If there was a song that could really represent the spirit of south east asia region, then that song is Rasa Sayang Eh!. In Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and part of Thailand and the Philippines, Rasa Sayang Eh! usually sung to children by mothers and to celebrate visiting friends from far-away. If there was one true song that extend beyond the barrier of languages, countries and races, then this folk song would be it.
But that is in the past now. Rasa Sayang Eh! has recently caused a spat between Malaysia and Indonesia. Citizens from both countries exchanged harsh words over Malaysia using the song as backdrop for tourism advertisement. There was even a call for war from a certain country angry citizens.
A scene of few Malays pretending to be drunk singing Rasa Sayang Eh! from a Malay film of the same title. This film was produced in 1959 in Singapore casting Wahid Satay and Kasma Booty.
One can easily google what it’s all about. As the relation between the two countries has not improved much since then, people of today would no longer able to sing the song the way it was meant as before. It is ironic that a song once sung to commemorate newly found friends is now serves only to remind ourself with sentiment and hate to others. The way it is now, people will remember Rasa Sayang Eh! as a ‘friendly’ song that almost caused a war between two neighboring country.
Rasa Sayang Eh!
rasa sayang eh
rasa sayang sayang eh
eh lihat nona jauh
rasa sayang sayang eh
buah cempedak di luar pagar
ambil galah tolong jolokkan
saya budak baru belajar
kalau salah tolong tunjukkan
pulau pandan jauh ke tengah
gunung daik bercabang tiga
hancur badan di kandung tanah
budi yang baik di kenang juga
dua tiga kucing berlari
mana sama si kucing belang
dua tiga boleh ku cari
mana sama abang seorang
pisang emas dibawa berlayar
masak sebiji di atas peti
hutang emas boleh di bayar
hutang budi di bawa mati
Meaning
“rasa” means “feel”
“sayang” has several meanings in this song. its literal definition is “love” – the friendly kind.
in this song, “rasa sayang” means “to feel love” and “to feel so much love that one gets heavy hearted to release/leave.”
“rasa sayang” is usually sung among new friends, and frequently as one parts.
“lihat nona jauh” means “to see a girl so far away / moving further and further away” and this is the reason one feels “love” and “heavy hearted.”
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Tags: Brunei, Folk song, Indonesia, Malaysia, Malaysian, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
I’ve been looking all over for this!
Thanks.
The Rasa sayang song , we used to sing it when we are still in kindergarden. Somehow it does stress release when you sing it out loud with everyone in camping session.
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Great!