Rendition: "Lego Puyuah" 12/02/2003
Performance: Kampung Jambak, December 2, 2003
Context: Community Celebration for Halal-Bihalal
Type of Song: Gembira
People:
- Padendang:
- Erni Batu Balang
- Meri Batu Balang
- Mila
- Tukang Saluang: Mak Lenggang
- Janang: Martis
Structure: This rendition is 8 pantun long, in part because someone requested an extension after four verses. This is pretty typical, especially If the audience is enjoying the interactions, as is quite typical with content like this song that is considered porno.
Lyrics
Pantun#1: Erni
Minangkabau
BatangBakandak alah dibari
Jan duduk manjauah-jauah
Isi
Nan bujang elok babini
Nan buliah tantu jo lego puyuah.
Nan bujang elok babini
Nan buliah tantu jo lego puyuah.
English
Batang
Permission is already given
Don’t sit too far away
Isi
Those who are bachelors are better with wives
They may, of course, be fighting like quails.
Permission is already given
Don’t sit too far away
Isi
Those who are bachelors are better with wives
They may, of course, be fighting like quails.
Interpretation
Type of Pantun: Porno
Batang: this is a generic kind of batang referencing the performance context. Permission has been given to sing. The padendang is encouraging her audience not to be shy and sit too far away.
Isi: This isi uses sindiran (metaphor) to make a porno reference. Fighting like quails is a metaphor for sexual intercourse. The reference to sexual material qualifies this in local terms as porno.
Batang: this is a generic kind of batang referencing the performance context. Permission has been given to sing. The padendang is encouraging her audience not to be shy and sit too far away.
Isi: This isi uses sindiran (metaphor) to make a porno reference. Fighting like quails is a metaphor for sexual intercourse. The reference to sexual material qualifies this in local terms as porno.
Pantun#2: Meri
Minangkabau
BatangBakandak indak nan ditatagun
Bagurau samalam nangko
Isi
Babini sajo nan alun
Tapi puyuah acok balego.
English
Batang
The requests are delivered
We are doing the bagurau this evening
Isi
Those who don’t have wives yet
But are frequently fighting like quails.
The requests are delivered
We are doing the bagurau this evening
Isi
Those who don’t have wives yet
But are frequently fighting like quails.
Interpretation
Type of Pantun: Porno
Batang: this is a generic kind of batang referencing the performance context: requests have been delivered, we are all engaging in a malam bagurau.
Isi: This isi uses the same kata sindiran (metaphor) to make a porno reference. It's about young men who are not yet married but are frequently fighting like quails, i.e. engaging in sexual intercourse. This is contrary to dominant Minangkabau moral codes where pre-marital sex is not permitted, making the porno subject matter even more risqué. It generated a moderate outburst of laughter from the audience.
Batang: this is a generic kind of batang referencing the performance context: requests have been delivered, we are all engaging in a malam bagurau.
Isi: This isi uses the same kata sindiran (metaphor) to make a porno reference. It's about young men who are not yet married but are frequently fighting like quails, i.e. engaging in sexual intercourse. This is contrary to dominant Minangkabau moral codes where pre-marital sex is not permitted, making the porno subject matter even more risqué. It generated a moderate outburst of laughter from the audience.
Janang Interjection
He jumps in to comment on the previous verse.Pantun#3: Mila
Minangkabau
BatangLah datang dakek jo jauah
Lai basilau malam kini
Isi
Dek asik malego puyuah
Pukua duobaleh jago pagi.
English
Batang
Come close those near and far
Again we are sitting this way
Isi
Because busy fighting like quails
At 12am looking out for the morning.
Come close those near and far
Again we are sitting this way
Isi
Because busy fighting like quails
At 12am looking out for the morning.
Interpretation
Type of Pantun: Porno
Batang: this is a generic kind of batang referencing the performance context: the padendang are urging pagurau to come sit closer, referencing that they sit near facing each other.
Isi: This isi uses the same kata sindiran (metaphor) to make a porno reference. It's about being up late at midnight, facing the morning, because he was busy having sex.
Batang: this is a generic kind of batang referencing the performance context: the padendang are urging pagurau to come sit closer, referencing that they sit near facing each other.
Isi: This isi uses the same kata sindiran (metaphor) to make a porno reference. It's about being up late at midnight, facing the morning, because he was busy having sex.
Pantun#4: Erni
Minangkabau
BatangBialah kami badendang
Jan duduak bamanuang juo
Isi
Puyuah urang lai basarang
Puyuah nan bujang lapeh sajo
English
Batang
Let us sing tonight
Don’t sit far away dreaming
Isi
If quails have a partner, they have a nest
If they are single, there is no nest, they are free
Let us sing tonight
Don’t sit far away dreaming
Isi
If quails have a partner, they have a nest
If they are single, there is no nest, they are free
Interpretation
Type of Pantun: Porno
Batang: this is another generic kind of batang referencing the performance context: the padendang are singing, urging their audience to not sit there dreaming of other things
Isi: This isi uses a different kata sindiran (metaphor) to make a porno reference: "nest" is a metaphor for a steady sexual partner. It suggests the bachelors play around with different women.
Batang: this is another generic kind of batang referencing the performance context: the padendang are singing, urging their audience to not sit there dreaming of other things
Isi: This isi uses a different kata sindiran (metaphor) to make a porno reference: "nest" is a metaphor for a steady sexual partner. It suggests the bachelors play around with different women.
Janang Interjection
He jumps in to announce a new request, but is corrected by the audience that there is a request to extend the song.Pantun#5: Meri
Minangkabau
BatangJan tagak nan jauah-jauah
Bialah kami badendang
Isi
Baru mandanga lego puyuah
Nan babini nak capek pulang
English
BatangDon’t stand far away.
Let us sing
Isi
We are just now listening to “Lego Puyuah”
Those who have wives, get home quickly.
Interpretation
Type of Pantun: Porno
Batang: this is another generic kind of batang referencing the performance context: the padendang are urging the paguruau not to stand far away, that they are singing.
Isi: This isi uses the phrase "Lego Puyuah" not as a metaphor, but as the name of the song, in the first line, but the implication of the second line is that if the men go home, they might be able to have sex.
Dipapanjang iko nyanyi
Baitu kandak sabanta ko
Isi
Nan bujang rancak babini
Bia nak puyuah di adu pulo
Batang: this is another generic kind of batang referencing the performance context: the padendang are urging the paguruau not to stand far away, that they are singing.
Isi: This isi uses the phrase "Lego Puyuah" not as a metaphor, but as the name of the song, in the first line, but the implication of the second line is that if the men go home, they might be able to have sex.
Pantun#6: Mila
Minangkabau
BatangDipapanjang iko nyanyi
Baitu kandak sabanta ko
Isi
Nan bujang rancak babini
Bia nak puyuah di adu pulo
English
BatangTo be extended, this song
Therefore, request you to be patient
Isi
Those that are young, get a wife quickly
So that the quail will get to quickly fight.
Interpretation
Type of Pantun: Porno
Batang: this is another generic kind of batang referencing the performance context: the padendang references the fact someone requested the song to be extended (rather than changing to a new song)
Isi: This isi uses the same metaphor, urging young men to get a wife quickly so that can have sex. It generated a considerable outburst of laughter from the audience.
Batang: this is another generic kind of batang referencing the performance context: the padendang references the fact someone requested the song to be extended (rather than changing to a new song)
Isi: This isi uses the same metaphor, urging young men to get a wife quickly so that can have sex. It generated a considerable outburst of laughter from the audience.
Pantun#7: Erni
Minangkabau
BatangJan tagak nan jauah-jauah
Ka mari lah kasadonyo
Isi
Mancaliak urang maadu puyuah
Balam disangkak maangguak pulo
English
BatangDon’t stand those that are far away
Come here, all of you
Isi
Look at the people fighting like quails
Your desire increases.
Interpretation
Type of Pantun: Porno
Batang: this is another generic kind of batang referencing the performance context. In fact, the first line is an exact repetition of line#1 in pantun#5: The padendang are urging the paguruau not to stand far away The two singers are different but it suggests that these batang are quire formulaic in construction. Line#2 urges the pagurau to all come close.
Isi: This isi continues the metaphor of sexual intercourse, but increases the level of porno context with an explicit reference to sexual arousal in a man. "Balam" is a metaphor for a penis.
Batang: this is another generic kind of batang referencing the performance context. In fact, the first line is an exact repetition of line#1 in pantun#5: The padendang are urging the paguruau not to stand far away The two singers are different but it suggests that these batang are quire formulaic in construction. Line#2 urges the pagurau to all come close.
Isi: This isi continues the metaphor of sexual intercourse, but increases the level of porno context with an explicit reference to sexual arousal in a man. "Balam" is a metaphor for a penis.
Pantun#8: Meri
Minangkabau
BatangKok mandanga ka "Lego Puyuah"
Dek Pak [X] dima pangananyo
Isi
Lah jaleh puyuah tak baikua
Dek apak kumis baadu juo
English
BatangHere you are listening to “Lego Puyuah”
Pak [X], what are your thoughts?
Isi
Already clear this quail doesn’t have a tail
Although it doesn't have a tail, it still fights
Interpretation
Type of Pantun: Porno
Batang: this is another generic kind of batang referencing the name of the song. I believe the reference in this second line to Pak X, is reference to the man who requested the extension.
Isi: This isi continues the metaphor of sexual intercourse. If a quail fights a lot, it loses the feathers on its tail. This is a metaphor for overworking something but continuing to use it. It generated a considerable outburst of laughter from the audience.
Batang: this is another generic kind of batang referencing the name of the song. I believe the reference in this second line to Pak X, is reference to the man who requested the extension.
Isi: This isi continues the metaphor of sexual intercourse. If a quail fights a lot, it loses the feathers on its tail. This is a metaphor for overworking something but continuing to use it. It generated a considerable outburst of laughter from the audience.
Summary
Content: The song title itself has porno connotations as it is a metaphor for sexual intercourse. The singers complied with the audience request, choosing to deliver textual content that is considered porno by local standards. Most of the batang were formulaic in nature, referencing the title of the song or the performance context. Most of the isi extended and played with the metaphor of the quail. From the outbursts of laughter, it is clear the men in the audience appreciated the word smithing of the padendang. There were clearly some verses that were more enjoyable than others, whether they were wittier or simply new to the listeners I can only guess.I have no other field recordings of this song to compare the textual content. I do have a commercial recording of the song in which there is no porno references, keeping with local sensibilities for disseminated commercial material (i.e. no commercial recordings involve these porno verses).