Sunday Slumber

It's Merdeka day tomorrow and I'm in a nostalgic mood.

I've been in this mood since yesterday, when I suddenly googled the lyrics of Gurindam Jiwa while still in bed and started to sing the song repeatedly, much to the annoyance of my other-half aka Big Boss. Yesterday was the first Sunday in months that we get to have a lie-in without having to rush elsewhere but I just couldn't sleep past 10am and couldn't watch another soul enjoying the sleep luxury either, hence the out-of-tune annoying singing. Ngeh ngeh.

Tuai padi antara masak
Esok jangan layu-layuan
Intailah kami antara nampak
Esok jangan rindu-rinduan

Anak cina pasang lukah
Lukah dipasang di Tanjung Jati
Di dalam hati tidak ku lupa
Sebagai rambut bersimpul mati

Batang selasih permainan budak
Daun sehelai dimakan kuda
Bercerai kasih bertalak tidak
Seribu tahun kembali juga

Burung merpati terbang seribu
Hinggap seekor di tengah laman
Hendak mati di hujung kuku
Hendak berkubur di tapak tangan

Kalau tuan mudik ke hulu
Carikan saya bunga kemboja
Kalau tuan mati dahulu
Nantikan saya di pintu syurga

This song was sang by Nordin Ahmad and Latifah Omar in the movie of the same title way back in 1966. Nordin Ahmad was one of my favourites when I was young just because he was sooooo handsome!

Anyway, this song was special to me because I had to sing it solo in front of a crowd during an exchange student program way back in 1992 (and I think my singing suck too back then!). I was sent to spend some weeks in Sri Aman and later Kuching with a bunch of friends from all over the country as part of the exchange program at the time and towards the end of it, we were asked to do an impromptu cultural performance at one of the events, to represent our states of origin. As you and I must know, Johor is famous for its kuda kepang and ghazal but where the heck can I find any of those in Sarawak?

A friend (bless him!) came to the rescue and suggested me to sing this song because he was sure that this song came from Sri Mersing the movie (also by Nordin Ahmad).. Mersing is in Johor so we thought the song was apt to represent the state culture (we were only 16 back then ok!). He even helped me to find the lyrics of the song (mana ada google in 1992 kan)and after some rushed practice, off I went singing it confidently on a stage! Only later on that night (after the show) that some adults actually pointed out to me that that song was not from Sri Mersing. Hahahahaha.. Oh, well...

As for the friend, he was from Melaka so he performed the portugese dance to the tune of Jinggling Nyonya. Not bad I must say.

Anyway, back to Merdeka now.. Just to make things clear, if ever those BENDERA morons from Indonesia come over to create chaos here and volunteers are needed to help the police and army to protect the country, I will no doubt be at the front lines. Although I am a 'british' in Big Boss' eyes (for my forever complains of Malays' and Malaysians' mentality at work, on the road etc), I am still 100% Malaysian at heart and make no mistake, will protect my country (my religion and race too for that matter) at all cost.

So BENDERA, you've been warned.

Selamat Hari Merdeka fellow citizens!