Empowering Sinhala ballad celebrating a father’s sacrifice for his son.
Song Lyrics
කරදිය ගැඹරේ තුන්යම ගෙවුනේ
නුඹගේ දෑතට දිරිය වඩන්නයි
සුහුඹුල් අත්පා යදඬු කරන්නයි
කිරිකැටි පුතුනේ… කිරිකැටි පුතුනේ
අව්වට වැගිරෙන දාදිය වැස්සේ
කළුගල් තලලා මහමං තැනුවේ
නිවහල් ලොවකට නුඹට වඩින්නයි
කිරිකැටි පුතුනේ… කිරිකැටි පුතුනේ
දුම් රොටු අතරේ කම්මල් ඇතුළේ
දැතිරෝදෙට ගත ජීවය දුන්නේ
නව මිනිසෙකු නව ලොවට පුදන්නයි
කිරිකැටි පුතුනේ… කිරිකැටි පුතුනේ
කරදිය ගැඹරේ තුන්යම ගෙවුනේ…
Song Information
Song Title: කරදිය ගැඹරේ (Karadiya Gambure)
Artist: Edward Jayakody
Lyrics: Premakumara Jayawardana
Genre: Classical / Sarala Gee
Language: Sinhala
Release Year: 1980s
Song Summary
“Karadiya Gambure” is a deeply moving tribute to the labor and sacrifices of a father, beautifully performed by Edward Jayakody. The song carries a mood of resilience and unconditional love, portraying a father who engages in backbreaking work—from deep-sea fishing to crushing stones—to ensure a better future for his son. It is a classic of the Sarala Gee genre, blending a powerful social message with melodic grace.
Song Meaning
The song, written by Premakumara Jayawardana, explores the themes of generational hope and the dignity of labor. Each verse highlights a different form of physical hardship: the “deep salt water” (fishing), the “crushing of black stones” (construction), and the “smoke of the factories” (industry). These are not presented as complaints, but as deliberate sacrifices meant to turn the son’s “tender limbs” into “iron,” symbolising strength and independence. The ultimate goal is for the son to enter a “liberated world” as a “new man,” breaking the cycle of hardship through the foundation laid by his father’s sweat.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the singer of Karadiya Gambure?
The song is performed by the renowned Sri Lankan artist Edward Jayakody.
What are the primary themes of the lyrics?
The primary themes are fatherly sacrifice, the dignity of manual labor, and the hope for a child’s successful future.
What does the phrase “Yadandu karannayi” imply?
It translates to “to make into iron,” which is a metaphor for making the son strong, resilient, and capable of facing life’s challenges.
Who wrote the lyrics for this song?
The lyrics were written by Premakumara Jayawardana.
How does the song depict the father’s work?
The song depicts work as a harsh but purposeful struggle across various environments like the sea, stone quarries, and factories, all for the benefit of the next generation.