"Chan Mali Chan" is a folk song popular in
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
and
Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
.
The song is a light-hearted song that may have its origin in a Malay poem ''
pantun
''Pantun'' ( Jawi: ) is a Malayic oral poetic form used to express intricate ideas and emotions. It generally consists of an even number of lines and is based on ABAB rhyming schemes. The shortest consists of two lines, known as the in Mal ...
''.
In Indonesia there are songs that have similar tones such as "
Anak Kambing Saya" ("My Lamb" or "My Baby Goat") written by
Saridjah Niung.
It is commonly sung as a children's song.
There are different versions of "Chan Mali Chan", a common version that starts with talking about looking for a lamb/kid interpreted 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.
A version was sung in the 1960 Singapore black-white film,
Isi Neraka.
Lyrics
There are many variations in the lyrics found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
This song may be 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.
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.)
Notes
See also
*
Soleram
*
Rasa sayang
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 ...
Music of Indonesia
Indonesian folk songs
Culture of Indonesia
Malaysian folk songs
Malaysian may refer to:
* Something from or related to Malaysia, a country in Southeast Asia
* Malaysian Malay, a dialect of Malay language spoken mainly in Malaysia
* Malaysians, people who are identified with the country of Malaysia regardless o ...
Malaysian children's songs
Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
Songs in Malay