♫ Tanglish lyrics	↻ English translation
Male
Thaalaattu kekkaadha per ingu yaaru	Who is here who has not heard a lullaby?
Thaayaarin thaalaattu pol veru yedhu	What else is there like a mother's lullaby?
Paattukku naan adimai	I am a slave to music,
Andha paattukku naan adimai	I am a slave to that sweet music.
Thaai polae ingu veraaru	Who else is there here like a mother?
Nam thaai polae ingu veraaru	Who else is there here like our mother?
Male
Thaalaattu kekkaadha per ingu yaaru	Who is here who has not heard a lullaby?
Thaayaarin thaalaattu pol veru yedhu	What else is there like a mother's lullaby?
Paattukku naan adimai	I am a slave to music,
Andha paattukku naan adimai	I am a slave to that sweet music.
Male
Aavaaram kaadellaam	Across the yellow flower forests,
Neerodum thoppellaam	Across the groves where stream waters flow,
Yaaraaru velai seivadhaaru	Who are all those people working hard?
Poovaaram kettaanaa	Did he ask for a garland of flowers?
Ponnaaram kettaanaa	Did he ask for a garland of gold?
Sorukku vendi nikkum peru	He is a soul standing merely in need of food.
Male
Pon minna velli minna	For gold to shine, for silver to shine,
Vairangal minna	For diamonds to sparkle brightly,
Thozhilaali kaigal pada thaanae	It requires the touch of a worker's hands.
Thaai unna seiyum unna	For mother to eat, for child to eat,
Naam endrum unna	For us to eat for all time,
Vivasaayi thaan uzhaikka venum	The farmer must toil tirelessly in the field.
Ezhai avar paadu adhu kaatrodu poyaachu	The hardship of the poor man has blown away with the wind.
Male
Yaerotti ponaalae ellorkkum soru	Only if he goes to plow the land does everyone get food.
Thol serthu povaanae avan paadum paattu	Walking shoulder to shoulder, listen to the song he sings.
Paattukku naan adimai	I am a slave to music,
Andha paattukku naan adimai	I am a slave to that sweet music.
Male
Naadaalum per enna	What of the person who rules the nation?
Maadottum per enna	What of the person who herds cattle?
Yaaraaru onna pethadhaaru	Who gave birth to them both as equals?
Vingyaani aanaalum mei nyaani aanaalum	Be it a scientist or a true spiritual sage,
Thaai thaanae pethu pottaa kooru	Tell me, was it not a mother who gave birth to them?
Male
Pagal enna iravum enna	Whether day or night,
Endrendrum ingae	Forever here on this earth,
Aanukku pennin thunai venum	A man needs the companionship of a woman.
Veyil enna mazhaiyum enna	Whether scorching heat or pouring rain,
Kaalangal thorum	Through all changing seasons,
Anbukku thaayum inguvenum	A mother is needed here for unconditional love.
Thaai thaan padum paadu	The struggle that a mother goes through,
Adhai unarvaayae kanmani	Understand that deeply, my beloved one.
Male
Thaalaattu kekkaadha per ingu yaaru	Who is here who has not heard a lullaby?
Thaayaarin thaalaattu pol veru yedhu	What else is there like a mother's lullaby?
Paattukku naan adimai	I am a slave to music,
Andha paattukku naan adimai	I am a slave to that sweet music.
Thaai polae ingu veraaru	Who else is there here like a mother?
Nam thaai polae ingu veraaru	Who else is there here like our mother?

Lyrics & meaning

Song interpretation

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Rhyming second letter)

Anaphora (Repetition of opening phrases)

Rhetorical Question

Monai (Initial letter alliteration)

Trivia

More from Paattukku Naan Adimai