Ibu Pertiwi (song)

Lyrics

The lyrics are as following:

Original lyrics

(in Indonesian)

First verse:

Kulihat ibu pertiwiSedang bersusah hatiAir matanya berlinangMas intannya terkenangHutan gunung sawah lautanSimpanan kekayaanKini ibu sedang susahMerintih dan berdoa

Second verse:

Kulihat ibu pertiwiKami datang berbaktiLihatlah putra-putrimuMenggembirakan ibuIbu kami tetap cintaPutramu yang setiaMenjaga harta pusakaUntuk nusa dan bangsa

Translation

First verse:

I see Motherland (Ibu Pertiwi: personification of Indonesia)(She is) in sorrowHer tears are flowingRemembering your (lost) golds and diamondsForests, mountains, farms, and the seasHome of the treasures (richness)Now Mother is grievingSighing sadly and praying

Second verse:

I see MotherlandWe come to serve (you)Behold your sons and daughtersThey will make Mother happyMother, we still love (you)Your faithful sonsGuarding the heirloomFor 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.