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.
Tolong Dengar Tuhan
Iwan Fals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Apakah kau dengar?
Jerit umatmu
Diselah tebalnya debu
Oh Tuhan
Adakah kau murung?
Melihat beribu wajah berkabung
Oh Tuhan
Tamatkan saja
Cerita pembantaian orang desa
Yang jelas hidup tak manja
Oh Tuhan
Katanya engkau maha bijaksana
Tolong Galunggung pindahkan ke kota
Dimana tempat segala macam dosa
Berat beban kau datangkan
Pada mereka disana
Cela apa nista apa
Hingga engkau begitu murka
Sungguh ku tak mengerti
Hingar tangis karena adabmu
Setiap detik duka berpadu
Semakin keras jerit tak puas
Dari mereka yang resah bertanya
Adilkah keputusanmu?
Acap kali rintih memaki
Setiap duka tuding Ilahi
Jangan salahkan kecewa kami
Bosan dalam irama takdirmu
Walau ku tak terganggu
Bukankah kau maha tahu
Pengasih penyayang
Namun mengapa selalu saja
Itu hanya cerita
Oh Tuhan
Tolong hentikan
Oh Tuhan
Dengar rintihan
Amuk lahar yang datang hanguskan bumi
Tinggalkan arang penghuni desa pergi
Gemuruh batu hancurkan saudaraku
Ulurkan tangan bantulah sesamamu
Tuhan
Salah apakah mereka?
In Iwan Fals's song "Tolong Dengar Tuhan," the singer addresses God and asks if he can hear the cries of his people among the thick dust. He questions whether God is sad when he witnesses the mourning of thousands of people near the roaring of Galunggung. Iwan Fals pleads with God to end the story of the massacre in the village and accept that life is not always easy. He claims that God is wise and asks him to move Galunggung to the city where every sin is committed, rather than punishing the innocent people of the village.
The second part of the song goes on to describe the suffering that the villagers experienced. They cried out in agony, and their sorrow mingled with every second of despair. They asked if God's decisions were just, and they cursed every instance of grief they encountered. The people in the village lost everything to the eruption, including their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. They have to leave the village and find a new home, but their fate falls short of God's mercy. The song finishes with a request for God to hear the people's cries and put an end to their suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Tuhan
The singer addresses God
Apakah kau dengar?
The singer asks God if He can hear the cries of His people
Jerit umatmu
God's people are crying out in a loud voice
Diselah tebalnya debu
Their cries are coming through the thick dust
Oh Tuhan
The artist addresses God again
Adakah kau murung?
The singer asks if God is sad
Melihat beribu wajah berkabung
Seeing the faces of thousands of mourners
Disisa gelegar Galunggung
In the aftermath of the eruption of Galunggung
Oh Tuhan
The artist addresses God yet again
Tamatkan saja
The artist pleads with God to end
Cerita pembantaian orang desa
The story of the massacre of the villagers
Yang jelas hidup tak manja
Which clearly shows that life is not easy
Oh Tuhan
The singer addresses God once more
Katanya engkau maha bijaksana
It is said that God is all-knowing
Tolong Galunggung pindahkan ke kota
The singer asks God to move Galunggung volcano to the city
Dimana tempat segala macam dosa
Where all kinds of sin are committed
Berat beban kau datangkan
The artist accuses God of bringing a heavy burden
Pada mereka disana
To the people who are there
Cela apa nista apa
Whether it's a criticism or a humiliation
Hingga engkau begitu murka
The artist wonders why God is so angry
Sungguh ku tak mengerti
The artist does not understand
Hingar tangis karena adabmu
There are cries and tears because of God's judgment
Setiap detik duka berpadu
Every second brings more pain
Semakin keras jerit tak puas
The cries of dissatisfaction are getting louder
Dari mereka yang resah bertanya
From those who are restless and questioning
Adilkah keputusanmu?
Is Your decision just?
Acap kali rintih memaki
Often there is groaning and cursing
Setiap duka tuding Ilahi
Every pain is blamed on God
Jangan salahkan kecewa kami
Don't blame us for being disappointed
Bosan dalam irama takdirmu
Fed up with the rhythm of fate
Walau ku tak terganggu
Although it doesn't bother me
Bukankah kau maha tahu
Don't You know everything?
Pengasih penyayang
Loving and compassionate
Namun mengapa selalu saja
But why is it always
Itu hanya cerita
Just a story?
Oh Tuhan
The artist addresses God again
Tolong hentikan
Please stop it
Dengar rintihan
Hear our cries
Amuk lahar yang datang hanguskan bumi
The eruption of the volcano is devastating the land
Tinggalkan arang penghuni desa pergi
The ash is driving the villagers away
Gemuruh batu hancurkan saudaraku
The sound of falling rocks is destroying our brothers and sisters
Ulurkan tangan bantulah sesamamu
Please lend a helping hand to your fellow human beings
Tuhan
The singer calls upon God one last time
Salah apakah mereka?
What have they done wrong?
Contributed by Addison N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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