The song's line gugur satu, tumbuh seribu (one falls, a thousand arise) has entered common Indonesian vernacular.
"Gugur Bunga" was written by Ismail Marzuki in 1945 at the beginning of the Indonesian National Revolution.
[1] It was written in honour of the Indonesian soldiers who died fighting the Dutch colonial army.
[3] Betapa hatiku takkan pilu Telah gugur pahlawanku Betapa hatiku takkan sedih Hamba ditinggal sendiri Siapakah kini plipur lara Nan setia dan perwira Siapakah kini pahlawan hati Pembela bangsa sejati Reff : Telah gugur pahlawanku Tunai sudah janji bakti Gugur satu tumbuh seribu Tanah air jaya sakti Gugur bungaku di taman bakti[4] Di haribaan pertiwi Harum semerbak menambahkan sari Tanah air jaya sakti[5] How can I not feel sorrow My hero has passed How can I not feel sad I am left all alone Who can be my solace Loyal and brave Who can be my heart's hero A true defender of the people Reff : My hero has passed His service is done One falls, a thousand arise For our great and sacred homeland My flower has fallen in the garden of devotion On the lap of our Motherland The fragrance pervades the essence Of our great and sacred homeland "Gugur Bunga" is performed andante moderato[4] in 44 time.
Today the line gugur satu, tumbuh seribu has entered common usage, with the meaning of "One falls, a thousand arise".