Tiara was once a hit Malay song, sang by the group Kris. It is about the love of a man and woman, who separated by different worlds- the woman came from a respectable background while the man had nothing. They were childhood sweethearts who got separated as they went their separate way. The man eventually got himself into jail- while trying to earn more money by resorting to crime and was caught.
I have another Chinese friend where the both of us grew up listening to Malay songs. When I asked my friend for the lyrics, I remembered she tore out a piece of exercise book paper and just wrote the lyrics on it. Again, this translation is my hope of making other appreciate the beauty of Malay songs… often the lyrics are meaningful.
TIARA BY KRIS
Tiara..
Menggamit kenangan zaman persekolahan
The holder of memories from the schooling days
Tiara..
Kumimpi kita bersanding atas kayangan
I dreamt of our wedding ceremony held in the heavens
Seakan bisaku sentuh peristiwa semalam
It felt just as if it was yesterday
Di malam pesta
On the night of the festival
Engkau bisikkan
You had whispered
Kata azimat di telinga
The magic words to my ears
Kita terpaksa berpisah untuk mencari arah
We were forced to separate to look for our paths
Kita dipukul ombak hidup alam yang nyata
We were hit by the waves of life’s realities
Engkau..jauh meniti puncak menara gading
You…. far away studying in university
Yang menjanjikan
That promises
Hidup sempurna
that perfect life
Tapi aku hanya..tunduk ke bumi
but I am just….head bent downwards
Hidup tertekan
living a destitude life
Jika..kau bertemu aku begini
If… you meet me in this state
Berlumpur tubuh dan keringat membasah bumi
With my body filled with mud and sweat that wets the earth
Di penjara..terkurung terhukum
In the jail… jailed and punished
Hanya..bertemankan sepi
Only… with loneliness as my company
Bisakah..kau menghargai
Is it possible… that you appreciate
Cintaku yang suci..ini
My pure love…this
Oh Tiara..
Jika..kau bertemu aku begini
If… you meet me in such a state
Berlumpur tubuh dan keringat membasah bumi
With my body filled with mud and sweat that wets the earth
Di penjara..terkurung terhukum
In the jail… jailed up and punished
Hanya..bertemankan sepi
Only… with loneliness as my company
Bisakah..kau menghargai
Is it possible… that you appreciate
Cintaku yang suci..ini
My pure love…this
Oh Tiara..pedihnya..dapatkah kau merasakan
Oh Tiara…it is so painful….can you feel it…
Oh Tiara..pedihnya..dapatkah kau merasakannya..
Oh Tiara… it is so painful….can you feel it…
Tiara…
