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.
Puing
Iwan Fals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bekas pertempuran
Bau amis darah sisa asap mesiu
Sesak nafasku
Mayat-mayat bergeletakan
Tak terkubur dengan layak
Dan burung-burung bangkai menatap liar
Dan burung-burung bangkai berdansa senang
Di ujung sana banyak orang kelaparan
Ujung lainnya, wabah busung menyerang
Di sudut sana banyak orang kehilangan
Sudut lainnya bayi bertanya bimbang:
"mama kapan ayah pulang?"
"mama sebab apa perang?"
Mayat-mayat bergeletakan
Tak terkubur dengan layak
Dan burung-burung bangkai menatap liar
Dan burung-burung bangkai berdansa senang
Banyak jatuh korban
Dari mereka yang tak mengerti apa-apa
Suara tangis terdengar dari bekas reruntuhan
Seorang ibu muda yang baru melahirkan
Lama meratapi sesosok tubuh mayat suaminya
Dan burung burung bangkai menatap liar
Dan burung-burung bangkai berdansa senang
Tinggi peradaban teknologi berkembang
Senjata hebat terciptakan
Sarana pembantaian semakin bisa diwujudkan
Oh, mengerikan...
Berhentilah...
Jangan salah gunakan
Kehebatan ilmu pengetahuan untuk menghancurkan...
Dan burung burung bangkai menatap liar
Dan burung-burung bangkai berdansa senang
The song "Puing" by Iwan Fals is a stark depiction of the aftermath of war, highlighting the destruction and death that lingers in its wake. The lyrics paint a picture of debris scattered throughout the streets, the stench of blood and gunpowder filling the air, and the sounds of people suffering in every corner. The chorus describes vultures circling overhead, feasting on the corpses of those who have fallen. The verses go on to chronicle the different ways in which war has affected individuals, from hunger to disease to the loss of loved ones. The final verse serves as a warning against the dangers of misusing technology for violent purposes.
Throughout the song, Iwan Fals uses vivid imagery and sensory detail to create a sense of palpable horror and devastation. The repetition of the phrase "dan burung-burung bangkai berdansa senang" at the end of each stanza adds to the macabre atmosphere of the song, evoking the eerie image of carrion birds joyfully gorging themselves on the dead. At the same time, the final stanza takes on a more urgent tone, urging listeners to recognize the dangers of unchecked technological progress and the potential for destruction that it holds.
Line by Line Meaning
Puing berserakan di segenap penjuru
Debris scatters in every corner
Bekas pertempuran
Remnants of the battle
Bau amis darah sisa asap mesiu
The smell of rotten blood and gunpowder smoke lingers
Sesak nafasku
My breath is troubled
Mayat-mayat bergeletakan
Bodies lay everywhere
Tak terkubur dengan layak
Not properly buried
Dan burung-burung bangkai menatap liar
And vultures watch with wild eyes
Dan burung-burung bangkai berdansa senang
And vultures dance with joy
Di ujung sana banyak orang kelaparan
At one end, many are starving
Ujung lainnya, wabah busung menyerang
On the other end, a disease outbreak is spreading
Di sudut sana banyak orang kehilangan
In one corner, many have lost
Sudut lainnya bayi bertanya bimbang:
In another corner, a baby asks with confusion:
"mama kapan ayah pulang?"
"Mom, when will dad come back?"
"mama sebab apa perang?"
"Mom, what is the reason for the war?"
Banyak jatuh korban
Many are victims
Dari mereka yang tak mengerti apa-apa
From those who do not understand anything
Suara tangis terdengar dari bekas reruntuhan
Sounds of weeping can be heard from the ruins
Seorang ibu muda yang baru melahirkan
A young mother who just gave birth
Lama meratapi sesosok tubuh mayat suaminya
Mourns for a long time over her husband's lifeless body
Tinggi peradaban teknologi berkembang
The height of technological civilization is advancing
Senjata hebat terciptakan
Great weapons are created
Sarana pembantaian semakin bisa diwujudkan
Means of slaughter can be more easily realized
Oh, mengerikan...
Oh, how terrible...
Berhentilah...
Stop...
Jangan salah gunakan
Don't use it wrongly
Kehebatan ilmu pengetahuan untuk menghancurkan...
The greatness of science to destroy...
Dan burung burung bangkai menatap liar
And vultures watch with wild eyes
Dan burung-burung bangkai berdansa senang
And vultures dance with joy
Contributed by Jayce G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alea Putri
Tentang ternaknya yg mati
Tentang temanya yg mati
Tentang adiknya yg mati
Tentang abangnya yg mati
Tentang ayahnya yg mati ,
Tentang pacarnya yg mati
Tentang istrinya yg mati
Tentang Harapanya yg matiiii ,,,,,,
FOR GAZA ,,,,, I WANT TO BE FREEDOM ,,,,, ✌🇯🇴👍💘
Sadewa Lintang
Asli merinding denger lagu ini. Iwan fals paling the best klo bikin lagu. Related sama kehidupan nyata. 👍
Renaldi Pareng
Tak ada musisi seperti Iwan Fals dan tak akan pernah ada👍
Rengga Mahendra Putra
Betul banget bang
Hanang Anang
Setuju.
Agra Cavalera
Musisi yg paling gua idolain lebih dari pada yg laen. Living legend Iwan fals
Akbar Haleluya
Lagumu selalu ku dengar setiap saat ,entah kenapa saya suka lagu iwan fals,menjiwai,cocok dgn keadaan aku,ini baru musisi generasi ke generasi,like pokoknya,salam dari wonosobo
eldo muhamad
lllppppppppppp
Agung Prasetiyo
Lagu nya bikin merinding saat ku mendengar kan di tengah hutan Papua..Serdadu boneka yang Malang.
TriH
When music is still real music.
VOX・E-SPORT.OFFICIAL
Lagu yg menceritakan tentang kehidupan nyata.. Di bentuk dalam sebuah inspirasi musik. Selalu sehatt bang iwan...👍👍👍 Oi Berandal Malam Surabaya Hadiirr . #DKSH #SASAJI #HBHD 🙏🙏🙏