
Lyrics – Malay
(Malaysian folk song)
Di mana dia anak kambing saya?
Anak kambing saya yang makan daun talas
Di mana dia buah hati saya?
Buah hati saya bagai telur dikupas
Refrain
Chan mali chan, chan mali chan
Chan mali chan, ketipung payung
Di mana dia, anak kambing saya?
Anak kambing saya main di tepi sawah
Di mana dia, cinta hati saya?
Cinta hati saya yang pakai baju merah Refrain
Di mana dia anak kambing tuan?
Anak kambing tuan di atas jambatan
Yang mana dia si bunga pujaan?
Si bunga tanjung dihujung dahan Refrain
English Translation
Where is he, my little goat?
My little goat is eating taro leaves.
Where is he, my loved one?
My loved one is like a shelled egg.
Refrain
Chan mali chan, chan mali chan,
chan mali chan, ketipung payung*
Where is he, my little goat?
My little goat is playing by the paddy fields.
Where is he, my loved one?
My loved one who is wearing red. Refrain
Where is your little goat, sir?
Sir, your goat is on top of the bridge.
Which one of those is your favourite flower, sir?
It is the Tanjong flower at the end of the branch. Refrain
*”In the Malay culture metaphors such as ketipung (no translation available), paying (umbrella), intan (diamond) and bunga tanjong (flowers cape) are used as references to someone lovely and precious.” (source)
See also
- Country: Malaysia
- Subject: goats
- Form: AB
- Harmony: chords I, IV, V
- Melody: repeated tones
- Meter: 4
- Scale: major
- Source: Teaching ideas designed around the Malaysian folk song, Chan Mali Chan, by Angela Chapman, © 2017 Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd
- info about the song
YouTube
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody

