Bengawan Solo (Solo River)

Lyricist(s): Gesang Martohartono Composer(s): Gesang Martohartono singer(s): Indonesian song

"Bengawan Solo" (lit. "Solo River") is an Indonesian song written by Gesang Martohartono in 1940. The song is a description of the longest river in Java, Solo River. The song became popular in Indonesia during the Second World War and was one of the songs promoted nationally in the newly-independent country after the war.

The song is the first song written in Bahasa Indonesia by an Indonesian to achieve widespread popularity in Indonesia. It also became popular in Japan, other Far East and Southeast Asian countries, and many versions of the song in different languages exist.

Sheet music

• Bengawan Solo (Solo River) Simplified staff 2025-01-23 21:03:05
• Bengawan Solo (Solo River) numbered （女声合唱） 2025-01-23 21:02:49

Lyrics

Solo, the Mighty River
The mighty river Solo, your legend this,
From ages past, you captivated the goddess Sari,
In seasons dry, your water is low,
In rainy seasons, the water overflows into the horizon.

Chorus:

The spring of Solo
Locked in thousands of mountains.
Its water flows intot he distance,
At last to the sea.
That boat, legend of the past,
of traders, always going
by that boat.

update：2025-01-23 21:11:24