The song “Putri Cening Ayu” is one of the most popular regional songs (gending rare or children’s songs) from Bali. Behind its cheerful melody often sung by children, this song is rich in deep meaning about family life, responsibility, and affection.
Lyrics of Putri Cening Ayu
Putri cening ayu
Ngijeng cening jumah
Meme luas malu
Ke peken meblanja
Apang ada darang nasi
Meme tititang ngiring
Nongos ngijeng jumah
Sambilang mekumpul
Ajak titiang dadua
Dimulihne dong gapgapin
(Putri cening ayu)
(Ngijeng cening jumah)
(Putri cening ayu)
(Ngijeng cening jumah)
Meme titiang ngiring
Nongos ngijeng jumah
Meme titiang ngiring
Nongos ngijeng jumah
Putri cening ayu
Meaning of Each Stanza
To understand its meaning, let’s break down the conversation between the Mother (Meme) and her Child (Putri Cening Ayu) in the lyrics:
Mother’s Part:
Putri cening ayu, ngijeng cening jumah. Meme luas malu, ke peken meblanja, apang ada darang nasi.
Meaning: “My beautiful daughter, stay at home, okay. Mother is going out now, to the market to shop, so there will be side dishes to eat with rice.”
Child’s Part:
Meme titiang ngiring, nongos ngijeng jumah. Sambilang mekumpul, ajak titiang dadua. Di mulihne dong gapgapin.
Meaning: “Mother, I obey. I will stay and guard the house. While gathering/playing, together with the two of us (with sibling). When you come home, please bring a gift.”
Meaning and Life Values Contained
Deeply, this song teaches several important moral values, including:
Obedience and Devotion of Children to Parents (Eka Prasetia) This song depicts an obedient child. When the mother asks to stay home to keep it safe, the child does not fuss or insist on coming along, but responds politely (Meme titiang ngiring — Mother, I obey).
Responsibility and Independence Children are taught to share tasks from an early age. Parents are responsible for earning a living/providing food (ke peken meblanja), while children are responsible for guarding the house (ngijeng jumah) and maintaining harmony with siblings (ajak titiang dadua).
Warm Affectionate Relationship The term “Cening Ayu” is a term of endearment from parents in Bali for their daughter. This relationship is reciprocal: parents love their child by fulfilling their needs, and the child respects the parents by keeping the trust. The request for gapgapin (gift) also shows a sweet and natural psychological interaction between child and parent.
Depiction of Traditional Balinese Society This song reflects the simplicity of life in traditional Balinese society, where the traditional market was the center of economic life, and togetherness at home (jumah) was the main foundation of family happiness.
