He was popular for his gritty-witty ballads accentuated on life of Indonesia's marginalized groups or political satire on the troubled Indonesian social/political scene under Soeharto. His socially aware hit-songs including: "Oemar Bakri" tells about teacher, "Lonteku" is a love story between a criminal and a prostitute, and "Wakil Rakyat" is about members of parliament.
After Reformasi movement on 1997 which leads to democratisation he was a kind of losing the edge for political satire, but his mature musical experience keeps him on Indonesian pop chart with inward-looking songs and songs about personal relationships.
22 Januari
Iwan Fals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coba saling mengerti apa didalam hati
22 Januari tidak sendiri
Aku berteman iblis yang baik hati
Tak pernah ada tujuan
Membelah malam
Mendung yang selalu datang
Ku dekap erat
Ku pandang senyummu
Dengan sorot mata
Yang keduanya buta
Lalu kubisikan sebaris kata-kata
Putus asa... Sebentar lagi hujan
The song "22 Januari" by Iwan Fals is a beautiful and thought-provoking ballad that depicts the complexities of human relationships. The song talks about two people who made a promise to each other on January 22nd to try and understand what is in each other's hearts. However, the path they chose to walk together had no direction, and they are always surrounded by the darkness of the night and the gloominess of the clouds.
The singer of the song admits to having a good-hearted demon as his friend, perhaps to acknowledge his own flaws or sins. They walk side by side, but their journey is seemingly endless, and they are not reaching any destination.
Despite all these, the singer holds on to his lover, tightly embracing her, and looking at her with eyes that are both deaf and blind, unable to see or hear anything. He whispers to her, and his words are a reflection of his desperation, as he feels that the hopelessness they are experiencing is about to be washed away by the forthcoming rainfall.
This song is a clear depiction of how confusing and lonely relationships could be, and how we sometimes choose to hold on to them, despite the darkness that surrounds them.
Line by Line Meaning
22 Januari kita berjanji
On January 22nd, we made a promise
Coba saling mengerti apa didalam hati
Let's try to understand what's in our hearts
22 Januari tidak sendiri
On January 22nd, I am not alone
Aku berteman iblis yang baik hati
I am accompanied by a kind-hearted devil
Jalan berdampingan
Walking side by side
Tak pernah ada tujuan
Without any destination in mind
Membelah malam
Dividing the night
Mendung yang selalu datang
The ever-present cloud cover
Ku dekap erat
I hold you tightly
Ku pandang senyummu
I look at your smile
Dengan sorot mata
With a gleam in my eye
Yang keduanya buta
Both of us oblivious
Lalu kubisikan sebaris kata-kata
Then I whisper a few words
Putus asa... Sebentar lagi hujan
Hopelessness... Rain is coming soon
Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lia Gitu Ajha
22 januari ,,, kita berjanji ,
Coba saling mengerti apa di dalam hati ,,,,
Waduuhh ,,, nih lagu waktu gw pacaran nih sm My first love ,,,, ๐
" Lalu ku bisikan sebaris kata" , putus Asaaa ,,, sebentar lagi hujan ,,,, "
Love ,,, love,,,, love,,,, love,,,,,
Virgo men ,,,,, my past first love ,,,, !!!
Adrian Timothy
22 januari 2022, masih sehat dan bugar serta masih dikasih nafas kehidupan oleh sang pencipta ๐
Adrian Timothy
@Endriawan Endriawan yoi mas ๐๐ฝ
Adrian Timothy
@Zomboy woi
Endriawan Endriawan
Mantap 2022 masih suka lagu lawas
Wil dze
Merasa oke
Zomboy
Woyyy
Elang Borneo
Damainya hati kala mendengar lagu bang iwan, kagak ada matinya.., abadi sepanjang jaman..., yg lahir di taon 70 an pasti ingat smua lagu2 iwan fals...
Setyo Pribadi
22 Januari kenangan banget buat aku bersama mamanya anak anak.. waktu itu saya mengucapkan cinta buat yg sekarang sudah jadi mamanya 3 putriku yg sudah menginjak dewasa.. trimakasih mas Iwan fals โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ๐๐
Manan 810
Orang orang kalo muji cewe nyah
-cantik kayak bidadari
-manis bgt tuan putri
-cantik bagaikan dewi
Iwan fals muji cewe nyah
-Iblis yang baik hati
dedy chandra
makna nya kenak banget