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Lyrics & meaning

Yerikarai Thottathile Yezhai

From Oli Piranthathu · 1980

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Oli Piranthathu1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Yaerikkarai thottaththilaeIn the garden by the lake shore,
Yaezhai vachchu vaazhakkannuThe plantain sapling planted by a poor person,
Yaerikkarai thottaththilaeIn the garden by the lake shore,
Yaezhai vachchu vaazhakkannuThe plantain sapling planted by a poor person,
Thoppaaga maaravillaiyae adi rasaththiHas not turned into a grove, oh Rasaththi!
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae adi rasaththiThere is no one to protect it, oh Rasaththi!
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyaeThere is no one to protect it.
Female
Yaerikkarai thottaththilaeIn the garden by the lake shore,
Yaezhai vachchu vaazhakkannuThe plantain sapling planted by a poor person,
Thoppaaga maaravillaiyae adi rasaththiHas not turned into a grove, oh Rasaththi!
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae adi rasaththiThere is no one to protect it, oh Rasaththi!
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyaeThere is no one to protect it.
Female
Maalai onnu thanthaangaThey gave me a garland,
Manaiviyinnu sonnaangaThey called me his wife,
Rasaththi adiyae rasaththiRasaththi, oh dear Rasaththi!
Female
Maalai onnu thanthaangaThey gave me a garland,
Manaiviyinnu sonnaangaThey called me his wife,
Rasaththi adiyae rasaththiRasaththi, oh dear Rasaththi!
Female
Kolamida vaasalilaeTo draw kolam patterns at the threshold,
Kondu vanthaar koodaiyilaeHe brought me along in a basket,
Kolamida vaasalilaeTo draw kolam patterns at the threshold,
Kondu vanthaar koodaiyilaeHe brought me along in a basket,
Vaazhum vagai puriyavillaiyae rasaththiI do not understand how to live, Rasaththi,
Vedhanaigal theeravillaiyae adi rasaththiMy deep agonies have not ended, oh Rasaththi!
Vedhanaigal theeravillaiyae….My deep agonies have not ended...
Female
Aandavana thedikittuIn search of God,
Koyilukku poyirunthaenI went to the temple,
Rasaththi adiyae rasaththiRasaththi, oh dear Rasaththi!
Aandavana thedikittuIn search of God,
Koyilukku poyirunthaenI went to the temple,
Rasaththi adiyae rasaththiRasaththi, oh dear Rasaththi!
Female
Aalayaththil dheivamillaiThere is no deity in the temple,
Abalai ennai kaakkavillaiIt did not protect me, a helpless woman,
Aalayaththil dheivamillaiThere is no deity in the temple,
Abalai ennai kaakkavillaiIt did not protect me, a helpless woman,
Dheivaththukkum irakkammillaiyae rasaththiEven God has no mercy, Rasaththi,
Theroda veedhiyillaiyae rasaththiThere is no street for the temple chariot to run, Rasaththi,
Theroda veedhiyillaiyae…..There is no street for the chariot to run...
Female
Yaerikkarai thottaththilaeIn the garden by the lake shore,
Yaezhai vachchu vaazhakkannuThe plantain sapling planted by a poor person,
Thoppaaga maaravillaiyae adi rasaththiHas not turned into a grove, oh Rasaththi!
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae adi rasaththiThere is no one to protect it, oh Rasaththi!
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae adi rasaththiThere is no one to protect it, oh Rasaththi!
Kaappaaththa yaarumillaiyae….There is no one to protect it...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This sorrowful folk-style song from 'Oli Piranthathu' (1980) expresses the deep emotional plight of a woman who feels abandoned and unfulfilled in life. Through the extended metaphor of a poor person's solitary plantain sapling that fails to grow into a lush grove due to lack of protection, the singer laments her delicate, vulnerable existence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Yaezhai vachchu vaazhakkannu / Thoppaaga maaravillaiyae

The plantain sapling planted by a poor person that fails to become a grove is a metaphor for her frail life that fails to blossom into happiness.

Monai (First Letter Alliteration)

Aalayaththil dheivamillai / Abalai ennai kaakkavillai

Alliteration of the initial letter 'Aa' in 'Aalayaththil' and 'Abalai'.

Refrain / Anaphora

Rasaththi adiyae rasaththi

Repeated address to 'Rasaththi' serves as an emotional anchor expressing grief to a confidante throughout the song.

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Trivia

'Oli Piranthathu' (1980) features music composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics written by Aalangudi Somu, known for writing deeply evocative folk-oriented Tamil songs.

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