Yogya in grief

[layne67]

My heart goes to the people of Yogyakarta. More than five thousand dead. My prayers and thoughts are with you.

A friend pointed out this song to me when the tsunami occured in December 2004. It is sung by an Indonesian singer Ebiet. Meaningful, sad lyrics. Beautiful song.

Berita Kepada Kawan. Roughly translated it means 'News for a Friend'

Here's the English translation of the song though I don't think I did the original song justice. Maybe i_o_r_h_a_e_l or ilyria_novia can come up with better words?



A sad journey
It’s a pity that you’re not here my friend
Lots of tales that you should see for yourself
On an arid, stony land

My body shook along the rocky road
My heart trembles to see the desiccated grass
This journey is like a witness to the little shepherd crying with sadness

Friend please listen to his reply
When I asked him why his father, his mother died a long time ago
Swollen by the tragedy of this land
When I reach the sea I tell it all
To the corals to the waves
To the sun
But they are silent
But they are mute
I am left alone
Looking at the sky
Maybe the answer is there
Why tragedy happens on my land
Maybe God is tired with us
Mistakes and sins
Or the world refuses
To be our friend
Lets us ask the waving grass

ETA : Thanks ilyria_novia

Comments

[illyria-novia.livejournal.com]

Um... Perhaps this verse

Tubuhku berguncang, dihempas batu jalanan
My body shook along the rocky road (you can change the word 'rocky' in the first verse with 'stony' to avoid repetition. I kinda see the singer as traveling through a pock-marked, bouldery road)

But otherwise, you've done a perfect, perfect job, especially with the chorus.

I love Ebiet G. Ade a lot. He's like the Simon and Garfunkel of Indonesia. His songs have beautiful lyrics, accompanied mostly by the sound of guitar, clear and very touching. My favorite ever is Nyanyian Kasmaran (do you have 'kasmaran'-lovestruck in Malay?)

Sejak engkau bertemu lelaki bermata lembut
Ada yang tersentak dari dalam dadamu
Kau sembunyi, duduk dalam gelap
Bersenandung nyanyian kasmaran
Dan tersenyum entah untuk siapa
Tampaknya kau tengah mabuk kepayang
Kaupahat langit dengan angan-angan
Kauukir malam dengan bayang-bayang

Jangan hanya diam kausimpan dalam duduk termenung
Malam yang kausapa lewat tanpa jawab (not sure I remember this correctly)
Bersikaplah jujur dan terbuka
Ungkapkanlah perasaan yang sarat
Dengan cinta yang panas bergelora (heh, kinda cheesy here, but I don't miiiind! :)
Anggap saja takdir telah bicara
Ia datang dari langit buatmu'
Dan pandangan matanya khusus buatmu

*is ded*

*loves Ebiet*

[layne67.livejournal.com]

No we dont have the word kasmaran. Lovestruck people here are usually called 'angau' - not a romantic word at all and usually said in a joking manner.

I love almost all of Ebiet's songs but my favourite is Camelia, all 4 versions of it. Hee, we were planning to call the baby Kamelia Eliza :-)

Any idea why there are four versions of that song? Is there a special Camelia in his life, I wonder?

[illyria-novia.livejournal.com]

It's an intriguing thought, isn't it? His wife's name isn't Camellia. Someone in his past? Obviously she was dead, hence the melancholy, the requiem. Some inspiration, eh? :)