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.
Panggilan Dari Gunung
Iwan Fals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turun ke lembah-lembah
Kenapa nadamu murung
Langkah kaki gelisah
Matamu separuh katup
Lihat kolam seperti danau
Kau bawa persoalan
Cerita duka melulu
Cerita . . . . . . . . yang lain
Berapa lama diam
Cermin katakan bangkit
Pohon-pohon terkurung
Kura-kura terbius
-Rahman Tardjana-
The above lyrics are from Iwan Fals's song "Panggilan Dari Gunung", which translates to "Call from the Mountain". The song's verses describe a restless protagonist who travels down from the mountain to the valley, but finds himself troubled by something. The lyrics "kenapa nadamu murung" suggests sadness or a heavy heart. His steps are restless as his eyes dart across a pond that looks like a lake. The lyrics express the singer's introspection, as he carries with him a burden and a story of sorrow that he can't seem to shake.
Towards the end of the verse, the singer seems to have found solace in the valley. He's found a place where he can wait for something or someone, possibly hoping for a respite from his troubles. The lyrics "berapa lama diam" can be translated to mean how long he is going to stay silent or waiting. The chorus of 'Panggilan Dari Gunung' is just these two lines, 'Cerita yang lain, Bangkitlah Semangatku' which means 'Tell me something different, My spirit rise!'. The chorus entreats the singer to rise above his sadness and burden and find something else to focus on.
In summary, the song 'Panggilan Dari Gunung' is a relatable account of how one's troubles can seem to follow them everywhere they go. The singer tries to find peace in the valley, but his troubles stay with him. He's encouraged to find a different story, one which will uplift his spirit and help him break free from his sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Panggilan dari gunung
The call from the mountains is beckoning
Turun ke lembah-lembah
Descending into the valleys
Kenapa nadamu murung
Why is your heart so melancholy?
Langkah kaki gelisah
Your restless footsteps
Matamu separuh katup
Your eyes half shut
Lihat kolam seperti danau
You see a pond that looks like a lake
Kau bawa persoalan
You carry your troubles with you
Cerita duka melulu
Endless tales of sorrow
Disini . . . . . . . . menunggu
Waiting right here
Cerita . . . . . . . . yang lain
Different stories to tell
Berapa lama diam
How long must we stay silent?
Cermin katakan bangkit
The mirror tells you to rise up
Pohon-pohon terkurung
Trapped trees
Kura-kura terbius
Dazzled tortoises
Contributed by Kaitlyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gusti Nu Suci
on Mungkin
Jangan jangan semua nya sudah gila termasuk saya, mungkin