Erimalai Eppadi Porukkum
From Sivappu Malli · 1981
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, T. L. Maharajan
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Sivappu Malli1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Erimalai eppadi porukkum | How can a volcano tolerate this? |
| Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam | Is the fire within us still asleep? |
| Erimalai eppadi porukkum | How can a volcano tolerate this? |
| Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam | Is the fire within us still asleep? |
| Male | |
| Raththa saattai eduththaal | If we take up the bloody whip, |
| Kaiyai nerikkum vilangu therikkum | The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces! |
| Naam kanneer virkkum jaadhi | We belong to a group that trades in tears; |
| Ini azhuthaal varaathu needhi | From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice! |
| Male | |
| Erimalai eppadi porukkum | How can a volcano tolerate this? |
| Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam | Is the fire within us still asleep? |
| Male | |
| Raththa saattai eduththaal | If we take up the bloody whip, |
| Kaiyai nerikkum vilangu therikkum | The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces! |
| Naam kanneer virkkum jaadhi | We belong to a group that trades in tears; |
| Ini azhuthaal varaathu needhi | From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice! |
| Male | |
| {Raththam ingae vaervaiyaaga | {Here, blood has dripped down |
| Sotti vittathu uyir vattri vittathu | As sweat, and life force has dried up; |
| kaalam ingae oomai kaiyai | Time here has bound us with mute hands, |
| Katti vittathu kanneer suttu vittathu} (2) | And our tears have scorched us} (2) |
| Male | |
| Yaeru pidiththavar iruni ilaiththavar | Those who held the plough, those who withered away in darkness, |
| Vaervai vidhaiththavar veyilil aruththavar | Those who sowed sweat, those who harvested under the scorching sun, |
| Raththa pottu vaiththu kondaal tharmangal thoongaathu | If we wear a tilak of blood, righteousness will no longer remain asleep! |
| Chorus | |
| Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam | May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil! |
| Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam | May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil! |
| Male | |
| Erimalai eppadi porukkum | How can a volcano tolerate this? |
| Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam | Is the fire within us still asleep? |
| Male | |
| Raththa saattai eduththaal | If we take up the bloody whip, |
| Kaiyai nerikkum vilangu therikkum | The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces! |
| Naam kanneer virkkum jaadhi | We belong to a group that trades in tears; |
| Ini azhuthaal varaathu needhi | From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice! |
| Chorus | |
| Aa……aa….aa….aa….aaa….ae…. | Aa……aa….aa….aa….aaa….ae…. |
| Male | |
| {Ezhuthiya padithaan nadakkum ellaam | {Cast aside the belief that everything that happens |
| Vidhi vasam ebathai vittu vidu | Is dictated by written fate or destiny; |
| Ilamai un tholgalil irukkum pothae | While youth still rests upon your shoulders, |
| Edhu nisam enbathai etti vidu} (2) | Reach out and seize what is true!} (2) |
| Male | |
| Kaalam purandu padukkum | Time will turn around, |
| Nam kanneer thuliyai thudaikkum | And wipe away our tears. |
| Kaalam purandu padukkum | Time will turn around, |
| Nam kanneer thuliyai thudaikkum | And wipe away our tears. |
| Chorus | |
| Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam | May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil! |
| Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam | May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil! |
| Male | |
| Erimalai eppadi porukkum | How can a volcano tolerate this? |
| Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam | Is the fire within us still asleep? |
| Male | |
| Raththa saattai eduththaal | If we take up the bloody whip, |
| Kaiyai nerikkum vilangu therikkum | The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces! |
| Naam kanneer virkkum jaadhi | We belong to a group that trades in tears; |
| Ini azhuthaal varaathu needhi | From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice! |
| Male | |
| {Yaezhai varkkam vaervaikullae | {Deep within sweat, the poor working class |
| Muththu kulikkum pinbu seththu pizhaikkum | Dives for pearls and barely survives after dying inside; |
| Uzhavan veettu thaenum kooda | Even the honey in a farmer's household |
| Uppu karikkum adhil kanneer midhakkum} (2) | Tastes salty because tears float in it} (2) |
| Male | |
| Seruppena uzhaiththavar varapena ilaiththavar | Those who worked tirelessly like footwear, who wore down like field bunds, |
| Suda suda azhuthavar adikadi iranthavar | Those who wept scalding tears, who died a little every day, |
| Vettri sangu oodhu pothu tharmangal thoongaathu | When the conch of victory blows, righteousness will no longer sleep! |
| Male | |
| Erimalai eppadi porukkum | How can a volcano tolerate this? |
| Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam | Is the fire within us still asleep? |
| Male | |
| Raththa saattai eduththaal | If we take up the bloody whip, |
| Kaiyai nerikkum vilangu therikkum | The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces! |
| Naam kanneer virkkum jaadhi | We belong to a group that trades in tears; |
| Ini azhuthaal varaathu needhi | From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice! |
| Chorus | |
| {Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam | {May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil, |
| Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam…} (3) | May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil…} (3) |
எரிமலை எப்படி பொறுக்கும்
நம் நெருப்புக்கு இன்னுமா உறக்கம்
எரிமலை எப்படி பொறுக்கும்
நம் நெருப்புக்கு இன்னுமா உறக்கம்
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Is the fire within us still asleep?
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Is the fire within us still asleep?
ரத்த சாட்டை எடுத்தால்
கையை நெறிக்கும் விலங்கு தெறிக்கும்
நாம் கண்ணீர் விற்கும் ஜாதி
இனி அழுதால் வராது நீதி
If we take up the bloody whip,
The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces!
We belong to a group that trades in tears;
From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice!
எரிமலை எப்படி பொறுக்கும்
நம் நெருப்புக்கு இன்னுமா உறக்கம்
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Is the fire within us still asleep?
ரத்த சாட்டை எடுத்தால்
கையை நெறிக்கும் விலங்கு தெறிக்கும்
நாம் கண்ணீர் விற்கும் ஜாதி
இனி அழுதால் வராது நீதி
If we take up the bloody whip,
The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces!
We belong to a group that trades in tears;
From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice!
{ரத்தம் இங்கே வேர்வையாக
சொட்டி விட்டது உயிர் வற்றி விட்டது
காலம் இங்கே ஊமைக் கையை
கட்டி விட்டது கண்ணீர் சுட்டு விட்டது} (2)
{Here, blood has dripped down
As sweat, and life force has dried up;
Time here has bound us with mute hands,
And our tears have scorched us} (2)
ஏறு பிடித்தவர் இருணி இளைத்தவர்
வேர்வை விதைத்தவர் வெய்யிலில் அறுத்தவர்
ரத்த பொட்டு வைத்து கொண்டால் தர்மங்கள் தூங்காது
Those who held the plough, those who withered away in darkness,
Those who sowed sweat, those who harvested under the scorching sun,
If we wear a tilak of blood, righteousness will no longer remain asleep!
மே தினம் உழைப்பவர் சீதனம்
மே தினம் உழைப்பவர் சீதனம்...
May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil!
May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil!
எரிமலை எப்படி பொறுக்கும்
நம் நெருப்புக்கு இன்னுமா உறக்கம்
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Is the fire within us still asleep?
ரத்த சாட்டை எடுத்தால்
கையை நெறிக்கும் விலங்கு தெறிக்கும்
நாம் கண்ணீர் விற்கும் ஜாதி
இனி அழுதால் வராது நீதி
If we take up the bloody whip,
The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces!
We belong to a group that trades in tears;
From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice!
ஆஅ......ஆ......ஆ......ஆ......ஆஅ....எ....
Aa……aa….aa….aa….aaa….ae….
{எழுதிய படிதான் நடக்கும் எல்லாம்
விதி வசம் என்பதை விட்டு விடு
இளமை உன் தோள்களில் இருக்கும் போதே
எது நிசம் என்பதை எட்டி விடு} (2)
{Cast aside the belief that everything that happens
Is dictated by written fate or destiny;
While youth still rests upon your shoulders,
Reach out and seize what is true!} (2)
காலம் புரண்டு படுக்கும்
நம் கண்ணீர்த் துளியை துடைக்கும்
காலம் புரண்டு படுக்கும்
நம் கண்ணீர்த் துளியை துடைக்கும்
Time will turn around,
And wipe away our tears.
Time will turn around,
And wipe away our tears.
மே தினம் உழைப்பவர் சீதனம்
மே தினம் உழைப்பவர் சீதனம்......
May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil!
May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil!
எரிமலை எப்படி பொறுக்கும்
நம் நெருப்புக்கு இன்னுமா உறக்கம்
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Is the fire within us still asleep?
ரத்த சாட்டை எடுத்தால்
கையை நெறிக்கும் விலங்கு தெறிக்கும்
நாம் கண்ணீர் விற்கும் ஜாதி
இனி அழுதால் வராது நீதி
If we take up the bloody whip,
The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces!
We belong to a group that trades in tears;
From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice!
{ஏழை வர்க்கம் வேர்வைக்குள்ளே
முத்துக் குளிக்கும் பின்பு செத்துப் பிழைக்கும்
உழவன் வீட்டுத் தேனும் கூட
உப்புக் கரிக்கும் அதில் கண்ணீர் மிதக்கும்} (2)
{Deep within sweat, the poor working class
Dives for pearls and barely survives after dying inside;
Even the honey in a farmer's household
Tastes salty because tears float in it} (2)
செருப்பென உழைத்தவர் வரப்பென இளைத்தவர்
சுடச் சுட அழுதவர் அடிக்கடி இறந்தவர்
வெற்றிச் சங்கு ஊதும் போது தர்மங்கள் தூங்காது
Those who worked tirelessly like footwear, who wore down like field bunds,
Those who wept scalding tears, who died a little every day,
When the conch of victory blows, righteousness will no longer sleep!
எரிமலை எப்படி பொறுக்கும்
நம் நெருப்புக்கு இன்னுமா உறக்கம்
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Is the fire within us still asleep?
ரத்த சாட்டை எடுத்தால்
கையை நெறிக்கும் விலங்கு தெறிக்கும்
குழு :
நாம் கண்ணீர் விற்கும் ஜாதி
இனி அழுதால் வராது நீதி
If we take up the bloody whip,
The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces!
We belong to a group that trades in tears;
From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice!
{மே தினம் உழைப்பவர் சீதனம்
மே தினம் உழைப்பவர் சீதனம்......} (3)
{May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil,
May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil…} (3)
Erimalai eppadi porukkum
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam
Is the fire within us still asleep?
Erimalai eppadi porukkum
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam
Is the fire within us still asleep?
Raththa saattai eduththaal
If we take up the bloody whip,
Kaiyai nerikkum vilangu therikkum
The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces!
Naam kanneer virkkum jaadhi
We belong to a group that trades in tears;
Ini azhuthaal varaathu needhi
From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice!
Erimalai eppadi porukkum
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam
Is the fire within us still asleep?
Raththa saattai eduththaal
If we take up the bloody whip,
Kaiyai nerikkum vilangu therikkum
The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces!
Naam kanneer virkkum jaadhi
We belong to a group that trades in tears;
Ini azhuthaal varaathu needhi
From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice!
{Raththam ingae vaervaiyaaga
{Here, blood has dripped down
Sotti vittathu uyir vattri vittathu
As sweat, and life force has dried up;
kaalam ingae oomai kaiyai
Time here has bound us with mute hands,
Katti vittathu kanneer suttu vittathu} (2)
And our tears have scorched us} (2)
Yaeru pidiththavar iruni ilaiththavar
Those who held the plough, those who withered away in darkness,
Vaervai vidhaiththavar veyilil aruththavar
Those who sowed sweat, those who harvested under the scorching sun,
Raththa pottu vaiththu kondaal tharmangal thoongaathu
If we wear a tilak of blood, righteousness will no longer remain asleep!
Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam
May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil!
Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam
May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil!
Erimalai eppadi porukkum
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam
Is the fire within us still asleep?
Raththa saattai eduththaal
If we take up the bloody whip,
Kaiyai nerikkum vilangu therikkum
The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces!
Naam kanneer virkkum jaadhi
We belong to a group that trades in tears;
Ini azhuthaal varaathu needhi
From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice!
Aa……aa….aa….aa….aaa….ae….
Aa……aa….aa….aa….aaa….ae….
{Ezhuthiya padithaan nadakkum ellaam
{Cast aside the belief that everything that happens
Vidhi vasam ebathai vittu vidu
Is dictated by written fate or destiny;
Ilamai un tholgalil irukkum pothae
While youth still rests upon your shoulders,
Edhu nisam enbathai etti vidu} (2)
Reach out and seize what is true!} (2)
Kaalam purandu padukkum
Time will turn around,
Nam kanneer thuliyai thudaikkum
And wipe away our tears.
Kaalam purandu padukkum
Time will turn around,
Nam kanneer thuliyai thudaikkum
And wipe away our tears.
Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam
May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil!
Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam
May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil!
Erimalai eppadi porukkum
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam
Is the fire within us still asleep?
Raththa saattai eduththaal
If we take up the bloody whip,
Kaiyai nerikkum vilangu therikkum
The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces!
Naam kanneer virkkum jaadhi
We belong to a group that trades in tears;
Ini azhuthaal varaathu needhi
From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice!
{Yaezhai varkkam vaervaikullae
{Deep within sweat, the poor working class
Muththu kulikkum pinbu seththu pizhaikkum
Dives for pearls and barely survives after dying inside;
Uzhavan veettu thaenum kooda
Even the honey in a farmer's household
Uppu karikkum adhil kanneer midhakkum} (2)
Tastes salty because tears float in it} (2)
Seruppena uzhaiththavar varapena ilaiththavar
Those who worked tirelessly like footwear, who wore down like field bunds,
Suda suda azhuthavar adikadi iranthavar
Those who wept scalding tears, who died a little every day,
Vettri sangu oodhu pothu tharmangal thoongaathu
When the conch of victory blows, righteousness will no longer sleep!
Erimalai eppadi porukkum
How can a volcano tolerate this?
Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam
Is the fire within us still asleep?
Raththa saattai eduththaal
If we take up the bloody whip,
Kaiyai nerikkum vilangu therikkum
The manacles crushing our hands will shatter into pieces!
Naam kanneer virkkum jaadhi
We belong to a group that trades in tears;
Ini azhuthaal varaathu needhi
From now on, mere crying will not bring us justice!
{Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam
{May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil,
Mae thinam uzhaippavar seedhanam…} (3)
May Day is the cherished treasure of those who toil…} (3)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Erimalai Eppadi Porukkum' from Sivappu Malli (1981) is a legendary communist labor anthem written by Vairamuthu. The song serves as a fiery rally cry for oppressed laborers, farmers, and the working class, calling upon them to break free from passive suffering and fatalism. It metaphorically compares the pent-up rage of laborers to an erupting volcano, urging them to pick up the whip of revolution to shatter the chains of socio-economic oppression. With vivid imagery—such as blood turning into sweat, honey tasting salty due to endless tears, and workers wearing down like footwear—the lyrics capture the raw pain and exploitation faced by the proletariat. Reclaiming May Day as the ultimate symbol of working-class pride and unity, the song declares that destiny is not pre-written and that true justice will only come through collective action and struggle.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Erimalai eppadi porukkum / Nam neruppukku innumaa urakkam”
Compares the suppressed rage and revolutionary spirit of the working class to a sleeping volcano and dormant fire.
Simile
“Seruppena uzhaiththavar varapena ilaiththavar”
Uses 'ena' (like) to compare the grueling, unrewarded labor of workers to worn footwear and eroded field bunds.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Seruppena uzhaiththavar / Suda suda azhuthavar”
The second letter 'r' rhymes between 'Seruppena' and 'Suda' (via soft 'r/d' consonant sound structure).
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Yaeru pidiththavar iruni ilaiththavar / Vaervai vidhaiththavar veyilil aruththavar”
The ending suffix '-avar' creates a rhythmic end rhyme across parallel lines describing the workers.
Hyperbole / Visual Imagery
“Uzhavan veettu thaenum kooda / Uppu karikkum adhil kanneer midhakkum”
Exaggerates the omnipresence of grief by stating even honey tastes salty because tears float in it.
Did you know?
Trivia
1. 'Sivappu Malli' (1981), directed by Rama Narayanan, stars Vijayakanth and Chandrasekar as radical young activists fighting local exploiters. It is one of the most prominent Leftist-themed films in Tamil cinema history. 2. The song was composed by legendary music composer M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) and sung by veteran singer T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) along with a chorus. 3. Lyricist Vairamuthu penned these fiercely political lines early in his career, and the track remains an iconic anthem played during May Day rallies and trade union gatherings across Tamil Nadu.
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