Bindagena Yamu Lyrics by Senaka Batagoda

Let us break through the obstacles and troubles that come,
that itself is peace; life need not be a burden,
if there can be weariness, then let us be
what gives people ease, even from far away

Not going blind, let us rise up together as one,
that is the love that binds us,
like something ripened in the dark, on all ten sides,
not letting it slip away, let us bind together as one

Coming to be where there is, ceasing where there is not,
wherever you look there is change, and living,
being born and dying, dying and being born again,
amid endless, numberless streams of thought,
wings slip loose and you cannot fly,
and though wishes are shattered and left behind,
still, in the midst of lament, joy comes flowing in,
a sleepless life will keep watch over you

Not going blind, let us rise up together as one,
that is the love that binds us,
like something ripened in the dark, on all ten sides,
not letting it slip away, let us bind together as one

Like infants who fall and rise again in the world,
let us, once more, rise up that same way,
to win what we glimpsed in the world of dreams,
let us set our feet down, to protect that world

Not going blind, let us rise up together as one,
that is the love that binds us,
like something ripened in the dark, on all ten sides,
not letting it slip away, let us bind together as one

An uplifting anthem of resilience and togetherness by Senaka Batagoda. Its opening is its whole creed: let us break through the obstacles and troubles that come, because that, not avoiding them, is peace, and life need not be carried as a burden. Even our weariness, it suggests, can be turned into something that gives ease to others, however far away.

The refrain is a call to unity with eyes open: not going blind, let us rise together as one, held by the love that binds us. Around it, the middle verse turns almost philosophical, and Buddhist, on impermanence: everything comes to be and ceases, everything changes, we are born and dying, dying and being born again amid endless streams of thought. Wings slip and we cannot fly, wishes shatter, and yet, remarkably, in the midst of all that lament, joy still comes flowing in, and a sleepless life keeps watch over us.

The last verse offers the simplest, sturdiest image of hope: like infants who fall and get up again, let us rise the same way, once more. And it ends with purpose, to win what we glimpsed in the world of dreams, we must set our feet down and protect that world. Sung by Senaka Batagoda, it is a warm, philosophical song about facing hardship without illusion, staying bound together in love, and getting up, like a child learning to walk, as many times as it takes.