بودانه رفتارش چنگ است
Bodana Raftaresh Chang Ast
“The Quail Walks Like a Harp”
Lyrics
Lyrics updated · July 2026English Translation
The partridge — her gait is like music, partridge The partridge — her gait is like music, partridge Partridge, dear partridge — partridge, dear partridge
Gul-Begam at the entrance of the hallway is sewing She draws a cold sigh — my heart and soul burns O sweetheart, slowly slowly — tell me to come to you The partridge — like a stone, partridge
Transliteration
Bodana raftaresh chang ast bodana Bodana raftaresh chang ast bodana Bodana jan bodana bodana jan bodana
Gul begom dam tahe dalan chakani medozad Gul begom dam tahe dalan chakani medozad Ahe sard-e mekashad jan o dilam mesozad Dilbar jan jigi jigi mara dam baret bigi Dilbar jan jigi jigi mara dam baret bigi Bodana raftaresh chang ast bodana Bodana dam tahe sang ast bodana Bodana dam tahe sang ast bodana Bodana jan bodana bodana jan bodana
Bodana raftaresh chang ast bodana Bodana raftaresh chang ast bodana Bodana jan bodana bodana jan bodana Bodana jan bodana bodana jan bodana Gul begom dam tahe dalan chakani medozad Gul begom dam tahe dalan chakani medozad Ahe sard-e mekashad jan o dilam mesozad Dilbar jan jigi jigi mara dam baret bigi Dilbar jan jigi jigi mara dam baret bigi Bodana raftaresh chang ast bodana Bodana dam tahe sang ast bodana Bodana jan bodana bodana jan bodana
متن اصلی
بودنه رفتارش چنگ است بودنه بودنه رفتارش چنگ است بودنه بودنه جان بودنه بودنه جان بودنه
گل بیگم دم ته دالان چکنی میدوزد گل بیگم دم ته دالان چکنی میدوزد آه سردی میکشد جان و دلم میسوزد دلبر جان جگی جگی مره دم برت بگی دلبر جان جگی جگی مره دم برت بگی بودنه رفتارش چنگ است بودنه بودنه دم تي سنگ است بودنه بودنه دم تي سنگ است بودنه بودنه جان بودنه بودنه جان بودنه
بودنه رفتارش چنگ است بودنه بودنه رفتارش چنگ است بودنه بودنه جان بودنه بودنه جان بودنه بودنه جان بودنه بودنه جان بودنه گل بیگم دم ته دالان چکنی میدوزد گل بیگم دم ته دالان چکنی میدوزد آه سردی میکشد جان و دلم میسوزد دلبر جان جگی جگی مره دم برت بگی دلبر جان جگی جگی مره دم برت بگی بودنه رفتارش چنگ است بودنه بودنه دم تي سنگ است بودنه بودنه جان بودنه بودنه جان بودنه
The partridge — her gait is like music. Gul-Begam at the hallway entrance sewing, drawing a cold sigh; the speaker's heart and soul burns; slowly slowly, tell me to come to you.
About This Recording
Bodana Raftaresh Chang Ast is a folk-register song that uses the partridge as both a refrain and a figure for the beloved's bearing. The partridge (bodana or kak in Dari) has a distinctive walk — a rolling, musical gait — that Persian and Dari folk song has used for centuries as a comparison for the beloved's way of moving. The song announces this comparison and then demonstrates it: 'her gait is like music.'
Gul-Begam — Rose-Lady — is named directly, which is unusual in Ahmad Zahir's classical repertoire but common in folk song. The folk tradition names its beloved (Laila, Zara, Gul-Begam) where the ghazal tradition keeps her anonymous. The scene is specific: she sits at the hallway entrance sewing, draws a cold sigh (sard aah), and the speaker's heart and soul burns at the sight.
The cold sigh and the burning heart are in deliberate contrast: her sigh is cold (unconcerned, possibly directed at someone or something else entirely), while his response is hot. The asymmetry is the song's emotional core — she does something ordinary that she does not know is being witnessed, and the witness is set ablaze by it. 'Slowly slowly, tell me to come to you' — the request is for permission, which has not been given.
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