For the Balinese people, the song “Meong-Meong” is certainly familiar. This rare (children’s song) is often sung while playing, especially in the traditional game “Meong-Meong and Bikul” (Cat and Mouse). Behind its simple and cheerful lyrics, this song actually contains deep philosophy about life, natural balance, and social criticism.
Lyrics & Translation
Meong-meong (Cats)
Alih ja bikule (Look for the mouse)
Bikul gede-gede (The mouse is big)
Buin mokoh-mokoh (And also fat)
Kereng pesan ngerusuhin (It really likes to cause trouble/damage)
Juk meng, juk kul (Catch it, catch it!)
Literal Meaning: Natural Balance (Ecosystem)
On the surface, this song describes the predator-prey relationship in Bali’s agrarian ecosystem. Bikul (mouse) is a major pest in rice fields that often damages farmers’ rice plants (kereng pesan ngerusuhin). On the other hand, Meong (cat) acts as a natural predator that helps farmers control the mouse population.
This song teaches children from an early age about the importance of preserving nature and the food chain so that agricultural life remains balanced.
Philosophical Meaning: Controlling Desires
If analyzed more deeply spiritually (especially in the Balinese Hindu concept), the figures of Meong and Bikul are symbols of the turmoil within humans:
Bikul (Mouse): Symbol of bad traits, greed, and insatiable desires (gede-gede and mokoh-mokoh). If left unchecked, these traits will ruin human life (ngerusuhin).
Meong (Cat): Symbol of awareness, wisdom, and common sense.
The line “Juk meng, juk kul” (Catch it, catch it) is a call or command to ourselves. It means, use our awareness and wisdom (Meong) to catch, control, and tame the desires or ego (Bikul) within us.
Social Criticism: Satire for the “Mice” of Society
In a modern context, the song “Meong-Meong” is often used as a unique metaphor to criticize social phenomena. The term “mouse” is often associated with corruptors or greedy individuals.
The lyrics bikul gede-gede, buin mokoh-mokoh, kereng pesan ngerusuhin seem to accurately depict individuals who enrich themselves in wrong ways, harming the wider community. Through this song, the public is reminded that the law or law enforcement (acting as Meong) must be firm in catching those who disrupt order.
