I grew up listening to Malay, English and Chinese songs. Because I enjoyed ballads, I enjoy the lyrics sung in Malay love ballads. To Malaysians, they are like what the Western hear of groups like Bon Jovi and Chicago.
In a creative moment, I’ve thought about translating some of these ballads- of my favourite songs: one of them is Ramalanku Benar Belaka by Kumpulan Umbrella (nope, again, I need to tell many people that Kumpulan Umbrella exists). I just discovered that the lead singer, Zarul, has his own blog:
The song spoke about a heartbroken man, whose love left him despite having gone through so much together and having made the promise that she would never leave. Yet, his prediction came true and she did leave after all.
Lyrics (Malay with English translation)
Hingga ke saat ini
Until this very second
Pelbagai persoalan
There are all kinds of questions
Tak henti melanda
That is never ending
Untuk ku memikirkannya
For me to figure them out
Kau memilih diriku di atas dasar apa
On what basis did you choose me
Apakah kerana cinta
Was it because of love?
Atau pelepas sepi cuma
Or a mere relief for your loneliness
Seumpama dedaunan yang telah gugur bertaburan
Like fallen leaves lying scattered on the ground
Membiarkan ranting dimamah usang
Leaving the branches rot from to age
Apakah semua itu akan terjadi padaku
Is that all going to happen to me
Andainya benar maka tepatlah apa yang kuramalkan
If it is true, then indeed what I have predicted is true
Waktu bersamamu banyak benar kenangan yang kita ciptakan bersama
There were so much of memories created from our time together
Dan satu darinya engkau bersyahdu
and one of them you had pledged
Bahawa aku takkan kehilanganmu
that I will never lose you
Susah payah kita semai benih cinta
with such hardship we planted the seed of love
Menempuh dugaan
Going through obstacles
Akhirnya kau tinggalkan
alas at last you left
Sia-sialah ku bina istana cinta
what a waste I build a castle of love
Andai insan lain di hatimu bertakhta
if there is another person who reigns in your heart
Hingga ke saat ini
until this very second
Ku masih mengenangkan
I still miss
Detik-detik terindah
our most beautiful moments
Namum… kesudahan aku parah
but…my ending is tragic
kesudahan aku parah
my ending is tragic
For full listing of translated Malay songs, click on to MUSIC tab.
