Stranded On The Streets
From Nala Damayanthi · 2003
- Lyricist
- Pradeep Govind
- Singer
- Kamal Haasan
- Music director
- Ramesh Vinayakam
- Details
- Nala Damayanthi2003
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Yaethaedhoo pesi maattikonda | By talking randomly, I got myself trapped, |
| En kannae mookkae kaadhae… | Oh my eyes, my nose, my ears... |
| Vendaadha vambae…ae…..ae…ae……hmm | Unnecessary trouble... oh... |
| Male | |
| Stranded on the streets | Stranded on the streets |
| Got to know where to go | Got to know where to go |
| Don’t know what to do | Don't know what to do |
| I don’t know what to know | I don't know what to know |
| Broken in the dark | Broken in the dark |
| I’m searching for the light | I'm searching for the light |
| I don’t know what is wrong and | I don't know what is wrong and |
| I don’t know what is right | I don't know what is right |
| Male | |
| Nowhere to belong | Nowhere to belong |
| Missing my home town | Missing my home town |
| Some of them here | Some of them here |
| Baby thing I’m going down | Baby think I'm going down |
| Think about the blues | Think about the blues |
| I’m feeling down to low | I'm feeling down too low |
| I need someone to know | I need someone to know |
| Why I’m feeling so | Why I'm feeling so |
| Male | |
| Why can’t I be? | Why can't I be? |
| The way I meant to be… | The way I meant to be... |
| Why can’t they see? | Why can't they see? |
| Everything the way I see | Everything the way I see |
| What could be so wrong? | What could be so wrong? |
| In the way I’ve been so long | In the way I've been so long |
| Tell me my friend | Tell me my friend |
| Tell me where we all belong | Tell me where we all belong |
| Its the long and lonely night | It's the long and lonely night |
| I think someone to held me tight | I need someone to hold me tight |
| Give me a brand new start | Give me a brand new start |
| Before i fall apart | Before I fall apart |
| Chase away my blues | Chase away my blues |
| Among this broken heart | In this broken heart |
| Male | |
| Stranded on the streets | Stranded on the streets |
| Got to know where to go | Got to know where to go |
| Don’t know what to do | Don't know what to do |
| I don’t know what to know | I don't know what to know |
| Broken in the dark | Broken in the dark |
| I’m searching for the light | I'm searching for the light |
| I don’t know what is wrong and | I don't know what is wrong and |
| I don’t know what is right | I don't know what is right |
| Male | |
| Nowhere to belong | Nowhere to belong |
| Missing my home town | Missing my home town |
| Some of them here | Some of them here |
| Baby thing I’m going down | Baby think I'm going down |
| Think about the blues | Think about the blues |
| I’m feeling down to low | I'm feeling down too low |
| I need someone to know | I need someone to know |
| Why I’m feeling so | Why I'm feeling so |
| Male | |
| Mr. Moon wants to tell me now | Mr. Moon wants to tell me now |
| La la lai lai la la lai | La la lai lai la la lai |
| How you feeling alone about | How you're feeling alone about |
| La la lai lai la la lai | La la lai lai la la lai |
| If you looking for some company | If you're looking for some company |
| La la lai lai la la lai | La la lai lai la la lai |
| Just look down and smile on me | Just look down and smile on me |
| La la lai lai la la lai | La la lai lai la la lai |
| Male | |
| Why can’t I be? | Why can't I be? |
| The way I meant to be… | The way I meant to be... |
| Why can’t they see? | Why can't they see? |
| Everything the way I see | Everything the way I see |
| What could be so wrong? | What could be so wrong? |
| In the way I’ve been so long | In the way I've been so long |
| Tell me my friend | Tell me my friend |
| Tell me where we all belong | Tell me where we all belong |
| Its the long and lonely night | It's the long and lonely night |
| I think someone to held me tight | I need someone to hold me tight |
| Give me a brand new start | Give me a brand new start |
| Before i fall apart | Before I fall apart |
| Chase away my blues | Chase away my blues |
| Among this broken heart | In this broken heart |
| Male | |
| I am stranded on the streets | I am stranded on the streets |
| Got to know where to go | Got to know where to go |
| Don’t know what to do | Don't know what to do |
| I don’t know what to know | I don't know what to know |
| Broken in the dark | Broken in the dark |
| I’m searching for the light | I'm searching for the light |
| I don’t know what is wrong and | I don't know what is wrong and |
| I don’t know what is right | I don't know what is right |
| Male | |
| Mr. Moon tell me what you care | Mr. Moon tell me what you care |
| La la lai lai la la lai | La la lai lai la la lai |
| Hear my story that i got to share | Hear my story that I got to share |
| La la lai lai la la lai | La la lai lai la la lai |
| Tell me why life is so unfair | Tell me why life is so unfair |
| La la lai lai la la lai | La la lai lai la la lai |
| You know better cause you’re sitting out there | You know better cause you're sitting out there |
| La la lai lai la la lai | La la lai lai la la lai |
| Male | |
| Why can’t I be? | Why can't I be? |
| The way I meant to be… | The way I meant to be... |
| Why can’t they see? | Why can't they see? |
| Everything the way I see | Everything the way I see |
| What could be so wrong? | What could be so wrong? |
| In the way I’ve been so long | In the way I've been so long |
| Tell me my friend | Tell me my friend |
| Tell me where we all belong | Tell me where we all belong |
| It’s the long and lonely night | It's the long and lonely night |
| I think someone to held me tight | I need someone to hold me tight |
| Give me a brand new start | Give me a brand new start |
| Before i fall apart | Before I fall apart |
| Chase away my blues | Chase away my blues |
| Among this broken heart | In this broken heart |
| Male | |
| Stranded on the streets | Stranded on the streets |
| Got to know where to go | Got to know where to go |
| Don’t know what to do | Don't know what to do |
| I don’t know what to know | I don't know what to know |
| Broken in the dark | Broken in the dark |
| I’m searching for the light | I'm searching for the light |
| I don’t know what is wrong and | I don't know what is wrong and |
| I don’t know what is right | I don't know what is right |
| Male | |
| Nowhere to belong | Nowhere to belong |
| Missing my home town | Missing my home town |
| Some of them here | Some of them here |
| Baby thing I’m going down | Baby think I'm going down |
| Think about the blues | Think about the blues |
| I’m feeling down to low | I'm feeling down too low |
| I need someone to know | I need someone to know |
| Why I’m feeling so | Why I'm feeling so |
By talking randomly, I got myself trapped,
Oh my eyes, my nose, my ears...
Unnecessary trouble... oh...
Stranded on the streets
Got to know where to go
Don't know what to do
I don't know what to know
Broken in the dark
I'm searching for the light
I don't know what is wrong and
I don't know what is right
Nowhere to belong
Missing my home town
Some of them here
Baby think I'm going down
Think about the blues
I'm feeling down too low
I need someone to know
Why I'm feeling so
Why can't I be?
The way I meant to be...
Why can't they see?
Everything the way I see
What could be so wrong?
In the way I've been so long
Tell me my friend
Tell me where we all belong
It's the long and lonely night
I need someone to hold me tight
Give me a brand new start
Before I fall apart
Chase away my blues
In this broken heart
Stranded on the streets
Got to know where to go
Don't know what to do
I don't know what to know
Broken in the dark
I'm searching for the light
I don't know what is wrong and
I don't know what is right
Nowhere to belong
Missing my home town
Some of them here
Baby think I'm going down
Think about the blues
I'm feeling down too low
I need someone to know
Why I'm feeling so
Mr. Moon wants to tell me now
La la lai lai la la lai
How you're feeling alone about
La la lai lai la la lai
If you're looking for some company
La la lai lai la la lai
Just look down and smile on me
La la lai lai la la lai
Why can't I be?
The way I meant to be...
Why can't they see?
Everything the way I see
What could be so wrong?
In the way I've been so long
Tell me my friend
Tell me where we all belong
It's the long and lonely night
I need someone to hold me tight
Give me a brand new start
Before I fall apart
Chase away my blues
In this broken heart
I am stranded on the streets
Got to know where to go
Don't know what to do
I don't know what to know
Broken in the dark
I'm searching for the light
I don't know what is wrong and
I don't know what is right
Mr. Moon tell me what you care
La la lai lai la la lai
Hear my story that I got to share
La la lai lai la la lai
Tell me why life is so unfair
La la lai lai la la lai
You know better cause you're sitting out there
La la lai lai la la lai
Why can't I be?
The way I meant to be...
Why can't they see?
Everything the way I see
What could be so wrong?
In the way I've been so long
Tell me my friend
Tell me where we all belong
It's the long and lonely night
I need someone to hold me tight
Give me a brand new start
Before I fall apart
Chase away my blues
In this broken heart
Stranded on the streets
Got to know where to go
Don't know what to do
I don't know what to know
Broken in the dark
I'm searching for the light
I don't know what is wrong and
I don't know what is right
Nowhere to belong
Missing my home town
Some of them here
Baby think I'm going down
Think about the blues
I'm feeling down too low
I need someone to know
Why I'm feeling so
Yaethaedhoo pesi maattikonda
By talking randomly, I got myself trapped,
En kannae mookkae kaadhae…
Oh my eyes, my nose, my ears...
Vendaadha vambae…ae…..ae…ae……hmm
Unnecessary trouble... oh...
Stranded on the streets
Stranded on the streets
Got to know where to go
Got to know where to go
Don’t know what to do
Don't know what to do
I don’t know what to know
I don't know what to know
Broken in the dark
Broken in the dark
I’m searching for the light
I'm searching for the light
I don’t know what is wrong and
I don't know what is wrong and
I don’t know what is right
I don't know what is right
Nowhere to belong
Nowhere to belong
Missing my home town
Missing my home town
Some of them here
Some of them here
Baby thing I’m going down
Baby think I'm going down
Think about the blues
Think about the blues
I’m feeling down to low
I'm feeling down too low
I need someone to know
I need someone to know
Why I’m feeling so
Why I'm feeling so
Why can’t I be?
Why can't I be?
The way I meant to be…
The way I meant to be...
Why can’t they see?
Why can't they see?
Everything the way I see
Everything the way I see
What could be so wrong?
What could be so wrong?
In the way I’ve been so long
In the way I've been so long
Tell me my friend
Tell me my friend
Tell me where we all belong
Tell me where we all belong
Its the long and lonely night
It's the long and lonely night
I think someone to held me tight
I need someone to hold me tight
Give me a brand new start
Give me a brand new start
Before i fall apart
Before I fall apart
Chase away my blues
Chase away my blues
Among this broken heart
In this broken heart
Stranded on the streets
Stranded on the streets
Got to know where to go
Got to know where to go
Don’t know what to do
Don't know what to do
I don’t know what to know
I don't know what to know
Broken in the dark
Broken in the dark
I’m searching for the light
I'm searching for the light
I don’t know what is wrong and
I don't know what is wrong and
I don’t know what is right
I don't know what is right
Nowhere to belong
Nowhere to belong
Missing my home town
Missing my home town
Some of them here
Some of them here
Baby thing I’m going down
Baby think I'm going down
Think about the blues
Think about the blues
I’m feeling down to low
I'm feeling down too low
I need someone to know
I need someone to know
Why I’m feeling so
Why I'm feeling so
Mr. Moon wants to tell me now
Mr. Moon wants to tell me now
La la lai lai la la lai
La la lai lai la la lai
How you feeling alone about
How you're feeling alone about
La la lai lai la la lai
La la lai lai la la lai
If you looking for some company
If you're looking for some company
La la lai lai la la lai
La la lai lai la la lai
Just look down and smile on me
Just look down and smile on me
La la lai lai la la lai
La la lai lai la la lai
Why can’t I be?
Why can't I be?
The way I meant to be…
The way I meant to be...
Why can’t they see?
Why can't they see?
Everything the way I see
Everything the way I see
What could be so wrong?
What could be so wrong?
In the way I’ve been so long
In the way I've been so long
Tell me my friend
Tell me my friend
Tell me where we all belong
Tell me where we all belong
Its the long and lonely night
It's the long and lonely night
I think someone to held me tight
I need someone to hold me tight
Give me a brand new start
Give me a brand new start
Before i fall apart
Before I fall apart
Chase away my blues
Chase away my blues
Among this broken heart
In this broken heart
I am stranded on the streets
I am stranded on the streets
Got to know where to go
Got to know where to go
Don’t know what to do
Don't know what to do
I don’t know what to know
I don't know what to know
Broken in the dark
Broken in the dark
I’m searching for the light
I'm searching for the light
I don’t know what is wrong and
I don't know what is wrong and
I don’t know what is right
I don't know what is right
Mr. Moon tell me what you care
Mr. Moon tell me what you care
La la lai lai la la lai
La la lai lai la la lai
Hear my story that i got to share
Hear my story that I got to share
La la lai lai la la lai
La la lai lai la la lai
Tell me why life is so unfair
Tell me why life is so unfair
La la lai lai la la lai
La la lai lai la la lai
You know better cause you’re sitting out there
You know better cause you're sitting out there
La la lai lai la la lai
La la lai lai la la lai
Why can’t I be?
Why can't I be?
The way I meant to be…
The way I meant to be...
Why can’t they see?
Why can't they see?
Everything the way I see
Everything the way I see
What could be so wrong?
What could be so wrong?
In the way I’ve been so long
In the way I've been so long
Tell me my friend
Tell me my friend
Tell me where we all belong
Tell me where we all belong
It’s the long and lonely night
It's the long and lonely night
I think someone to held me tight
I need someone to hold me tight
Give me a brand new start
Give me a brand new start
Before i fall apart
Before I fall apart
Chase away my blues
Chase away my blues
Among this broken heart
In this broken heart
Stranded on the streets
Stranded on the streets
Got to know where to go
Got to know where to go
Don’t know what to do
Don't know what to do
I don’t know what to know
I don't know what to know
Broken in the dark
Broken in the dark
I’m searching for the light
I'm searching for the light
I don’t know what is wrong and
I don't know what is wrong and
I don’t know what is right
I don't know what is right
Nowhere to belong
Nowhere to belong
Missing my home town
Missing my home town
Some of them here
Some of them here
Baby thing I’m going down
Baby think I'm going down
Think about the blues
Think about the blues
I’m feeling down to low
I'm feeling down too low
I need someone to know
I need someone to know
Why I’m feeling so
Why I'm feeling so
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This track captures the isolation, displacement, and internal confusion felt by a protagonist lost in a foreign land. Opening with a colloquial Tamil exclamation about getting into trouble due to careless speech, the lyrics shift into an English blues ballad expressing deep nostalgia, alienation, and a desperate search for belonging.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Mr. Moon wants to tell me now”
Addressing the moon as a conscious friend ('Mr. Moon') to confide inner loneliness.
Anaphora
“Why can't I be? / Why can't they see?”
Repetition of questioning phrasing at the beginning of adjacent lines to emphasize existential angst.
Couplet Rhyme
“Its the long and lonely night / I think someone to held me tight”
End rhymes ('night/tight', 'start/apart') establishing a traditional Western ballad structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ramesh Vinayakam for the Kamal Haasan production 'Nala Damayanthi' starring Madhavan, this song highlights the protagonist's disorientation after arriving in Australia without proper documentation or connections.
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