IKAN KEKEK

Home 9 Composers 9 Tracy Wong 9 Ikan Kekek

“Ikan Kekek” is about a fish, and a whole lot more! As with children’s songs from other countries, Malaysian children’s songs consist of simple, catchy, and repetitive melodies. These tunes are usually lively and festive. They often either tell a story, bear advice for young people, or are humorously written and purely meant to entertain.

LYRICS

Ikan kekek mak iloi-iloi
ɪkɑn kɛkɛk mɑk ɪlɔɪ ɪlɔɪ
Ikan gelama mak ilai-ilai
ɪkɑn gəlɑmɑ mɑk ɪlɑɪ ɪlɑɪ
Sungguh cantik sayangku amboi
sʊŋʊh tʃɑntɪk sɑjɑŋkʊ ɑmboɪ
Tapi ketawa mengilai-ngilai
tɑpɪ kətɑwɑ məŋɪlɑɪ ŋɪlɑɪ

Ikan kekek mak oloi-iloi
ɪkɑn kɛkɛk mɑk ɪlɔɪ ɪlɔɪ
Ikan gelama mak ilai-ilai
ɪkɑn gəlɑmɑ mɑk ɪlɑɪ ɪlɑɪ
Kalau adik nak jadi pandai
kɑlɑʊ ɑdɪk nɑk dʒɑdɪ pɑndɑɪ
Mari belajar janganlah lalai
mɑrɪ bəlɑdʒɑr dʒaŋɑnlɑh lɑlɑɪ

Tenang-tenang air di laut
tənɑŋ tənɑŋ ɑɪr dɪ lɑʊt
Sampan golek mudik ke tanjung
sɑmpɑn golɛk mʊdɪk kə tɑndʒʊŋ
Hati terkenang mulut tersenyum
hɑtɪ tərkənɑŋ mʊlʊt tərsənjʊm
Budi yang baik rasa dijunjung
bʊdɪ yɑŋ bɑɪk rɑsɑ dɪdʒʊndʒʊŋ

translation

Ponyfish mak iloi-iloi
Croaker fish mak ilai-ilai
My dear is very beautiful
But her laugh is loud (and not graceful)

Ponyfish mak iloi-iloi
Croaker fish mak ilai-ilai
If you (little one) want to be wise
Come learn (study hard), don’t be lazy

The sea is calm
The boat floats towards the bluff
The heart recalls, the mouth smiles
Kindness is (always) upheld / encouraged