Bangau Oh Bangau
"Every culture has a folk song about the circle of life. In Malaysia, it is fondly called, 'Bangau oh bangau'." -Whereinsoever Blog
Bangau Oh Bangau
Stork, Oh Stork
Children's Song
Children's Song
(Malay)
(English)
Bangau oh bangau,
Kenapa engkau kurus?
Macam-mana aku tak kurus,
Ikan tak mahu timbul,
Ikan tak mahu timbul.
Ikan oh ikan,
Kenapa engkau tak timbul?
Macam-mana aku nak timbul,
Rumput panjang sangat,
Rumput panjang sangat.
Rumput oh rumput,
Kenapa engkau panjang?
Ana aku tak panjang,
Kerbau tak makan aku,
Kerbau tak makan aku.
Kerbau oh kerbau,
Kenapa tak makan rumput?
Macam-mana aku nak makan,
Perut aku sakit,
Perut aku sakit.
Perut oh perut,
Kenapa engkau sakit?
Macam-mana aku tak sakit,
Makan nasi mentah,
Makan nasi mentah.
Nasi oh nasi,
Kenapa engkau mentah?
Macam-mana aku tak mentah,
Api tak mahu menyala,
Api tak mahu menyala.
Api oh api,
Kenapa engkau tak mahu menyala?
Macam-mana aku nak menyala,
Kayu api basah,
Kayu api basah.
Kayu oh kayu,
Kenapa engkau basah?
Macam-mana aku tak basah,
Hujan timpa aku,
Hujan timpa aku.
Hujan oh hujan,
Kenapa timpa kayu?
Macam-mana aku tak timpa,
Katak panggil aku,
Katak panggil aku.
Katak oh katak,
Kenapa panggil hujan?
Macam-mana aku tak panggil,
Ular nak makan aku,
Ular nak makan aku.
Ular oh ular,
Kenapa nak makan katak?
Macam-mana aku tak makan,
Memang makanan aku,
Memang makanan aku.
Stork, oh Stork,
Why are you so skinny?
How can I not be skinny,
Fish doesn't want to surface,
Fish doesn't want to surface.
Fish, oh Fish,
Why won't you surface?
How can I surface?
Grass is so long,
Grass is so long.
Grass, oh Grass,
Why are you so long?
How can I not be long?
Buffalo is not eating me,
Buffalo is not eating me.
Buffalo, oh Buffalo,
Why don't you eat Grass?
How can I eat Grass,
When my Stomach is aching?
When my Stomach is aching?
Stomach, oh Stomach,
Why are you aching?
How can I not be aching?
I ate raw Rice,
I ate raw Rice.
Rice, oh Rice,
Why are you raw?
How can I not be raw?
Fire wouldn't light,
Fire wouldn't light.
Fire, oh Fire,
Why wouldn't you light?
How can I light?
Firewood is wet,
Firewood is wet.
Firewood, oh Firewood,
Why are you wet?
How can I not be wet?
Rain fell on me,
Rain fell on me.
Rain, oh Rain,
Why did you fall on Firewood?
How can I not fall on it?
Frog is calling me,
Frog is calling me.
Frog, oh Frog,
Why are you calling Rain?
How can I not call it?
Snake wants to eat me,
Snake wants to eat me.
Snake, oh Snake,
Why do you want to eat Frog?
How can I not eat it?
It is my food,
It is my food.
Notes
"Bangau" can refer to different birds. Most translate it as stork or egret.
*****
This song is often acted out by classes. Often children will wear costumes or hold up a representation of each animal or object while singing the verse about it.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Syariqie Fie Aurora for contributing this song. Many thanks to Lee San contributing a translation. Final translation by Lisa.
Terima kasih banyak-banyak!
