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Thambi Durai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aathu Mettula

From Thambi Durai · 1997

Lyricist
Piraisoodan
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thambi Durai
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
16 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aathula mettula
Veettula naattula
Ezhaigalin selvamae
Yelae yelo saamiyae
Endrum indha paattu thaan
Yelae yelo saamiyae
Theeraadha vedhanai thaan theerumae
Maaraadha baaramae oodoodumae
Aathula mettula
Veettula naattula
Ezhaigalin selvamae
Yelae yelo saamiyae
Endrum indha paattu thaan
Yelae yelo saamiyae
Theeraadha vedhanai thaan theerumae
Maaraadha baaramae oodoodumae
Sevalin paattu kettu varum
Kaalai nan neram
Paavalar paattu paadi chendraalae
Ezhaikkum kozhaikkum thembu varum
Yeththathu paattu thulli varum
Vayal veli kandu
Sothukku thaalam pottidum paattu
Endraikkum ingae undu undu
Kannan sonna paattu
Geethai aachu andru
Munnor thandha paattu
Paadhai aachu indru
Aareeraariro… annai paattu anbin paattu
Endrum eedu yedhu
Aathula mettula
Veettula naattula
Ezhaigalin selvamae
Yelae yelo saamiyae
Endrum indha paattu thaan
Yelae yelo saamiyae
Theeraadha vedhanai thaan theerumae
Maaraadha baaramae oodoodumae
Ikkarai vittu akkaraikku
Poi vara ingae
Aatrai kadakka aatril midhakkum
Parisalum indri povadhum engae
Thunbathai vittu vaazhkkai thanai
Vaazhndhida ingae
Aandiyum enna arasanum enna
Aandavan indri povadhengae
Nallor podum paadhai
Neraai pogum thambi
Pollor pogum paadhai
Aaraai pogum thambi
Yelae yelaelo… ooo
Endhan paattu inbam koottum
Endrum vaazhvil ingae
Aathula mettula
Veettula naattula
Ezhaigalin selvamae
Yelae yelo saamiyae
Endrum indha paattu thaan
Yelae yelo saamiyae
Theeraadha vedhanai thaan theerumae
Maaraadha baaramae oodoodumae
Aathula mettula aathula …aa…aa…
By the river and up on the hills,
In every home and across the land,
The true wealth of the poor,
Ele elo, oh my Lord,
Is always this humble song!
Ele elo, oh my Lord,
Endless pain will surely fade away,
Lingering burdens will quickly flee!
By the river and up on the hills,
In every home and across the land,
The true wealth of the poor,
Ele elo, oh my Lord,
Is always this humble song!
Ele elo, oh my Lord,
Endless pain will surely fade away,
Lingering burdens will quickly flee!
Welcoming the good morning hour
That arrives with the rooster's call,
When a singer walks by singing a song,
Even the poor and the weak find strength!
The water-lift song leaps with joy
At the sight of the open fields!
The song that keeps rhythm for our daily meal
Is always here, forever and ever!
The song Krishna sang
Became the Gita back then.
The song our ancestors gave
Has become our guiding path today.
Aariraariro... a mother's lullaby is a song of love,
What could ever match its worth?
By the river and up on the hills,
In every home and across the land,
The true wealth of the poor,
Ele elo, oh my Lord,
Is always this humble song!
Ele elo, oh my Lord,
Endless pain will surely fade away,
Lingering burdens will quickly flee!
To cross from this bank
To the other side and return,
How can you cross the river
Without a coracle floating along?
To leave sorrow behind
And live life here,
Whether a beggar or a king,
Where can anyone go without God?
The path laid down by good people
Goes straight ahead, brother!
The path taken by the wicked
Wanders astray, brother!
Ele elelo… oh oh oh!
My song will bring happiness
To our lives forever here!
By the river and up on the hills,
In every home and across the land,
The true wealth of the poor,
Ele elo, oh my Lord,
Is always this humble song!
Ele elo, oh my Lord,
Endless pain will surely fade away,
Lingering burdens will quickly flee!
By the river, on the hills, by the river... ah... ah...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song celebrates the solace, beauty, and omnipresence of music and faith in rural Tamil life. It describes music as the true wealth of the impoverished, capable of soothing endless pain, giving courage to the weak, and accompanying daily work in the fields from morning till night. The lyrics draw parallels between sacred songs like the Bhagavad Gita and everyday folk lullabies, highlighting how music guides humanity just like moral pathways laid down by ancestors and good souls. Ultimately, it emphasizes that whether one is a pauper or a king, divine grace and uplifting songs are essential pillars to navigate life's rivers and hardships successfully.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Monodistich (Edhukai)

“Aathula mettula”

Second letter rhyming in 'Aathula' / 'Veettula' and 'Kannan' / 'Munnor'.

Anaphora (Monaai)

“Aathula mettula”

Repetition of initial letter/sound across consecutive phrases: 'Aathula', 'Veettula', 'Ezhaigalin'.

Refrain

“Yelae yelo saamiyae”

The rhythmic chant 'Yelae yelo saamiyae' repeats throughout as a folk work-song refrain.

Contrast / Antonymy

“Aandiyum enna arasanum enna”

Contrasting 'Nallor' (good people) and 'Pollor' (wicked people), as well as 'Aandiyum' (beggar) and 'Arasanum' (king).

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Piraisoodan uses classical Tamil folk refrain structures like 'Yelae Yelo' which traditionally belong to 'Yethappaattu' (irrigation/working folk songs) to emphasize the therapeutic power of music among rural working-class communities.

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