♫ Tanglish lyrics	↻ English translation
Male
Aaththa thottililae arai naali aadaliyae	I didn't swing in mother's cradle even for half an hour,
Appan thozhmela ambaari yeralaiyae…aaa	I didn't ride on father's shoulders like a royal elephant seat... aaa
Aaththa thottililae arai naali aadaliyae	I didn't swing in mother's cradle even for half an hour,
Appan thozhmela ambaari yeralaiyae	I didn't ride on father's shoulders like a royal elephant seat.
Male
Thaai ootti thingakalaiyae	I didn't eat food fed by my mother,
Thagapan idam thangalaiyae	I didn't stay by my father's side,
Neeyootti valarthapullai	The child raised and fed by you,
Thee mootta nikkiranae	Is now standing here to light your funeral pyre.
Male
Thaai ootti thingakalaiyae	I didn't eat food fed by my mother,
Thagapan idam thangalaiyae	I didn't stay by my father's side,
Neeyootti valarthapullai	The child raised and fed by you,
Thee mootta nikkiranae	Is now standing here to light your funeral pyre.
Male
Ammaannu palliyilae	In school, calling you mother,
Arichuvadi padikkaiyilae	While learning the basic Tamil alphabet,
Akkaa thaan ellaamnu	Believing that my elder sister was my everything,
Enni enni valandhenae	I grew up cherishing you in my heart.
Male
Kunjukku panjaaram	The protective cage for the little chick,
Kodangaiyilae irunthathadi	Was inside your cupped hands,
Panjaaram kalanthathadi	That protective cage broke apart,
Paathi uyir arunthathadi	And half of my soul was severed.
Male
Kudicha thaai paalu	While the mother's milk I drank,
Kumattil irukkaiyilae	Was still at the pit of my throat,
Idi vanthu vizhunthathunnu	That thunder struck down unexpectedly,
Ellaarum sonnaaga	As everyone told me.
Paasatha parikoduthu	Surrendering my affection,
Paadhivali nikkirenae	I stand helpless on the roadside path.
Vamsamtha palikoduthu	Sacrificing my lineage,
Valiyaththu ponenae	I walked away voluntarily.
Male
Ellaamaa thaan irunthu	You who were my everything,
Iththu ponavalae	Oh one who passed away and decayed,
Sollaama ponadhenga	Where did you go without telling me?
Thudikkuthadi en usuru	My soul is writhing in unbearable pain.
Male
Ee erumbu andum-nnu	Fearing that flies or ants might touch me,
Imaikkaama irunthavalae	You stayed awake without blinking an eye.
Oorumakka vanthiruchu	All the townspeople have gathered now,
Urunguriyae mulippatheppo	You lie asleep, when will you wake up?
Male
Maadu alaralaiyae	The cattle didn't scream in warning,
Valipoonai marikkalaiyae	A cat didn't cross the path to block,
Kaada saakkuruvi	The wild nightjar bird,
Kaththi thaan kolaikaliyae	Didn't screech to signal a curse,
Kudi kavura poguthunnu	Warning that the family lineage was going to fall,
Kevuliyum sollaliyae	Even the house lizard didn't chirp a warning,
Maada velakkananju	By putting out the niche lamp,
Maranaththa kuraliyae	Did it announce your death?
Male
Kattililae kuththa vachu	Seating you on the bed,
Kaal amukka nenachirunthen	I planned to press and soothe your feet,
Aal illaa kattilila	On a bed where no one rests,
Kannurakkam kondathu yen	Why did you fall into eternal sleep?
Male
Oor maala naan vaangi	Before I could buy a garland from town,
Un aasi vaangumunnae	And receive your blessings,
Neer maalai oor edukka	As the town carries the ritual water garland procession,
Nedunthookkam kondathu yen	Why did you take this deep sleep?
Male
Eeraaru saarathil	While I was here to carry you,
Yetri vara naanirukka	Raised high upon twelve bamboo poles,
Ooraaru adikkullae	Six feet beneath the town's earth,
Ulluranga ponathu yen	Why did you go to sleep inside?
Male
En aaththa…aaaa….aa	Oh my mother... aaaa... aa
En aaththa…	Oh my mother...
En aaththa…	Oh my mother...

Lyrics & meaning

Song interpretation

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Folklore Imagery / Omens

Moonaam Ezhuthu Onriyavaruthal / Alliteration

Trivia

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