Iwan Fals, born Virgiawan Listanto on 3 September 1961 in Jakarta, is a cha… Read Full Bio ↴Iwan Fals, born Virgiawan Listanto on 3 September 1961 in Jakarta, is a charismatic Indonesian singer/songwriter and remembered as Indonesia's the most dangerous singer on the '80s and '90s.

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.

Cendrawasih
Iwan Fals Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sayap-sayap cinta bagaikan cendrawasih
Kabarkan berita duka alam raya
Hati bumi luka anak durhaka
Terjungkal merintih menghiba

Rindu tergoda oleh tembok
Dendam menampakkan wajah gelap
Tetes air mata para malaikat

Berjatuhan ke lahan berdebu

Tak hirau akan kesuburan
Kering menindas nurani
Ha ha ha ha ha

Sayap-sayap cinta bagaikan cendrawasih
Kabarkan cerita menyayat
Bulan berdengung di dalam bayangan
Menghadirkan rupa yang tajam

Di bibir tebing kelam tinggi
Lirih terdengar angin berdoa
Gairah harum lembut kebebasannya
Laksana aroma bunga hutan

Tercium dari puncak gunung
Gemetar sadar terancam

Sayap-sayap cinta bagaikan cendrawasih
Diburu luka karena keindahannya
Kesadaran bersinar dengan merdeka
Nyanyi jiwa melebihi tanya

Ada apa gerangan wahai cendrawasih?
Lingkar matamu hitam letih batinmu
Beratkah deritamu wahai cendrawasih?
Ada apa gerangan?

Sayap-sayap cinta membela bianglala
Sayap-sayap cinta membela cakrawala
Sayap-sayap cinta membela nuraninya

Sayap-sayap cinta membela bianglala
Sayap-sayap cinta membela cakrawala
Sayap-sayap cinta membela nuraninya

Sayap-sayap cinta membela bianglala
Sayap-sayap cinta membela cakrawala
Sayap-sayap cinta membela nuraninya

Sayap-sayap cinta membela bianglala
Sayap-sayap cinta membela cakrawala
Sayap-sayap cinta membela nuraninya

Sayap-sayap cinta membela bianglala

Sayap-sayap cinta membela cakrawala
Sayap-sayap cinta membela nuraninya

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Iwan Fals's song Cendrawasih talk about the power of love, which can be compared to the beauty and grace of the cendrawasih bird. The song also talks about the pain and suffering that is present in the world today and how it affects the earth and its people. The lyrics suggest that people need to open their eyes and their hearts to the suffering around them and do something to alleviate it.

The first verse talks about the heartache that the earth is feeling due to the actions of its disobedient children. The earth is hurting and crying out for someone to help it. The second verse talks about the power of love and how it can overcome hate and destruction. It also references the beauty of nature and how it can bring peace to a troubled soul. The chorus repeats the metaphor of the cendrawasih bird, emphasizing the power of love to heal and protect.

Overall, the lyrics to Cendrawasih are a call to action for people to open their hearts and help heal the world around them. The song emphasizes the importance of love and compassion in our world and urges listeners to take action when they see suffering.

Line by Line Meaning

Sayap-sayap cinta bagaikan cendrawasih
The wings of love are like the bird of paradise

Kabarkan berita duka alam raya
Spread the news of sorrow in the universe

Hati bumi luka anak durhaka
The heart of the earth is hurt by rebellious children

Terjungkal merintih menghiba
Fallen down, moaning in pain

Rindu tergoda oleh tembok
Longing tempted by walls

Dendam menampakkan wajah gelap
Revenge reveals a dark face

Tetes air mata para malaikat
Tears of angels fall

Berjatuhan ke lahan berdebu
Falling onto dusty ground

Tak hirau akan kesuburan
Ignoring fertility

Kering menindas nurani
Dryness oppresses the conscience

Ha ha ha ha ha
Laughing sound

Sayap-sayap cinta bagaikan cendrawasih
The wings of love are like the bird of paradise

Kabarkan cerita menyayat
Spread the heart-wrenching story

Bulan berdengung di dalam bayangan
Moon humming in the shadow

Menghadirkan rupa yang tajam
Presenting a sharp form

Di bibir tebing kelam tinggi
On the dark high cliff

Lirih terdengar angin berdoa
The wind whispers prayers

Gairah harum lembut kebebasannya
Passionate scent of its gentle freedom

Laksana aroma bunga hutan
Like the scent of forest flowers

Tercium dari puncak gunung
Smelled from the mountaintop

Gemetar sadar terancam
Trembling with awareness of danger

Sayap-sayap cinta bagaikan cendrawasih
The wings of love are like the bird of paradise

Diburu luka karena keindahannya
Being hunted because of its beauty

Kesadaran bersinar dengan merdeka
Awareness shines with liberation

Nyanyi jiwa melebihi tanya
Sing the soul beyond questions

Ada apa gerangan wahai cendrawasih?
What is happening, oh bird of paradise?

Lingkar matamu hitam letih batinmu
The circle of your black eyes shows weariness of your soul

Beratkah deritamu wahai cendrawasih?
Is your suffering too heavy, oh bird of paradise?

Sayap-sayap cinta membela bianglala
The wings of love defend the rainbow

Sayap-sayap cinta membela cakrawala
The wings of love defend the horizon

Sayap-sayap cinta membela nuraninya
The wings of love defend its conscience