Tharuna Jeewithe Lyrics by La Ceylonians

Our youthful life, lived in our own way,
should be spent in peace, never as enemies.
As good friends, boys and girls together,
come now, let’s all be happy, every one of us.

The soft breeze swaying gently,
to gladden our hearts and minds,
never leaves our side,
even if you turn away cross with us.

A delicate, tender young thing,
a youthful, gentle, soft-spoken maiden,
slender and lovely,
the way you walk is just perfect.

This is a bright, easygoing song about young people and the spirit of friendship, the kind of tune meant to be sung together with a crowd rather than to one person in private. There is no heartbreak here, no sleepless night. It is a cheerful call to make the most of being young while you can, and to do it kindly.

The opening sets out a simple wish for how life should go. Youth should be spent “ape viondayen,” in our own free and easy way, but spent in peace rather than in quarrels, with no one treated as an enemy. The singer gathers everyone in as “mithuru mithuriyan,” friends of both kinds, boys and girls alike, and the invitation is warm and open: come, let’s all be happy together, right now. It is the feeling of a group of friends deciding that the time to enjoy each other’s company is today.

The middle verse turns to the breeze, “selena mada pawan,” the gentle swaying wind that cools and soothes. In Sinhala song the soft breeze is a familiar image for comfort and contentment, something that quietly lifts the heart, and here it stands for the easy good cheer that runs through the whole song. The lovely touch is that the breeze stays with us even when we are out of sorts, “tharahai giyoth ithin.” Even if you sulk or turn away in a huff, the gentle wind keeps blowing all the same. It is a playful way of saying that this happy mood will not abandon you, so you may as well let go of the grumpiness and join in.

The last verse is the flirtatious, smiling heart of the song, a young man’s affectionate praise of a girl. She is delicate and tender, gentle and soft-spoken, slender and pretty, and the final line lands on her walk: “oya gamana kadimaya,” your way of walking is just lovely. It is the small, fond detail that a smitten admirer notices, and it closes the song on a light, teasing warmth. What the listener is left with is the simple pleasure of youth itself, friends, a kind breeze, a pretty girl walking by, and the gentle reminder to spend these years happily and at peace with one another.