Hayati
From Chekka Chivantha Vaanam · 2018
- Lyricist
- Shiv
- Singers
- Mayssa Karaa, Shiv
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Chekka Chivantha Vaanam2018
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Hayati…eee..eee | My life... eee..eee |
| Hayati… | My life... |
| Hayati…ee… | My life... ee... |
| Male | |
| Spit too quick | I rap too fast, |
| But i hit my stride | But I hit my stride. |
| Flow fluid | My flow is fluid, |
| I’m a wavy guy | I am a stylish, cool guy. |
| Full moon bright | The full moon shines bright, |
| I’m ma tip the tides | I am going to tip the tides. |
| If you had a bad night | If you had a bad night, |
| I could flip the vibe | I could turn the mood around. |
| Out in LA | Out in Los Angeles, |
| In a coupe | In a two-door coupe, |
| When i ride | When I ride, |
| When i’m on the east coast | When I am on the East Coast, |
| Got New York pride | I carry New York pride. |
| When i’m on the greece coast | When I am on the Greek coast, |
| See white all sides | I see white scenery on all sides. |
| In the far east | In the Far East, |
| Cover of the Mumbai | On the cover of the Mumbai... |
| Times times times | ...Times, Times, Times, |
| Times times times times | ...Times, Times, Times, Times. |
| Male | |
| Okay challenges are | Okay, challenges are... |
| Welcome to this game | ...welcome to this game. |
| I am the don | I am the don, |
| Any languages | Whatever the languages, |
| I blend-em | I blend them all together. |
| Hola vanakkam salam hanji | Hola, Vanakkam, Salam, Hanji, |
| Hello bonjour chao aloha | Hello, Bonjour, Ciao, Aloha, |
| Ahlan wa sahlan | Ahlan wa Sahlan, |
| No matter the vernacular | No matter the language spoken, |
| I’m always talking strong | I am always speaking with strength and confidence. |
| Female | |
| Hayati…eee..eee | My life... eee..eee |
| Hayati… | My life... |
| Hayati…ee… | My life... ee... |
| Male | |
| Hayati hayati… | My life, my life... |
| Hayati hayati… | My life, my life... |
| Living my low life | Living my wild life, |
| And ain’t low key | And I am definitely not keeping it low key. |
| Hayati hayati… | My life, my life... |
| Male | |
| And I never take time | And I never take time, |
| When i elevate | When I rise to greater heights, |
| And I never take time | And I never take time, |
| To celebrate | To celebrate, |
| But I take time when I meditate | But I take time when I meditate. |
| And I never waste time | And I never waste time, |
| When I’m celebrating | When I am celebrating. |
| Crazy and deranged | Crazy and deranged, |
| But the parties are insane | But the parties are insane. |
| We are living in the fast lane | We are living life in the fast lane. |
| Male | |
| Money ain’t a thing | Money is not a big deal, |
| No money ain’t a thing | No, money is not a big deal at all, |
| And we spend it at a fast rate | And we spend it at a rapid rate. |
| Am never tame on | I am never tamed, |
| Top of the game and | Right at the top of the game, and... |
| I’m leaving you in last place | ...I am leaving you behind in last place. |
| Male | |
| Spit heat like a | I spit fire like a... |
| Dragon flame of the brain | ...dragon's flame straight from the mind, |
| And it’ll leave you | And it will leave you... |
| With a bad taste | ...with a bitter taste. |
| Yeah we live fast paced life | Yeah, we live a fast-paced life. |
| Female | |
| ………….. | |
| Male | |
| Hayati hayati… | My life, my life... |
| Male | |
| Okay challenges are | Okay, challenges are... |
| Welcome to this game | ...welcome to this game. |
| I am the don | I am the don, |
| Any languages | Whatever the languages, |
| I blend-em | I blend them all together. |
| Hola vanakkam salam hanji | Hola, Vanakkam, Salam, Hanji, |
| Hello bonjour chao aloha | Hello, Bonjour, Ciao, Aloha, |
| Ahlan wa sahlan | Ahlan wa Sahlan, |
| No matter the vernacular | No matter the language spoken, |
| I’m always talking strong | I am always speaking with strength. |
| Female | |
| Hayati…eee..eee | My life... eee..eee |
| Hayati… | My life... |
| Hayati…ee… | My life... ee... |
| Male | |
| Hayati… | My life... |
| Hayati haya | My life, my life... |
| Party night one till | Party night, from night one until... |
| All night till | ...all night until... |
| Hayati… | My life... |
| Hayati haya | My life, my life... |
| One two three party three | One, two, three, party three, |
| Hayati… | My life... |
| Hayati haya | My life, my life... |
| Living my life | Living my life, |
| Ain’t low key | It is not low key. |
| Hayati… | My life... |
| Hayati haya | My life, my life... |
My life... eee..eee
My life...
My life... ee...
I rap too fast,
But I hit my stride.
My flow is fluid,
I am a stylish, cool guy.
The full moon shines bright,
I am going to tip the tides.
If you had a bad night,
I could turn the mood around.
Out in Los Angeles,
In a two-door coupe,
When I ride,
When I am on the East Coast,
I carry New York pride.
When I am on the Greek coast,
I see white scenery on all sides.
In the Far East,
On the cover of the Mumbai...
...Times, Times, Times,
...Times, Times, Times, Times.
Okay, challenges are...
...welcome to this game.
I am the don,
Whatever the languages,
I blend them all together.
Hola, Vanakkam, Salam, Hanji,
Hello, Bonjour, Ciao, Aloha,
Ahlan wa Sahlan,
No matter the language spoken,
I am always speaking with strength and confidence.
My life... eee..eee
My life...
My life... ee...
My life, my life...
My life, my life...
Living my wild life,
And I am definitely not keeping it low key.
My life, my life...
And I never take time,
When I rise to greater heights,
And I never take time,
To celebrate,
But I take time when I meditate.
And I never waste time,
When I am celebrating.
Crazy and deranged,
But the parties are insane.
We are living life in the fast lane.
Money is not a big deal,
No, money is not a big deal at all,
And we spend it at a rapid rate.
I am never tamed,
Right at the top of the game, and...
...I am leaving you behind in last place.
I spit fire like a...
...dragon's flame straight from the mind,
And it will leave you...
...with a bitter taste.
Yeah, we live a fast-paced life.
My life, my life...
Okay, challenges are...
...welcome to this game.
I am the don,
Whatever the languages,
I blend them all together.
Hola, Vanakkam, Salam, Hanji,
Hello, Bonjour, Ciao, Aloha,
Ahlan wa Sahlan,
No matter the language spoken,
I am always speaking with strength.
My life... eee..eee
My life...
My life... ee...
My life...
My life, my life...
Party night, from night one until...
...all night until...
My life...
My life, my life...
One, two, three, party three,
My life...
My life, my life...
Living my life,
It is not low key.
My life...
My life, my life...
Hayati…eee..eee
My life... eee..eee
Hayati…
My life...
Hayati…ee…
My life... ee...
Spit too quick
I rap too fast,
But i hit my stride
But I hit my stride.
Flow fluid
My flow is fluid,
I’m a wavy guy
I am a stylish, cool guy.
Full moon bright
The full moon shines bright,
I’m ma tip the tides
I am going to tip the tides.
If you had a bad night
If you had a bad night,
I could flip the vibe
I could turn the mood around.
Out in LA
Out in Los Angeles,
In a coupe
In a two-door coupe,
When i ride
When I ride,
When i’m on the east coast
When I am on the East Coast,
Got New York pride
I carry New York pride.
When i’m on the greece coast
When I am on the Greek coast,
See white all sides
I see white scenery on all sides.
In the far east
In the Far East,
Cover of the Mumbai
On the cover of the Mumbai...
Times times times
...Times, Times, Times,
Times times times times
...Times, Times, Times, Times.
Okay challenges are
Okay, challenges are...
Welcome to this game
...welcome to this game.
I am the don
I am the don,
Any languages
Whatever the languages,
I blend-em
I blend them all together.
Hola vanakkam salam hanji
Hola, Vanakkam, Salam, Hanji,
Hello bonjour chao aloha
Hello, Bonjour, Ciao, Aloha,
Ahlan wa sahlan
Ahlan wa Sahlan,
No matter the vernacular
No matter the language spoken,
I’m always talking strong
I am always speaking with strength and confidence.
Hayati…eee..eee
My life... eee..eee
Hayati…
My life...
Hayati…ee…
My life... ee...
Hayati hayati…
My life, my life...
Hayati hayati…
My life, my life...
Living my low life
Living my wild life,
And ain’t low key
And I am definitely not keeping it low key.
Hayati hayati…
My life, my life...
And I never take time
And I never take time,
When i elevate
When I rise to greater heights,
And I never take time
And I never take time,
To celebrate
To celebrate,
But I take time when I meditate
But I take time when I meditate.
And I never waste time
And I never waste time,
When I’m celebrating
When I am celebrating.
Crazy and deranged
Crazy and deranged,
But the parties are insane
But the parties are insane.
We are living in the fast lane
We are living life in the fast lane.
Money ain’t a thing
Money is not a big deal,
No money ain’t a thing
No, money is not a big deal at all,
And we spend it at a fast rate
And we spend it at a rapid rate.
Am never tame on
I am never tamed,
Top of the game and
Right at the top of the game, and...
I’m leaving you in last place
...I am leaving you behind in last place.
Spit heat like a
I spit fire like a...
Dragon flame of the brain
...dragon's flame straight from the mind,
And it’ll leave you
And it will leave you...
With a bad taste
...with a bitter taste.
Yeah we live fast paced life
Yeah, we live a fast-paced life.
…………..
Hayati hayati…
My life, my life...
Okay challenges are
Okay, challenges are...
Welcome to this game
...welcome to this game.
I am the don
I am the don,
Any languages
Whatever the languages,
I blend-em
I blend them all together.
Hola vanakkam salam hanji
Hola, Vanakkam, Salam, Hanji,
Hello bonjour chao aloha
Hello, Bonjour, Ciao, Aloha,
Ahlan wa sahlan
Ahlan wa Sahlan,
No matter the vernacular
No matter the language spoken,
I’m always talking strong
I am always speaking with strength.
Hayati…eee..eee
My life... eee..eee
Hayati…
My life...
Hayati…ee…
My life... ee...
Hayati…
My life...
Hayati haya
My life, my life...
Party night one till
Party night, from night one until...
All night till
...all night until...
Hayati…
My life...
Hayati haya
My life, my life...
One two three party three
One, two, three, party three,
Hayati…
My life...
Hayati haya
My life, my life...
Living my life
Living my life,
Ain’t low key
It is not low key.
Hayati…
My life...
Hayati haya
My life, my life...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Hayati' (an Arabic word meaning 'My Life') serves as an energetic, jet-setting anthem that reflects power, lavish living, and global dominance. Set within Mani Ratnam's gangster drama 'Chekka Chivantha Vaanam', the song underscores the extravagant, fast-paced lifestyle of international crime bosses who operate effortlessly across borders—from LA and New York to Greece and Mumbai.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Multilingual Polyglot Lyricism / Anaphora
“Hola vanakkam salam hanji / Hello bonjour chao aloha / Ahlan wa sahlan”
Successive greeting words across various languages (Spanish, Tamil, Arabic, Hindi, English, French, Italian, Hawaiian) are chained together to project global influence and cosmopolitan swagger.
Simile / Metaphor
“Spit heat like a / Dragon flame of the brain”
Compares the rap vocal delivery and sharp lyrical flow directly to the fiery breath of a dragon.
Repetition / Refrain
“Hayati hayati…”
The continuous repetition of the Arabic word 'Hayati' ('My Life') functions as the anchor hook of the track, constantly reaffirming the theme of living life on one's own terms.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Academy Award winner A. R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's multi-starrer crime drama 'Chekka Chivantha Vaanam' (2018), 'Hayati' features vocals and rap lyrics by rapper Shiv along with international singer Mayssa Karaa. The track was recorded across studios in Chennai and Los Angeles to give it a global hip-hop/trap feel fitting the film's international crime backdrop.
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