Soleram

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Background

Soleram or Suliram is a traditional song of the Riau people. [12] [7] The song is found in other regions outside Riau. In Malaysia, it is a popular lullaby spelt Suriram, and the country also lays claim to the song. [4] [14] The verses may be in the form of a Malay pantun with an ABAB rhyming scheme, there are, however, variations in lyrics and rhymes in different versions.

Soleram or Suliram is one of the Indonesian folk songs that caught the international interest, notably since The Weavers (an American folk music quartet) recorded the song in 1949. It was later adapted by singers such as Pete Seeger [15] [16] [9] and Miriam Makeba in 1960. [17] In Indonesia, the song has been recorded by music groups such as Orkes Irama in 1965 and D'lloyd in 1970. [18] The song has been recorded in Malaysia by singers such as Dayang Nurfaizah and Siti Nurhaliza in albums of children's songs. [19]

Lyrics

There are many variations in the lyrics found in Indonesia and Malaysia, a version recorded by singers such as Pete Seeger and Miriam Makeba is as follows: [12]

Indonesian

Suliram, Suliram, ram, ram
Suliram yang manis
Aduhai indung seorang
Bijaklah sana dipandang manis

Tinggilah tinggi si matahari
Suliram, anaklah kerbau mati tertambat
Suliram, sudah lamalah saya mencari
Baru sekarang saya mendapat  

English

Suliram, Suliram, ram, ram
Suliram, who is so sweet
Oh, whose child is this
So right to look so sweet

High, oh, high is the Sun
Suliram, the tethered calf of the buffalo has died
Suliram, long have I sought for you
But it's only now that I have you

Some versions popular in Indonesia are variants of the following: [20]

Indonesian

Soleram, Soleram
Soleram, anak yang manis
Anak manis janganlah dicium sayang
Kalau dicium merahlah pipinya

Satu, dua, Tiga dan empat
Lima, enam, tujuh delapan
Kalau tuan dapat kawan baru sayang
Kawan lama ditinggalkan jangan  

English

Soleram, Soleram
Soleram, a child so sweet
Do not kiss, dear sweet child
If kissed, red will be the cheeks

One, two, three and four
Five, six, seven and eight
Should you find a new friend, my dear
Abandon not your old friends

See also