Ibu Pertiwi (song)

Lyrics

The lyrics are as following:

Original lyrics

(in Indonesian)

First verse:

Kulihat ibu pertiwi Sedang bersusah hati Air matanya berlinang Mas intannya terkenang Hutan gunung sawah lautan Simpanan kekayaan Kini ibu sedang susah Merintih dan berdoa

Second verse:

Kulihat ibu pertiwi Kami datang berbakti Lihatlah putra-putrimu Menggembirakan ibu Ibu kami tetap cinta Putramu yang setia Menjaga harta pusaka Untuk nusa dan bangsa

Translation

First verse:

I see Motherland (Ibu Pertiwi: personification of Indonesia) (She is) in sorrow Her tears are flowing Remembering your (lost) golds and diamonds Forests, mountains, farms, and the seas Home of the treasures (richness) Now Mother is grieving Sighing sadly and praying

Second verse:

I see Motherland We come to serve (you) Behold your sons and daughters They will make Mother happy Mother, we still love (you) Your faithful sons Guarding the heirloom For our homeland and nation

Adoption of Christian Hymn music

Although the lyrics was originally composed, the music and melody of this song somehow resembled the Christian hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus originally written by Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855. In Indonesia, the hymn is known as "Yesus Kawan Sejati" and is sung in Indonesian and is popular in Batak churches (in Protestant churches and Roman Catholic Churches) in Indonesia. Although Indonesia has a statistically larger Muslim community, the hymn is quite widely known. Probably prior his death in 1958, the melody of the music was adopted by Ismail Marzuki, the composer of the Ibu Pertiwi song.