This is indeed a long, poignant story-song (a boliyan -based epic) about a poor woman's struggle and her husband's neglect. Here is the (common version), broken down with its story. The Short Story Behind the Song A poor woman is suffering in extreme cold. Her husband has a thick, heavy quilt ( lathe di chadar — a quilt stuffed with raw cotton [lathe] ), but he refuses to share it with her, wrapping it only around himself. She pleads with him, describing her shivering state. In some versions, the song ends in tragedy (she dies of cold); in others, it's a sharp critique of male selfishness. Complete Traditional Lyrics (Punjabi - Gurmukhi & Romanized) Here is the most complete common version. Romanized Punjabi Chadar utte (male voice): Lathe di chadar, mere yaar nu cha gayi, Mainu na mili, mainu na mili, Sari raat jagaya main taan.
Lathe di chadar, tere yaar nu cha gayi, Tainu mil gayi, tainu mil gayi, Mainu ki si chauni, main taan. Verse 1 (Woman): Pau'n lai gayi meri khesh di chaadar, Tere kol lathe di chadar hai ni. Dupher chha'nwa'n te raat jawani, Taan vi sohni chadar hai ni. lyrics lathe di chadar
Ajj raat nu taan gutt te lai le, Mainu jaandi na maar ve. Lathe di chadar de vich aik vari sukh na levan, Fer jaani maran haar ve. This is indeed a long, poignant story-song (a
Tu ja ke apne maape nu aakh, Lathe di chadar lai aa ve. Main ki karaan mera ghar ghareeb da, Kitho'n lai aan lathe di chadar ve. Her husband has a thick, heavy quilt (
Tera lathe di chadar wich ang sidharna, Mera tatti jhuggi te seeng vi ni. Jadon tak teri chadar nu paavan lathe wali, Ohdon tak mera jee na nikka, mere yaar ve.