If it is about bhakti then, in the purest sense of word, they should spend a few moments observing the way you guys completely lose yourself while playing these songs.
Keep making those idiots uncomfortable. More power to you. (Y)
@vickneshkrishnan3199
Music shouldn't be confined to envelope rigid borders. Yes, some are meant to praise religious aspects but it doesnt mean it can't be made creative and more versatile for people to embrace it.
AGAM - you guys are doing a great job and as a musician/keyboardist myself, hats off to your creativity and depth of music sense. I'd extend my support to you guys all the way from Malaysia.
Take less heed of the idiots who call themselves "know it all" and comment as it clearly shows where they stand in the real sense of music maturity... :)
@veejayven
Why don't you wait to see if you at least out last a Papanasam Sivan or any 20th century composer before praising yourself. Just as Michael Jackson was more famous than Mozart, but will not out last Mozart, so too will you rock musicians not outlast the classicists even if you are more popular for now. By the way, purists do not keep art stifled; they preserve its true value.
@saadkamal9933
This song is going in my car's playlist. Respect from Pakistan
@HasanMostafa
Saad Kamal share the playlist please? 😊
@Rijilks
I need to check your playlist
@mikespeaker9930
Saad Kamal 🇮🇳==🇵🇰