O Tano Batak

I've been always listening to the song entitled O Tano Batak these few days. It's been a while since the last time I visited Tanah Batak where I ever spent a part of my childhood. Listening to this song makes me longing about homeland. Spending time doing my works while listening to the song is not a bad choice at all. Instead, all memories I had before I move to Java comes in rhyme with the powerful voice of uncle Victor Hutabarat. Felt like flying to the Land of the Kings, Tano Batak. I still remember the situation there. Magnificient hills surrounding beautiful Toba Lake, large paddy fields, water buffalow with the kids joyully sitting on its back, songs sung by sunday schoold children, pine trees, the cool weather, how any halak hita (Bataknese) could forget that.

Anyway, O Tano Batak is widely regarded as one of the unofficial “national anthems” of the Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia. This folk song tells the story of someone who has traveled all over the world but still remembers his homeland. Batak choirs often sing it at cultural festivals. Grandpa (RIP) told me this song when I was a kid and he said that everytime the people in Tapanuli, North Sumatra officially welcomed guests, they would sing this song.

O TANO BATAK

Pencipta ; S. Dis Sitompul

O tano Batak haholonganku
Sai namasihol do au tu ho
Ndang olo modom
Ndang nok matangku sai namalungun do au
Sai naeng tu ho

Kor
O tano Batak sai naeng hutatap
Dapothononku tano hogodanganki
O tano Batak andingan sahat
Au on naeng mian di ho sambulon hi.

Molo dung binsar mataniari
Napanapuhon hauma disi
Denggan do ngolu
Si Ganup ari di namaringan di ho
Sambulon hi



O TANAH BATAK

(Terjemahan Indonesia: oleh Barita M. S)
Pencipta ; S. Dis Sitompul

O tanah Batak yang kucinta
Selalu aku rindu padamu
Tak bisa tidur, mataku tak dapat terlelap
Selalu aku ingin datang padamu.

Kor
O tanah Batak selalu ingin kupandang
Aku datangi tanah kelahiranku
O tanah batak kapan sampainya
Aku berada di kau ( disana), kerinduanku

Bila matahari sudah terbit
Yang membuat subur ladang – ladang
Sungguh baik kehidupan sehari – hari
Waktu aku ada di kau (disana)



O BATAK LAND

(English translation: Bruce Gale)
Composer ; S. Dis Sitompul

O Batak land, the land that I love
I always feel I am missing you
You know I can’t sleep, I can’t close my eyes
I just always desire to come to you

Chorus
O Batak land, I want to see you
I want come to the land of my birth
O Batak land, when I arrive there
I will be there always, I miss you

Whenever the sun rises in the sky
It makes the fields just flourish and thrive
So wonderful was life in those days
That is just how it was when I was there