"Ballad Of The Construction Workers"

In 1981, when composers M. Nasir, A. Ali and S. Sahlan (as music act Kembara) released their debut album, one song (apart from the usual 'killer songs') catches the attention of one particular 9-year old kid, perhaps because of the harmonious vocals and the ballad theme. The song was entitled Senandung Buruh Kasar (Ballad Of The Construction Workers) and it goes like this:

Lihatlah bangunan yang tinggi mengawan
Menghiasi kotaraya
Menjadi kemegahan dari zaman ke zaman
Kejayaan negara

Pandanglah aku yang bermandi keringat
Di bawah terik mentari
Bekerja dengan menghempas tulang
Mencari nafkah sehari

Aku hanyalah seorang buruh kasar
Di tengah kota besar turut merasa bangga
Kerna telah berjasa

Kerna tanpa kami tak mungkin terlaksana
Sebuah kota yang menjadi
Impian sezaman

Cukup hidup sederhana
Sedang bekerja, haaaa.....
Bisa bernyanyi ketawa dan bersenda

The song basically reminds us, the public, that we should remember 'them' (the construction workers) whenever we look at the skyscrapers around us. And we are reminded that without them, there won't be much development in the cities. They are also content with their simple life.

The song fade away from my memory with the coming of rock and heavy metal but was refreshed when it got airplay since a few months ago. However, I remarked to my wife that should Kembara hold a reunion concert, they might possibly have to sing that song in Indonesian, Bangladeshi, Burmese or Vietnamese accent, just to keep up with the times!