Bapisah Bukannyo Bacarai

Bapisah Bukannyo Bacarai means "Berpisah bukannya bercerai" or "See you again not Adieu". This song generally speaks about a man who is about to leave his hometown and sweetheart. The lovebirds bid farewell to each other, affirming the hope that it is a temporary separation, hence it is only a "see you later" not an "adieu".

This is definitely a duet, in fact it's one of the most requested songs in typical traditional minang wedding reception. Although, I might add, it sounds quite "off key" in relation with the mood of the occasion.

Bapisah Bukannyo Bacarai

Bapisah bukannyo bacarai
Usahlah adiak manangih juo
Basaba sayang nantikan denai
Taguahkan malah iman di dado

Bapisah bukannyo bacarai ...

Uda bajalan padamlah palito
Kasia badan ka ditompangkan
Kampuang den jauah, da, sanak tiado
Denai jo sia uda tinggakan

Chorus:
Ondeh, gunuang Marapi, gunuang Singgalang
Hai, tolong caliakkan kasiah hati den
Nan den tinggakan, antaro pintu nan jo halaman
Uda den nanti, antaro pintu nan jo halaman

Bapisah bukannyo bacarai ...

______________________
Most of my favorite minang songs have a significant reference to some places or landmarks that are typical West Sumatran. Here in the songs, you can find a reference to the two mounts in whose slopes lies the beautiful and historical city of Bukittinggi. Mount Marapi and Mount Singgalang are very close to the life Minangkabau people, thus has claimed a prominent part of the culture, as reflected in many folk songs. The man who is about to leave his town and his sweetheart think of the two mounts as silent witnesses about the life he's going to miss.

______________________
You can find an overlap  of  the first two stanzas.  The first stanza is actually the answer of the second. When the girl, as she become uneasy about living alone far from her home town and family after her man left, asked "Denai jo sia uda tinggakan" or "With whom would you leave me?", the man implied his answer in the first stanza. "Basaba sayang, nantikan denai, Taguahkan malah iman di dado", he said, meaning "Have patience, darling, upon waiting for me. Have faith in your heart". She is not without anyone. As long as she has faith in God, He'll be the one who takes care of everything. He takes care the man in his journey, and the woman who's left behind.