Techi

Aa.... Aaa...

(Vocal melody)

Main te mera techi

Just me and my worn-out suitcase.

Kayi vaar roye aan

We've shed many silent tears together.

Jinni vaari maape chhad

Every time I had to leave my parents behind,

Pindon door hoye aan

And head far away from my roots.

Main te mera techi

Just me and my suitcase.

Main te mera techi

Me and my solitary companion.

Sarrda hunda vich Punjab

If only I could’ve survived back in Punjab,

Na pardesi jaande

I never would’ve had to become an expat.

Pind ch bulle luttde si

I was living the dream back in my village,

Itthe na dhakke khaande

Instead of grinding away out here in the dirt.

Itthe na dhakke khaande

Not suffering through these daily struggles.

Sadke jaawan vilayat de

I owe a lot to this foreign land,

Sadke jaawan vilayat de

I’m grateful for the opportunities abroad,

Jihne saambhe kote choye aa

Where even the broken have found a way to survive.

Main te mera techi

Me and my suitcase.

Ho main te mera techi

Just my suitcase and I.

Ho pind jameen’an wale sath

Back home, I was a landowner's son,

Aithe haan truck’an wale

Out here, I’m just another truck driver.

Mehnat karke khaayi di

We earn our bread through honest sweat.

Dhande ni kitte kaale

None of that shady, dark-alley business for me.

Dhande ni kitte kaale

My record is squeaky clean.

Neetan bilkul saaf ae ya

My intentions are pure and transparent.

Ni taan bilkul saaf

Absolutely genuine.

Bhawein raawan de vich toye aa

Even if the road ahead is full of deep potholes.

Main te mera techi

Me and my suitcase.

Kayi vaar roye aan

We've cried our hearts out many times.

Jinni vaari maape chhad

Every time I had to leave my family,

Pindon door hoye aan

And get further away from home.

Main te mera techi

Me and my suitcase.

Main te mera techi

Walking the lonely road.

Karman wale putt ne jo

They are the truly blessed sons,

Kol mama de rehnde ne

Who get to stay under their parents' roof.

Mere kol bas yaad hi teri

I only have your memories to keep me warm,

Tahiyon haul jehe painde

Which is why my heart aches with such intensity.

Tahiyon haul jehe painde

A constant tug of sadness.

Lokan baane hassda haan

I put on a brave, smiling face for the world,

Lokan baane hassda haan

Just to keep the public satisfied.

Sandhu ne dard lukoye aa

But deep down, Sandhu keeps the pain hidden.

Lokan baane hassda haan

Masking my sorrow.

Sandhu ne dard lukoye aa

Buried beneath the surface.

Ho main te mera techi

Oh, my suitcase and I,

Dovein jaan roye aan

We’ve both wept together.

Ho main te mera techi

Me and my suitcase.

Kayi vaar roye aan

Shared so many tears.

Jinni vaari maape chhad

Every time I left home behind,

Pindon door hoye aan

And moved into the distance.

Main te mera techi

Me and my suitcase.

Ho main te mera techi

Always moving, never arriving.