Nothing Left to Say

Translation by Bin Gregory Productions

Riding my bike down to the store
Middle of the day, in the middle of the heat
Who’s got the strength to tap rubber
Nothing left to say
If I could, I’d be a school teacher
Down in Kuala Pilah

Fields of paddy, buffalos all over
Water from the well is so darn cold
Quiet as can be, not a soul around
Nothing left to say
If I could, I’d have some commotion
Like in Tampin town

Cooking up dinner. Village rice
Coconut milk and chili peppers
Don’t have a rice thresher no more
Nothing left to say
Lots of folks got factory jobs
Down Seremban way

Kemang Bay, Four Mile road
Where everybody splashes and plays
Come the weekend sure is packed
Nothing left to say
The sea just keeps getting saltier
Down in Port Dickson town

Verse 1 repeats.

Apo Nak Dikato

by Blues Gang

Poi pokan naik basika
Tongah haghi tongah paneh
Apo dayo motong gotah
Apo nak dikato
Kalau boleh nak jadi cikgu sekolah Kek Kolo Pilah

Sawah leba kobau banyak
Air pigi sojuk sekali
Sunyi sopi takdo oghang
Apo nak dikato
Kalau boleh nak bising-bising
Macam pokan Tampin

Tanak nasik bogheh kampong
Masak lomak cili (lado) api
Mesen padi takdo lai
Apo nak dikato
Ramai oghang dah kojo kilang
Kek pokan Seghomban

Batu Ompek Toluk Komang
Tompek oghang mandi mando
Aghi minggu ponoh sosak
Apo nak dikato
Air laut bertambah masin
Kek pokan Port Dickson

Ulang 1.

1. Another pop song in the dialect of Negeri Sembilan
2. Originally published as “What’s left to say”, I couldn’t live with it after FB fren AA suggested a far better translation.

Published by bingregory

Official organ of an American Muslim in Malaysian Borneo, featuring plants, pantuns and pictures from the Malay archipelago. Oversharing since 2002.

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