Talking to Tomorrow: Understanding Bayaan’s Farda
We have already explored several songs by Bayaan like Hum Nadaan, which captures youthful innocence, and Din Dhalay, a reflection on the passage of time. We also discussed Aaj Bazaar Mein, a song that portrays the struggles of society. Today, our next destination is “Farda,” featuring Arsalan Hasan and comes from their album “4 Saal” (4 Years), is a thoughtful conversation with the future. The title “Farda” means “Tomorrow” or “Future.” The song looks at the present world, seeing problems like lost values and people only caring about themselves, but it also finds signs of hope.
The singer speaks directly to the Future (“Farda”), asking why it seems doubtful about humanity. The song suggests that even when things look bad, life and hope continue, like slow rain bringing life, or like birds continuing to sing. It encourages expressing hidden feelings and holds onto the belief that even in dark times, a new morning or hope will eventually arrive. It’s a song about questioning the future while holding onto faith in life’s quiet resilience.
What Does the Title “Farda” Mean?
The title “Farda” is an Urdu and Persian word that means “Tomorrow” or “The Future.” This title is very important because the song actually speaks to Farda, as if the Future is a person.
By talking directly to “Farda,” the singer creates a dialogue between how things are now and what might come next. The song asks the Future what it thinks and why it might be suspicious or worried about people today. The title sets up the whole song as a way to explore worries about tomorrow while also trying to find reasons for hope. It makes us think about our relationship with time and what we expect from the days ahead.
“Farda” Lyrics Meaning Explained
Let’s explore the feelings and ideas in each part of the song, explained simply, without using the original Urdu lyrics in the descriptions.
Opening Lines: Finding Comfort and Hiding Pain
The song begins by describing something or someone addressed as “You.” This “You” is called patience itself, and also a cloud that brings blessings gently, like soft rain. This could be referring to hope, a comforting memory, or maybe even the idea of the future itself bringing slow relief.
The singer invites this comforting presence to wrap itself around memory. While doing this, the singer suggests hiding sorrows deep inside and putting on a brave face by laughing. This paints a picture of finding comfort in the past while masking present pain.
Looking at the World: Lost Values, Ignorant People
The song then shifts to look at the world today. The singer states that important values like loyalty and modesty seem to have disappeared completely. This is presented as a sad truth about current times.
The singer observes that the whole city, meaning society in general, seems lost in chasing its own comforts and pleasures. People are unaware or don’t care about deeper things or perhaps each other’s problems. This shows a world where people are self-absorbed and disconnected.
A Sign of Hope: Nature Continues
But even though society seems to have lost its way, the singer points out a hopeful sign. Despite everything, birds continue to sing their songs of life on the wind. This image of birds singing suggests that nature, beauty, and the basic pulse of life carry on, regardless of human failings. It’s a small but powerful sign that hope and life persist.
Chorus: Questioning the Future, Finding Hope in Rain
The main chorus directly addresses the Future (“Farda”). The singer asks the Future what it’s thinking about. They question why the Future seems suspicious or holds negative views about the current state of human beings.
The singer then offers a different way to look at things. Life, they suggest, happens slowly, accumulating bit by bit, like raindrops making things wet over time. They tell the Future that its world is already drenched in this gentle rain. This implies that blessings, life, or hope are already present, falling quietly, even if people (or the Future itself) don’t fully notice or appreciate it yet. It’s a message of quiet hope and patience.
Verse 2: Lost in Silence, Unspoken Words
This part seems to address someone directly again – maybe the listener, maybe humanity, or maybe even the Future. The singer asks why this “You” is so far from light, which usually means guidance, hope, or truth. They ask why this “You” is lost in a confusing whirlpool of silence, unable to speak out.
The singer wonders why the important words hidden inside the heart are not being expressed beautifully, maybe through songs or art. This suggests people are suppressing their true feelings or important ideas, staying silent when they should speak, and getting lost in that silence.
Bridge: Promise of a New Morning
This short part offers a clear message of hope. It says that even if one’s home – which could mean life, society, or one’s inner self – is sunk in darkness right now, the light or flame of a new morning will definitely arrive eventually. It’s a promise that dark times will not last forever.
Ending: Repeating the Message
The song ends by repeating the observations about lost values and the hopeful sign of the birds singing. It also repeats the chorus, asking the Future again why it doubts humanity but also reminding it of the quiet, persistent presence of life, like rain. This repetition reinforces the song’s main themes: acknowledging present problems but holding onto hope and questioning the future’s outlook.
Understanding the Comparisons (Metaphors) in “Farda”
The song uses beautiful comparisons (metaphors) and symbols from Urdu poetry to express its ideas.
Patience and a Rain Cloud: Tu sabr hai, abr hai
The song starts by calling someone or something “You” (Tu) both patience (sabr) and a cloud (abr). This compares hope or a comforting presence to the abstract idea of patience and the real image of a cloud. Clouds bring rain, and here the rain is compared to kindness (karam) falling gently. This metaphor creates a feeling of gentle hope and relief arriving slowly and naturally.
Lap of Memory: yaad ki aghosh mein
Saying “in the lap/embrace of memory” (yaad ki aghosh mein) treats memory like a person or a safe place where one can find comfort. It’s a metaphor for retreating into the past to find solace when the present is difficult.
Birds Weaving Songs: Panchi... zindagi ke naghmay buntay hain
The image of birds (Panchi) weaving (buntay) songs (naghmay) of life is a beautiful metaphor. Birds often symbolize freedom and nature. Weaving suggests creating something intricate and beautiful naturally. It symbolizes that life, hope, and beauty continue to be created in the world, naturally and persistently, even when humans are lost or society is flawed.
Talking to the Future: “Farda”
The whole song uses personification by talking to the Future (Farda) as if it were a person. This makes the abstract idea of tomorrow feel real and allows the singer to ask it questions, express doubts, and offer hope directly. It turns worries about the future into a conversation.
Life Drop by Drop: Qatra Qatra zindagi hai
Comparing life (zindagi) to happening drop by drop (Qatra Qatra) is a metaphor for gradual progress or accumulation. It suggests that life unfolds slowly, perhaps subtly, like raindrops gradually making the ground wet. It might imply that we need patience to see life’s blessings, or that value is found in small, steady moments rather than big events.
World Drenched in Rain: Baarish mein bheega tera jahan hai
Saying the Future’s world (tera jahan) is already drenched (bheega) in rain (Baarish) uses rain as a symbol. Rain often represents blessings, cleansing, renewal, or life itself. This metaphor suggests that goodness, hope, and life are already present and soaking the world, even if we don’t fully realize it. It’s a reassuring message to the worried Future.
Far from Light: Noor se duur
Light (Noor) is a common symbol for guidance, truth, hope, or divine presence. Being far from light (Noor se duur) is a metaphor for being lost, spiritually or morally adrift, or stuck in ignorance and despair.
Whirlpool of Silence: Chup ke bhanwar mein gumm
This compares silence (Chup) to a dangerous whirlpool (bhanwar) where someone is lost (gumm). It’s a metaphor for being trapped by not speaking out. Remaining silent about important feelings or truths can feel disorienting and inescapable, like being pulled down into a vortex.
Home Sunk in Darkness: Taareekion mein jo dooba hai ghar
“Home” (ghar) here likely means more than just a house; it symbolizes one’s life, society, or inner state. Saying it is sunk (dooba) in darkness (Taareekion) is a metaphor for being overwhelmed by sadness, ignorance, or difficult times.
Flame of Morning: Subah ki lau bhi jalay gi
The flame (lau) of morning (Subah) is a metaphor for hope, new beginnings, and the return of light and clarity after a period of darkness. The promise that this flame will burn signifies optimism and faith in eventual renewal.
The Story Behind “Farda”
“Farda” is a song by the popular Pakistani rock band Bayaan, known for their thoughtful Urdu lyrics and progressive sound, often led by vocalist Asfar Hussain. The song features Arsalan Hasan, another talented musician, adding collaboration depth. It’s part of their album “4 Saal,” which translates to “4 Years.”
The album “4 Saal” reflects the band’s journey, experiences, and observations over the four years leading up to its release. It touches on themes of time, change, societal issues, personal struggles, hope, and despair – all common threads in Bayaan’s music. “Farda” fits perfectly within this context. It looks at the state of the world (“Haal-e-adam”) and society’s focus on superficial comforts, questioning what the future holds but ultimately offering a message of hope.
Bayaan often tackles philosophical themes, encouraging listeners to think deeper about life, society, and personal feelings. Their music frequently contrasts societal apathy or decay with enduring hope found in nature or inner strength. “Farda” embodies this Bayaan signature: acknowledging the darkness but pointing towards the light, urging expression, and finding beauty even in gradual, quiet processes like falling rain or birdsong.
Final Thoughts: A Hopeful Question to Tomorrow
Bayaan’s “Farda” is a beautifully written song that feels like a deep conversation with time itself. It honestly looks at the problems of today – lost values, people focused only on themselves – but refuses to give in to complete despair. The song uses powerful images from nature, like clouds, rain, and singing birds, to show that life and hope keep going quietly, even when things seem bleak.
By speaking directly to the Future (“Farda”), the song encourages us to question our own outlook. Are we too focused on the bad? Can we see the slow, steady presence of life and blessings around us? While acknowledging the darkness and the reasons people might hide their pain or their words, the song ends on a hopeful note, reminding us that morning will eventually come. It’s a call for patience, expression, and faith in the quiet resilience of life, even as we ask difficult questions about tomorrow.