Sadness

A haunting melody by songwriter Amirah Ali, who won the Best Pop Category for “Tell Me”  in the 2008 Signature Songwriting Competition.

Thanks for the lead, Sivin. While listening to the song, check out the report “Four reasons for controversial ‘Allah’ ruling” in the Malaysian Insider here.

Music and Lyrics by Amirah Ali
Engineered by Jon Gillespie

I am saddened and angered by the recent happenings in my country, Malaysia. I would like to share with you this song that I wrote. We are all ONE and so is GOD.

KATAKANLAH

Hari ke hari ku cari
Tapiku tidak pasti
Seribu malam ku mimpi
Tapi ku belum fahami

Chorus
Adakahkanku namaku
Adakahkanku kulitku
Ugamaku dan bangsaku
Tradisiku, negaraku
Akalku, buatanku, niatku

Oh Ya Allah
Katakanlah
Ya Allah
Katakanlah

Hari ke hari ku pandang
Tayangan hias bumi
Seribu malam ku kira
Bintang-bintang menawan hati

Chorus

Seluruh dunia di dalam
Sebutir tanah pasir
Kecil-kecilan hidupan
Merangkumi semua angkasa

Chorus

Jauh di dalam lautan
Rahsia anak ikan
Pusaka lama disimpan
Cantik lagi bahaya

Chorus

English Translation by U-En

TELL ME

Each passing day I seek,
And yet I am unsure.
For a thousand nights I dream
And still my doubt endures.

Am I but a name?
Mere colour of my skin?
Am I just my faith, beholden to my race?
Am I tradition, blood of a nation?
Am I thought, an act, intention?

Oh God
Tell me
Oh God
Tell me

Each passing day I gaze
Upon this ornamented world.
For a thousand nights I count
The stars that bind my heart.

All the world contained
Within a grain of sand,
Life’s merest whisper
Encompasses the firmament.

Deep beneath the tide,
Secrets still abide.
An ancient heritage endures,
Perilous and ever fair.