Caribbean Hindustani

Balama (2017) by Drupatee

Queen of Chutney Soca Drupatee Ramgoonai actually has two songs by the name of Balama. The below song was released in 2017, produced by Big
Rich and the Pungalunks Factory as part of Chatak Matak, a series of traditional chutney songs sung by contemporary artists. The song is a bidesia,
a traditional UP/Bihari folk song expressing longing for the migrants who left their homeland (presumably in the context of indentureship). The song is
from the perspective of a woman whose husband has gone abroad.

आय सारी रतिया निंदिया ना आवे (अरे बहिनिया, लेकिन क्यों)
All night sleep does not come (Oh, but why, sister?)
हाय दया!
Oh my god! (also translated as “Lord have mercy”)
बलमा मोरे गइले बिदेसवा
My beloved has gone abroad
बलमा मोरे, बलमा मोरे, बलमा मोरे गइले बिदेसवा
बलमा मोरे गइले बिदेसवा
बलमा गइले बिदेसवा (2x)
My beloved went abroad
बलमा मोरे गइले बिदेसवा (2x)
ओ बलमा, बलमा, बलमा, बलमा
O beloved, O beloved, O beloved, O beloved

सारी रतिया निंदिया ना आवे, निंदिया ना आवे (2x)
All night sleep does not come
रिमझिम नया नवा बरसे
New drizzles and rains arrive

बलमा मोरे, बलमा मोरे गइले बिदेसवा
My beloved has gone abroad
बलमा मोरे गइले बिदेसवा
My beloved has gone abroad

बिन सैया मोरे दिल में आग है (2x)
Without my lover, there is fire in my heart
सारी महिनवा क्या करु में
What do I do all month?
बलमा मोरे, बलमा मोरे गइले बिदेसवा
My beloved has gone abroad

ओ मोरे राजा वापस आजा, वापस आजा (2x )
Oh my king, please come back, come back
दिल के आग भूजावो रे
Parch the fire in my heart

बलमा मोरे गइले बिदेसवा (2x)
My beloved has gone abroad
बलमा गइले बिदेसवा (2x)
My beloved went abroad
बलमा मोरे गइले बिदेसवा (2x)
ओ बलमा, बलमा, बलमा, बलमा (4x)
O beloved, O beloved, O beloved, O beloved
बलमा मोरे गइले बिदेसवा (4x)

Hindustani Words and Meanings
Balama/balma – beloved/lover
Bides/Bidesawa – abroad, foreign land
Hay daya – Have mercy/oh my god
Saiya – beloved lover
Rimjhim – drizzle
Barasaawe (barse) – to rain (it rains)
Neend (nindiya) – sleep
Mahina (mahinawa) – month
Aawe – to come
Vaapas aaja – come back
Aag – fire
Raaja – king