Lir Ilir, Javanese Philosophical Song

If you are Javanese, I believe that you know this song. This song very popular  because it is created by Sunan Kalijaga (like a messenger for Javaneses) so that the message of this song is sent to Moslem.  If you forget it, I am giving its lyrics,

Lir-ilir, Lir Ilir

Tandure wus sumilir

Tak ijo royo-royo

Tak sengguh temanten anyar

Cah Angon, Cah Angon

Penekno Blimbing Kuwi

Lunyu-lunyu penekno

Kanggo Mbasuh Dodotiro

Dodotiro Dodotiro

Kumitir Bedah ing pinggir

Dondomono, Jlumatono

Kanggo Sebo Mengko sore

Mumpung Padhang Rembulane

Mumpung Jembar Kalangane

Yo surako surak iyo!!!

Now here is the philosophical meaning of each paragraph,

1. Paragraph 1

Lir-ilir, Lir-ilir (Wake up!!!, wake up)

Tandure wus sumilir (the plant has blossomed)

Tak ijo royo-royo (there are so green)

Tak sengguh temanten anyar (like a new couple)

As Moslem, we are asked to wake. Waking from deterioration, waking from the laziness for building the believe to the God. This is symbolized as green plants. However it is up to us whether still became lazy or not and leave the same condition.

1. Paragraph 2

Cah angon, cah angon (shepherd!, shepherd!)

Penekno Blimbing kuwi (climb that starfruit tree)

Lunyu-lunyu penekno (although it is slippery, still go to climb)

Kanggo mbasuh dodotiro (for washing your clothes)

Why this lyrics use shepherd? Not president, not director or others? That because shepherd/cah angon is teach, give guidance to his followers to the truth way. Then, why do star fruit?  Starfruit has 5 sides. The number of 5 show of 5 rule of Islam believes which have to do by all of Moslem. Otherwise the color of star fruit is green that shows the color of Islam.

Then why do climbing? This message is invitation for Java king and government to follow the Islam rules. Although this is difficult, they still have to struggle to do that.

Why they have to do that? This for washing their soul with Islam light.

3. Paragraph 3

Dodotiro, dodotiro (your clothes, your clothes)

Kumitir bedah ing pinggir (ripped in its side)

Dondomono, Jlumatono (sew it, repair it)

Kanggo sebo mengko sore (for facing to this afternoon)

Our believes must be ripped in everywhere. Because of that we are asked to sew and repair it for facing our future meet our God, Allah SWT.

4. Paragraph 4

Mumpung padhang rembulane (the moon is still lightening)

Mumpung jembar kalangane (we have leisure time)

Yo surako surak iyo!!! (and shout “Yes”)

We are asked to do all of those guides (paragraph 1-3) when we still has fit body and has many leisure time and is someone give the advices plese say “Yes”.