Terang Bulan

"Terang Bulan" (Indonesian for "Bright Moon") is a traditional Indonesian folk song adapted from a French melody of La Rosalie.

The song was a traditional folk song adapted from the popular French melody of La Rosalie. Following the popularity of the French melody, it became a popular Indonesian folk song as well for Malay evergreen at parties and cabarets in the Malay Peninsula between 1920s until 1930s. Since the independence of the Federation of Malaya in 1957, public performances of the song and its melody have outlawed, as any such use is proscribed by statute.

Terang bulan, terang di pinggir kali
Buaya timbul disangkalah mati
Jangan percaya mulutnya lelaki
Berani sumpah 'tapi takut mati

Waktu potong padi di tengah sawah
Sambil bernyanyi riuh rendah
Memotong padi semua orang
Sedari pagi sampai petang

Waktu potong padi di tengah sawah
Sambil bernyanyi riuh rendah
Bersenang hati sambil bersuka
Tolonglah kami bersama sama

The moon is shining, moon shine reflects on the river
Floating crocodile thought to be dead
Don't believe man's word
Dare to pledge but afraid of dying

Whilst harvesting paddy in the field
Singing gaily
Everybody is harvesting paddy
morning past to evening (unnoticed)

Whilst harvesting paddy in the field
Singing gaily
Heart at ease while having fun
Help us together

Several lyrics set to the tune exist, with their meanings being very similar, as the exact original lyrics are generally considered to be unknown.

Felix Mendelssohn & His Hawaiian Serenaders used the tune of Terang Bulan in their song Mamula Moon, on their 1947 album Paradise Isle.

Dutch singer Zangeres Zonder Naam recorded a Dutch version of "Terang Bulan" (spelt "Terang Boelan"). The meaning in the Dutch version is entirely different from the original lyrics, although the Dutch version mentions the island of Java (or possibly the Dutch East Indies).

Sultan Idris Murshidul’adzam Shah, the ruler of Perak, was aware of the song's popularity during his exile in the Seychelles for abetting murder. When the Sultan represented the other rulers of the Federated Malay States at the coronation of King Edward VII in 1901, his protocol officer was asked what his state anthem was. The Sultan realised that his state did not possess an anthem, proceeded to hum the aforementioned tune in order not to appear backwards to his hosts, thus 'creating' the state anthem of Perak.

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Wikipedia