Chardi Kala

Track Credits + Lyrics Translations

1. AISEE PREET

Lyrics by Guru Arjan (16th Century), music by Sonny Singh
Sonny Singh - vocals, trumpet, harmonium
Jonathan Goldberger - guitar
Michael Dwan Singh - sarangi
Ernest Stuart - trombone
Wil-Dog Abers - bass
Dave Sharma - drumset, dholki, dhad, percussion, and mandolin

Translation by Valarie Kaur & Nirinjan Kaur:
Water your mind with the name of the beloved.
Night and day, sing songs of the beloved’s wonders.
Love like this, oh my mind and heart!
Eight watches of the day, know the divine is near.
Says Nanak, those whose destiny is bright,
their mind and heart hold fast to the feet of the beloved!

2. CHARDI KALA

Lyrics - traditional, music by Sonny Singh
Sonny Singh - vocals & trumpet
Ganavya - backing vocals
Wil-Dog Abers - bass & Mellotron
Mario Calire - drumset
Neelamjit Dhillon - tabla & alto saxophone
Warren Huang - tenor saxophone
Carey Frank - keyboard
Jonathan Goldberger - guitar
Dominic Johnson - violin
Jake Leckie - upright bass

Live in eternal optimism, with ever-rising spirits
Shout aloud in ecstasy, true is the great timeless One
Nanak, with Naam (Name) comes eternal optimism, and with your blessings, peace and well-being for everyone.

3. GHADAR MACHAO

Lyrics by Sonny Singh and Ali Mir, music by Sonny Singh
Sonny Singh - vocals and trumpet
Daro Behroozi - bass clarinet
Jonathan Goldberger - guitar
Wil-Dog Abers - bass and backing vocals
Dave Sharma - drumset, doumbek, daff, and percussion

My name is rebel
I landed here from Punjab
In foreign lands they call me "coolie"
No real home but revolution
Create tumult, rebel, create tumult!
My name is rebel
Planting the seed
The ground is shaking
Land is liberty

4. TURIYA TURIYA JA

Lyrics by Sheikh Farid (14th Century), music by Sonny Singh
Sonny Singh - vocals and trumpet
Anantvir Singh - harmonium
Carey Frank - keys
Wil-Dog Abers - bass and guitar
Neelamjit Singh Dhillon - tabla, kanjira, and alto saxophone
Ria Modak - backing vocals
Mario Calire - drumset

Translation by Simran Jeet Singh:
Get up from sleeping Farid, and go check out the world
Perhaps you'll meet a blessed one and you will also become blessed
Look, Farid, at what has passed, your beard has become grey.
The future has come near and the past is far behind you.
Go and wander Farid, go wander
Get up from sleeping, Farid, and broom the mosque.
You're sleeping while God is awake, your beloved will awaken your fortune
O Farid, wake up and do wudu. sing your namaz in the morning
The head that doesn't bow (in prayer) deserves to be cut off.

5. MITAR PYARE NU

Lyrics by Guru Gobind Singh (18th Century), music by Sonny Singh
Sonny Singh - vocals & trumpet
Wil-Dog Abers - bass
Neelamjit Dhillon- tabla and alto saxophone
Carey Frank - keyboard
Anantvir Singh - harmonium
Nadav Peled - guitar
Mario Calire - drumset

Translation by Harinder Singh:
Go tell the Beloved Friend the condition of us disciples.
Without You: using a comforter is like being ill, living in the house is like being with snakes.
The flask is like a spike, the cup is like a dagger, the separation-pang feels like the butcher’s knife.
The Friend’s earth-bed is most pleasing to us; without You, comforting the village-body is like living in the kiln.

6. DUNIYA

Lyrics by Kabir (15th Century), music by Bhai Sarabjit Singh
Arranged by Sonny Singh and Wil-Dog Abers
Sonny Singh - vocals, trumpet, and harmonium
Wil-Dog Abers - bass
Roopa Mahadevan - vocals
Ria Modak - vocals
Jonathan Goldberger - guitar
Jake Leckie - upright bass
Dominic Johnson - violin

People of the world, remain awake and aware.
Even though you are awake, you are being robbed, oh siblings of destiny.
While the vedas stand guard watching, the messenger of death carries you away.
You think that the bitter nimm fruit is a mango, and the mango is a better nimm. You imagine the ripe banana on the thorny bush.
You think the ripe coconut hangs on the barren simmal tree, what an idiotic fool you are!
The omnipresent Divine is like sugar spilled onto the sand ; the elephant can't pick it up.
Says Kabir, give up your ancestry, social status and honor; be like the tiny ant -- pick up and eat the sugar.

7. THIR GHAR BAISO

Lyrics by Guru Angad (16th Century), music - traditional
Arranged by Sonny Singh and Wil-Dog Abers
Sonny Singh - vocals and trumpet
Wil-Dog Abers - bass
Nadav Peled - electric guitar
Jonathan Goldberger - acoustic guitar
Justin Poreé - doumbek, drums, and percussion

Those beloved people of the omnipresent Divine, make this thought stable in your heart/mind: the true Guru will take care of all of your affairs.
The Divine has killed all your enemies and protects your honor.
The people are sovereign, not under the rule of any shahs or emperors. They drink the most Divine tasting nectar.
Fearlessly sing the praises of the Divine by being a part of the true beloved community.
Nanak has entered the sanctuary of the Divine, the Inner-seeker, the searcher of hearts and grasps that support.

8. KOI BOL RAM

Lyrics by Guru Arjan (16th Century), music by Sonny Singh
Sonny Singh - vocals, trumpet, and dhol
Ashni Davé - backing vocals
Ria Modak - backing vocals
Basim Usmani - backing vocals
Wil-Dog Abers - bass and guitar
Mario Calire - drumset
Carey Frank - keyboard
Anantvir Singh - harmonium
Neelamjit Dhillon - alto saxophone
Warren Huang - tenor saxophone
Ernest Stuart - trombone
Estevan Sanchez - sousaphone

Some say 'Ram, Ram', and some say 'Khudaa.'
Some serve the Divine as Gusain; others as Allah.
The cause of causes is the compassionate Divine,
who showers us with grace and kindness.

9. SAJANA TERE BINA

Music and lyrics by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Arranged by Sonny Singh and Wil-Dog Abers
Sonny Singh - vocals, trumpet
Ganavya - vocals
Basim Usmani - backing vocals
Jonathan Goldberger - guitar
Anantvir Singh - harmonium
Carey Frank - keys
Wil-Dog Abers - bass
Neelamjit Singh Dhillon - tabla and kanjira

I cannot find one moment of peace without you, my Beloved

10. REBEL

Lyrics by Kartar Singh Sarabha (early 20th Century), music by Sonny Singh
Sonny Singh - trumpet and dhol
Ali Mir - spoken word
Sham-e-Ali Nayeem - spoken word
Miwi La Lupa - bass trumpet
Daro Behroozi - tenor saxophone
Wil-Dog Abers - bass
Jonathan Goldberger - guitar
Dave Sharma - dholki, dhad, and percussion
Mario Calire - drumset

Translation by Ali Mir:
if they ask you who you are
tell them that your name is Rebel
that your occupation is to wipe out tyranny
that your work is to create ghadar (tumult)
that this is your namaaz and your sandhya
that this is the way you worship
that this is your only true religion
that this is your khuda, that this is your ram

11. RAHAO

Music by Sonny Singh and Jonathan Goldberger 
Sonny Singh - trumpet
Jonathan Goldberger - guitar

In Gurbani (Sikh scriptures), "rahao" is a pause - a moment to stop, reflect, and take in the meaning and power of the poetry.