"Chan Mali Chan" is a folk song popular in
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
and
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
.
The song is believed to have its origin in
East Nusa Tenggara
East Nusa Tenggara ( id, Nusa Tenggara Timur – NTT; pt, Sonda Oriental) is the southernmost province of Indonesia. It comprises the eastern portion of the Lesser Sunda Islands, facing the Indian Ocean in the south and the Flores Sea in the nor ...
in Indonesia. A popular
Indonesian
Indonesian is anything of, from, or related to Indonesia, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It may refer to:
* Indonesians, citizens of Indonesia
** Native Indonesians, diverse groups of local inhabitants of the archipelago
** Indonesian ...
version titled "Anak Kambing Saya" ("My Lamb" or "My Baby Goat") has been attributed to
Saridjah Niung.
It is commonly sung as a children's song.
The song "Chan Mali Chan" is a light-hearted song that starts with talking about looking for a lamb/kid. This song is presented in a question and answer format; the first line asks: "Where is my lamb", and the second line answers where the lamb is (different versions of the song may have different answers). Other questions may follow, such as "Where is my darling/baby", etc., followed by answers to these questions. Some interpret the song as parents looking for their children, and that it's about the togetherness and bond between children and their parents. Others suggest it is a flirtatious love song.
Lyrics
There are many variations in the lyrics found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Version in Malaysia and Singapore
A common version found in Malaysia and Singapore:
(The verses may be repeated with the same or different questions and answers.)
Version in Indonesia
This is a popular Indonesian version attributed to Saridjah Niung:
Notes
See also
*
Soleram
*
Rasa sayang "Rasa Sayang" (pronounced , literally "loving feeling") or "Rasa Sayange" is a folk song from Malay Archipelago, popular in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The basis of "Rasa Sayang" is similar to Dondang Sayang and other Malay folk songs, which ...
References
{{Reflist
Indonesian
Indonesian is anything of, from, or related to Indonesia, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It may refer to:
* Indonesians, citizens of Indonesia
** Native Indonesians, diverse groups of local inhabitants of the archipelago
** Indonesian ...
Indonesian music
Indonesian folk songs
Indonesian culture
Malaysian folk songs
Malaysian children's songs
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...